Prius c: why 9.5gallon fuel tank?

[supton]

Happened to notice this, looks somewhat interesting to me (not sure why--probably because it's a commuter car and nothing but). But why only 9.5 gallons? Why must manufacturers be so hung up on 350mile cruising range?

Right now, I'm trying to eek out what I can in my Jetta, and at 49mpg, I can safely burn a bit over 15 gallons for more than 700mile cruising range. Why can a "commuter" car simply come with a bigger tank, so as to reduce stops at a gas station? That's one nice feature about Camry/Acord, in that, if you get the 4 cylinder, at least you get the gas tank sized for the more-thirsty V6.

An extra 5 to 10 gallons of gas--it can't hurt FE that much, can it?

 

[oiltard]

I think it's a space issue. Aren't the battery packs already pretty voluminous and an engineering challenge to fit in a small car like the little Prius C?

 

[Schmoe]

Weight. Less weight, better mpg. Thought I'd never hear the term "more thirsty V6."

 

[supton]

On the Prius c, it doens't look like the battery pack is all that big--I think it's got like a 1mile EV-only range. Pack sits under a rear seat, I think.

I suppose it is yet another thing to cram in.

Still, I don't understand why a "commuter car" can't have "commuter range". For a vehicle that I'd take on long road trips, having to stop every 3-400 miles might actually be *nice* for the break alone. But my daily commute is 90miles roundtrip. 350miles comes up real fast.

At least it wouldn't take long to put in 7 gallons, I guess. Geez, think of the trees we could save, if I could get half as many receipts!

 

[The_Jeff]

It's also a SULEV and has a bladder inside its tank. This could be for that angle.

There's also some sort of "weight class" that perverts the EPA ratings slightly, perhaps through rounding. This is why we sometimes see tiny batteries. My hyundai accent even had another hole in the battery tray for the hold-down when a standard size replacement was fitted to replace the stocker which was better suited for a computer UPS.

I agree it would be nice if the prius could go farther.

 

[Coprolite]

For many people who don't have long commutes, a bigger tank equates to less fills and stale gas. I fill up my car once every three weeks.

10 more gallons of gas is pretty big volume to add and 90 or so pounds would probably make a noticeable FE difference on a Prius.

 

[Burt]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
It's also a SULEV and has a bladder inside its tank. This could be for that angle.


I think it has to do with another kind of bladder. After 350 miles, time for a potty stop.

 

[supton]

I thought I had read Prius had dropped the bladder--too many issues with venting?

90lb, that isn't that much weight. I guess it does matter. Also, 3 week old gas, that isn't that stale? Or am I thinking of stuff that has no problem running my B&S lawnmower? That sits all winter (a NH winter, mind you), no gas treatment, and it will run fine come summer. I guess I do top off with some fresh stuff, maybe that is the trick.

Still, I thought stale gas came from the more volatile compounds boiling off. Super-tight systems should have little vapor loss? Does stale gas still bother cars today (assuming stale, and not just shoddy/cheap gas)?

 

[Coprolite]

I wouldn't consider 3-4 week old gas stale, but doubling the range would result in filling up every other month or so might be pushing it. I had a fill last year that lasted almost two months(driving other car the whole month) and I could notice a performance drop. Octane drops pretty quickly, especially when ethanol is the octane booster. The cars will adjust for fuel quality, but it can be noticed...

There is a substantial technology and performance difference between a B&S and a modern car. My mower runs on stabilized fuel, but it does seem much happier when I start in on the first fresh tank of the year. I mainly run stabilizer to help keep the carb clean and neutralize some of the bad ethanol effects...

 

[45ACP]

Probably so when you get that 40 to 50 MPG then go to the pump, you realize "Hey! I only put in 8 gallons" or so (still same principle of "dont let the tank get low?" .. so when gas get so $5 a gallon, thats still only $40. Nice! (Marketing, word of mouth. Smart.)

Made me want a Prius. Thank you!

 

[MNgopher]

On a car that's supposed to be all about fuel efficiency, adding the weight of more gasoline to it just to extend the range beyond a "normal" range would hurt the fuel mileage numbers a bit. All about tradeoffs...

 

[Rand]

well 5 gallons is 30lb

in my family thats the average purse weight of a woman lol.

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: Rand
well 5 gallons is 30lb

in my family thats the average purse weight of a woman lol.


Haha. A little low on your estimate, though.

 

[NHGUY]

Small car,small tank...
and the "customer satisfaction" of knowing it only costs X dollars to fill up vs X dollars for a 14 gallon tank.Thats bragging rights you know.....when TV news outfits interview angry motorists at the pumps they always mention how much a fill up costs.They never qualify it with "Well,it only costs $32 for a fillup,but I have only a 9 gallon tank"....

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: gathermewool
Originally Posted By: Rand
well 5 gallons is 30lb

in my family thats the average purse weight of a woman lol.


Haha. A little low on your estimate, though.


estimate of purse weight or gasoline

6.073 pounds per US Gallon. is the weight of gasoline

so 5 gallons would be 30.37# but thats normalized to a temp..
so I rounded it off at 30#
If the gasoline was very warm~~100F its less dense and weighs less.. and if its very cold.. it weighs slightly more.

 

[SatinSilver]

It could be worse. At least they don't use the same tank thats on the new Scion iQ that has a 8.5 gallon tank. Which is also known as the worlds smallest 4 seater.

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Small car,small tank...
and the "customer satisfaction" of knowing it only costs X dollars to fill up vs X dollars for a 14 gallon tank.Thats bragging rights you know.....when TV news outfits interview angry motorists at the pumps they always mention how much a fill up costs.


That's it right there.

 

[volk06]

Originally Posted By: Rand
Originally Posted By: gathermewool
Originally Posted By: Rand
well 5 gallons is 30lb

in my family thats the average purse weight of a woman lol.


Haha. A little low on your estimate, though.


estimate of purse weight or gasoline

6.073 pounds per US Gallon. is the weight of gasoline

so 5 gallons would be 30.37# but thats normalized to a temp..
so I rounded it off at 30#
If the gasoline was very warm~~100F its less dense and weighs less.. and if its very cold.. it weighs slightly more.


Density is only part of it and the other thing is the vapor pressure. The warmer it is, the easier it is for it to evaporate.

 

[Cutehumor]

My pontiac vibe..err toyota matrix has a 12 gallon tank. it's annoying because I have to fill up once a week. I don't like the tank to drop below a quarter.

 

[earlyre]

My Neon only has a 12.5 Gallon tank....