Hybrid battery (traction battery) status

I don't think you will ever see the status bar all the way at the top. Mine tops out at one bar below the top, and then that is not too often. My bars normally show anywhere from about 80% to the top to about 20% at the bottom. I think that is pretty normal, and of course it depends on how much you are using battery for things like EV, pulse and glide, etc.

 

Long descents can fill up the bars, the extended regenerative braking 'fills' it, then at the bottom it will burn it off, so it has room for you to hit the brakes again.

Should take at least a 600 foot drop.

 

Mine often fills completely, but there are a lot of hills in the bay area. Are you in a mostly flat area? I am surprised it wouldn't fully fill on the freeway for you when it's mostly charging slowly...

 

If it were to stay full, you would have no regenerative brakes.

 

You mean, if it's full, you don't need the regenerative braking?

 

If it is full, then there is no where to put regenerative braking energy. You would likely hear the engine racing at that point, as the battery is turning the engine to burn off energy.

3/4 full is perfect. You don't want it 100% full. Trust me.

 

Regenerative braking fills the battery, saving energy for later. If the battery fills, you lose all further kinetic enery as heat, with none stored for later use. yes.

This is why the battery rarely shows as full, it is leaving space for regenerative braking energy.

 

I saw full bars on my gen III once on a long straight downgrade all electrical accessories were off and i was going over 60 mph. a short time later i was one bar down.

 

Just a suggestion: Don't sweat the battery charge. Unless you're in EV mode for a long time (only likely in stop and go traffic), you're not gonna drain it. Unless you're going downhill a lot, you're not gonna fill it.

When I pay attention (which is seldom, anymore) the battery averages around 50-75%, and the car manages it just fine.