In cold temps, ICE turns on at the begining of a trip when I have plenty EV. Why?

the interesting thing is, jimbo mentioned 60 degrees, and yet, not one post in eleven pages addressed his concern. i wonder if that's why he hasn't come back. (i hope he's okay, he used to be a prolific poster)

 

Inevitably a week or two after saying that City mode on the European model seemed to prevent this, mine started to do it, probably because our early am temperatures are now down at about 5C/40F.

Also way back on p3 there was a comment that it would be good if the PiP explained why the ICE was kicking in. Usefully, when City mode disengages it DOES explain why. When it did it this morning, it said 'excessive speed'. I was only doing just over 30, about 400 yards into the trip, and just beginning to go downhill. However, I had just accelerated fast-ish, though not enough to kick out of City mode normally, and the battery was cold.

I'll try some more experiments, trying to accelerate more smoothly, and then trying to start with a warm battery.

 

This evening temp was 7 C (44 F), charging was just before driving @ 7 C also. Drove regularly on a regular route all EV (19.2 km) no ICE kicking. But maybe 7 C is not cold enough?
I think I have not seen a 2013 owner reporting this which may simply indicate a glitch in the software which has been rectified??

 

I drove mine yesterday 11.5 miles (18.5 km) at 37 F (2.7 C) on all EV and no ICE. The range displayed was 12.6 miles (20.2 km) and it was displaying .2 miles (.3 km) when I got home, so somewhere along the way, I lost some range, but the ICE remained off.

 

It seems temps at, near, or below freezing are triggers....

 

I have regularly been driving around in sub freezing temps, many times in the single digits. Haven't had the ICE fire yet when I didn't want it to.

 

i can go anywhere in ev at any temp without the ice firing except my regular commute which has a quick downhill section that i hit at about 1/4 mile and the ice kicks on near the bottom almost every time when temps are below 30 ish. putting it in neutral does keep it off tho, and i'm good to go after that.

 

Is a garage the common denominator for all of us that have no problem with the ICE coming on?

 

It would stand to reason that if your car is parked in a garage keeping the battery warm above the threshold at which it triggers the ice, that it wouldn't come on. You'd also have the advantage that the battery would continue to warm as you discharge it.

I have kind of a worst-case scenario where I park outside, it's been very cold, and I start my drive from the top of a hill.

 

i'm in an unheated garage, 39 degrees yesterday and the ice still came on at my little downhill spot. once it has run, i can recharge and drive in ev the whole rest of the day no matter how cold it is, so i'm assuming that's all the warmth it needs. but i don't leave it outside for more than 5 or 6 hours at a time.

 

This morning it was 27F here, it had gone down to 19F last night.
Right out of my driveway (with a full charge)- as soon as I hit 23mph on my street- the ICE fired up like clockwork.
... same as it always does once it's cold!

 

+1 45 degrees

 

Yup, that's why I go out driving below 20 MPH. Usually around 10-15 MPH at first 1/2 mile

 

Should have said I park outside.

It was 10C, so 50F, this morning. I drove as near as I could remember the same way, and the ICE didn't come on. I also kept an eye on the range, and although there was quite a bit of gentle downhill I had lost a tenth of a mile, so there was a little bit of room for regen.

 

but 50 is warmer than your post where the ice came, so that's probably the reason it didn't come on.

 

I try to keep it under 22mph... but in NY 22mph isn't always possible

 

Yeah, you'd probably need a snowstorm or something to slow people down. I drove to work this morning. Snow on the ground and still snowing. My EV range has gone from 11 miles to 8.7 (that's the combination of actual miles on trip odo and EV left over) I had my headlights, front windshield and rear windshield wipers going. Seat Heater off. (never use the seat heater, coat keeps me plenty warm)

 

Wow, I can't imagine not using my seat heater. If I didn't have that I would be starting the ICE up for heat all the time.

 

maybe you should plunk down some cash for a better coat

 

haha, not my body that gets cold...tis my face/nose