Prius Prime Questions

@Lee Jay
I know you were only quoted from the video...
BTW thank you for doing this, I watched it and could not understand one complete sentence, so I have abandoned it half-way through.

 

I wonder what it means that Toyota in their list of specifications for the Prime states that the rear brakes are:

Solid disc with integrated regenerative braking and Star Safety SystemTM

What do the two terms mean? How can there be regenerative braking on the rear wheels? Certainly the regenerative braking is a function of the motor generator in the transmission and is tied only to the front axel. Does "Star Safety System" refer to the antilock feature?

 

17:00-17:30 in the video.

 

1. Can the storage console between the two rear seats be removed? That gives more room for putting stuff back there.
2. One of the videos showed the dash console, and it looked like there was no "B" (engine braking) for the gear select. If so, is all "engine braking" now going into the battery?

 

Definitely has B mode.

 

I did a web search for Toyota Star Safety System. It's easy to find. Seems like just a new name for stuff I have on my Gen2.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Non plugins aren't really designed to be used in full EV mode. Certainly not for that kind of distance on any regular basis. That is definitely not recommended.

That's not what the traction battery in a non plugin hybrid is for.

It's there primarily to store recovered energy from the regen braking and get the hybrid benefits of greater efficiency and less co2 output. (This is perhaps slightly simplistic but is basically how it works.) It does this using the electric motor mostly in conjunction with the ICE and for short bursts in electric only, keeping the traction battery charge level from falling too far.

So, to me, talk of the ev range of the non plugin vehicles is misleading.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

agreed, but the point may be that a larger battery might deliver higher mpg's under certain circumstances.

 

Right, same as PiP...you have to balance the extra weight of the car against the bigger battery. Going down a a mountain, obviously the bigger battery wins. I believe EPA MPG on a PiP was a bit lower than a Gen3, so it could be less in theory, but many owners here said they could use the extra battery to advantage. Also recall Toyota says the fancy Prime front end meant taking on a little more drag Cd.

 

If it was not recommended Toyota would not include EV button and mention it in their advertising. They know how to protect the battery and seem to do it more conservatively than others, before coming to the dangerous zone - engine starts. It is, however less efficient to do it as charge is replenished inefficiently by the ICE (unless you are on top of a hill).
But @civicdriver06 question was IMO about the Prime with the lift back EV distance just as a yardstick.
I can tell you about the PiP as compared to the gen3: when in HV, it behaves very similar to the liftback it seems that the section of the battery devoted to HV is the same.
I use this "1 mile" from time to time at the end of a long trip (engine warm) to reach home on EV knowing it will soon replenish by charging from the grid.

 

A larger battery will allow more energy to be recaptured per braking event, and more braking events before it reaches full. It can also supply more power for assisting with propulsion; allowing the ICE to run for shorter times. This is how the Prime gets better hybrid efficiency over the non-plug Prius.

The gen2 Prius originally didn't have the EV button in North America. From the Japanese owner's manual, EV mode was intended only for the short moving of the car, like shuffling parking spots, and moving it out of the garage to wash, and at times when you didn't want to disturb your neighbors by having the ICE come on right away. The manual then followed with the list of when the EV mode would not engage.

The 2016 Prius manual says this, "This mode allows you to drive in residential areas late at night, or in indoor parking lots etc. without concern for noises and exhaust gas emissions," and this, "The hybrid system is designed to achieve the best possible fuel economy during normal driving (using the gasoline engine and electric motor [traction motor]). Driving in EV drive mode more than necessary may lower fuel economy."

Yet people still see it as a way to game better fuel economy, and think getting more EV miles on the non-plug in as a good thing. Putting in an EV mode is more about marketing. North America got it because people demanded it, without fully understanding what Toyota intended it for. Like how the max electric speed for the non-plug car has become another marketing spec like power and torque.

 

EV button on liftback was meant for rearranging cars on the driveway and the like. The gen 2 did not have one, it had to be modded. Overusing EV reduces battery stored energy and affects mpg too much. Toyota only included it after gen 2 because of demand. They have always argued against using it. It's not about protecting the battery, it's about efficiency. I only use mine for the last 2 short blocks of my drive to prevent ice on at 2 stop signs and backing in to garage.

 

What I said...glad the manual agrees.
I assume you quoted my post because you agree to it.

I remember using the EV button on my Gen3 before leaving a city on top of a hill with long downhill section, so more energy can be captured by the battery increasing efficiency in this particular case.

 

The Prius had an EV mode since gen1. I think Toyota didn't offer the EV switch in North America, because they thought people wouldn't read the manual, and understand what the mode was intended for. They were probably concerned about dealers fielding too many "the EV mode is broken" from the same that didn't read the manual.

 

Exactly. I modded in an EV switch on my 2004. It was very easy to overuse, but I learned quick.

Somebody mentioned turning on EV mode to get more recharge than with it off. I don't believe that's how it works, or does it?

 

Same with a 2005

Don't see how it would improve the amount of energy recaptured; that is limited by the battery chemistry, size, and temperature.

You could use EV to drain the pack before a descent some there is more room in the battery for the regen to fill. Any inclines would have to be gentle, or the car will turn off EV mode. Shows that the cases where EV mode could lead to better over all efficiency take special circumstances.

 

I didn't say that EV mode wasn't recommended. I said that using it on a regular basis to the limit of the range wasn't. You may still disagree, but that's what I said.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I believe the steering wheel plastic actually can be, using parts from the Toyota Mirai steering wheel.

As far as the white plastic around the shifter, Toyota has an applique to cover that with black plastic.