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Electric cars work, but only when owners fully understand them. One frustrated owner is coming face-to-face with exactly this dilemma, contemplating a move many wouldn’t expect: returning to a hybrid.
ImportantWhile169 went to Reddit’s r/HondaPrologue to talk about it.
“So my Prologue is getting 240 miles at 80 percent charge. This is what I’m paying to get 240 miles of range at home. I’m on the cheapest rate plan for PG&E. I just filled up my Civic Hybrid loaner vehicle at Costco and paid $37 for 530 miles of range.
At least for everyone here in my region, we’re basically paying double the money compared to a gas hybrid to drive our Prologues around. Again, this is home charging. Wasn’t it just a few years ago that we all got into this EV system because it was way cheaper? Lol, I always seem to buy into a movement at the wrong time.”
The numbers this Prologue owner lays out are hard to ignore: $29 to charge at home for 240 miles of range, versus $37 at Costco for 530 miles in a humble hybrid. It’s not a minor spread. That’s a hard economic L for any EV evangelist to swallow, and it’s coming at a time when electric vehicles should still be carrying the financial torch.
Honda Prologue Specs & Dimensions: BEV3 Platform, Ultium Battery & Powertrain Overview
- Built on GM’s BEV3 platform, the Prologue spans approximately 192 inches in length, with a 121.8-inch wheelbase, 78.3-inch width, and 64.7-inch height, placing it in the mid‑size SUV segment
- The crossover seats up to five passengers across two rows; no third‑row seating option is offered
- motor) up to 288 hp (dual motor AWD)
- The 85 kWh Ultium battery sits low in the chassis for balanced weight distribution, aiding both ride comfort and cargo versatility
The Prologue’s Ultium platform, a co-development with General Motors, offers the usual benefits: smoothness, silence, rich delivery, and a clean conscience. But the ownership experience is being kneecapped by the underbelly of electrification… utility companies. PG&E in California, known for its rate structures and spiking peak-hour costs, is quietly undermining the entire value proposition. As Redditor AlwaysUnseen explained,
“PG&E charges like 2x their off-peak rates from 4-9 PM… their on-peak rates are out of this world crazy… You have to charge during off-peak only.”
And even then, it’s not always enough. Another user, RickySpanishEOD, confirmed they schedule charging between 11 PM and 6 AM, classic off-peak hours.
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That should work, but even with strategic timing, costs can remain discouragingly high.
Why Honda Prologue Home-Charging May Outpace Hybrid Fuel
The Reddit thread reads like a slow realization that electrification, in certain markets, isn’t the slam dunk it was promised to be. According to PrologueDrivers.com, some EV owners pay around $0.176 per kWh for home charging, equating to $0.05 per mile. Not bad, until you factor in California’s complex rate tiers and surcharges.
There’s another layer to the puzzle: the phantom promise of solar. But without a battery to capture and store that power, much of it is simply exported back to the grid. “I give back roughly 500km of energy each day,” he wrote.
“I need a battery really bad.”
The solar panels are producing power, but without storage or a time-of-use optimization system, they’re not reducing his actual charging cost.
Honda Prologue Charging & Range: AC Home, DC Fast, EPA Ratings & Usability Insights
- The Honda Prologue offers dual charging capabilities: up to 11.5 kW AC charging for home use and up to 155 kW DC fast charging, allowing for rapid top‑ups on long trips
- FWD versions deliver up to 296 miles EPA‑rated range, while AWD trims offer roughly 273–281 miles per charge
- The all‑wheel‑drive model includes both a permanent‑magnet front motor and an induction rear motor, which combine to yield about 288 hp and 333 lb‑ft of torque
- Some early owners have reported public charging issues, with drivers unable to initiate charging at functioning stations, described as a key usability concern
Commercial charging can run $30 for just 225 miles, functionally identical to gas pricing. Meanwhile, peak residential electricity rates under PG&E can rival the cost of filling up a diesel Sprinter.
Add on DMV fees, sometimes higher insurance premiums, and the reality starts to diverge sharply from the aspirational lifestyle projected in electric vehicle ads.
That’s the tough truth here. The technology is ready. The vehicles are here. But the ecosystem that supports them, utilities, pricing schemes, and storage solutions, is lagging behind. What we’re seeing with this Reddit post isn’t someone giving up on EVs. It’s someone holding a mirror up to the system and asking the most rational question of all: Does this still make sense for me?
EV ownership is about managing your entire energy life. Where you live, how your utility charges, whether you can afford battery storage, and what kind of rate plan you’re on all play pivotal roles. For some, it’s working beautifully.
Image Sources: Honda Media Center
Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.
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Source: torquenews.com
