Max. speed in EV mode, 10 MPH ??

well, that's something anyway.

 

That is what I was saying. When the engine coolant temperature is below 68F, EV mode is unavailable no matter how soon I hit the EV button. Of course, once the ICE starts, EV is unavailable until the engine reaches a certain warmup stage, with temperature north of 100F.

But if I shut down the car when the coolant reaches 69F, then restart, EV is again available. Then if I just sit in the driveway for a few minutes, the ICE starts the moment the temperature drops to 67F. Despite many tries, I was never able to get it show 68F.

 

I press it whenever I arrive in my neighborhood. I can make it the entire way to the back of my 'hood on EV. I watch my MPGs jump from the low 50s to the high 60s because of this most times. Not right now... too dang cold and not far enough to drive.

 

Mine isn't actually fully drained. I'm a bar below half when I finish up. The engine is going to run in the morning anyhow, so let it charge it up as it warms up. My first tank was awful because of the cold.

 

How I use the EV Mode:

There's a long hill I drive down after dropping or picking up one of the kids at school. This hill is enough to go from half SOC on the dash display, to 1 bar below full, just by re-gen. At the bottom of this hill is a four way intersection crossed by a major road. I have to turn right, and head up a hill that is too steep to get above about 20 km/h using the gas pedal to keep it in EV. It's only about 300 meters to the turn off onto the expressway, so I push the EV Mode button at the bottom of the hill. This enables me to go give it enough juice to accelerate up to 40 km/h going up the hill to the turn off, and not have the ICE come on. Drains the battery quick, but going on the expressway is going to turn the ICE on anyway, so I use the battery where I can. Also don't hold up traffic by only going 20 up that hill.

Full charge, ICE at operating temp, EV Mode 40 km/h no problem.

Also with a warm engine and full battery, I've been able to cruise up to 81 km/h (50 mph) without having the ICE come on. The speed where the ICE comes on is completely dependent on the SOC and the engine temp. Ditto the EV Mode speed.

 

I've been able to get about 40mph before the ICE kicks in while in traffic.

 

The most I've ever seen is 46 mph. I've read this number in the tech reports as well... but that doesn't mean it's set in stone. People on this forum have dis-proven the tech reports multiple times now.

 

It takes some finesse, and all of the planets have to be in alignment ;-)

 

The answer to that is quite obvious, once you step back and look at the big picture... especially the history.

Well over a decade ago, Toyota delivered a FULL hybrid. That meant it had a PSD (power-split-device) which enabled a wide variety of efficiency options, the flexibility to seek out opportunities. One of the many abilities was that of electric-only propulsion. Back then, the threshold for it was 42 MPH.

The redesign many, many years later changed that to 46 MPH... giving us a clue that more had actually happened behind the scenes. Toyota had altered the carriers on the PSD to allow a greater range of operation. They had added another carrier, changed the tooth-count, replaced the reduction gear with another PSD, and increased the RPM range of both the generator & traction motors.

We now had an EV button. It worked different than the EV we were familiar with though (often referred to as "Stealth" mode). It delivered much more power, but the upper speed threshold was only 25 MPH. Research as to why revealed that it was a factor of battery draw. More electricity meant more power, but it was limited to what the battery could deliver.

Then came along PHV, the plug-in model of Prius. It used a more powerful battery-pack. And sure enough, both EV power & speed were increased... without any change to the existing design.

Sure, owners of the 2010 model (like myself) were able to find a practical use for the EV button in the regular model, but that wasn't the point. It was simply a nice benefit.

Notice how often those desperate to discredit Toyota claim PHV was a scramble to compete? They insist the plug-in delivered is just an afterthought. They refuse to acknowledge it was part of the existing design, that the current generation took into account the ability to support a better battery all along. Toyota understands the market and is well aware of what it takes to counteract undermining, both intentional and what comes about through assumption. The button is proof of that.

 

It's primarily designed for parking lots and subdivisions. It's made to allow more throttle than the standard stealth mode but at the cost of lower speed. It's great for leaving a sporting event or concert and sitting in the parking lot for a long while.

 

as stated somewhere else, the ev button was not included on the gen II and was added by popular demand on the gen III. sometimes we get what we ask for.

 

Good point. There was quite a number of requests for it...

 

they probably figured they'd throw us a bone, it was already abroad and the wiring is there. i'm glad they listen, that's one reason we have the pip!

 

I've always been an engine block heater (EBH) advocate because it does wonders for morning start ups. Get one and your problem of No-EV-ICE-Cold problem will be solved. I use it all-year round even in summer. This morning (summer over here), my start up coolant was 136F (58C) already.

That's another advantage of having a GenII with an EV button. You can hit the EV button at immediately at start up to override the warm-up and go up to 28mph before the ICE needs to turn on. It doesn't mean it's meant to be done every time, but in the long run, it will lead to premature battery failure and increased wear on ICE internals.
That's why I stopped doing it the moment i realized the potential damage.

 

The more I read this thread, the more I want summer to come...