Understanding EV

EV < 25MPH

 

As you have noticed there are two EV conditions:

1 ) You can press the EV button to force the computers to choose EV mode against their better judgement. Re-parking in a parking lot, or sneaking home late at night might be times this would seem like a good idea, but it is largely a gimmick.

2) Sometimes the computers will decide on their own that EV mode is more efficient than the gas engine. (for me this happens more often when the Cruise Control is on, I suspect the computers do not trust my right foot) This can happen at speed up to about 40 MPH.

 

Yeah, the car can choose to use EV mode over a broader range of conditions than you can. But you can usually fool it - if you've got a decent amount of power in the battery and you're not trying to accelerate or go uphill, then briefly lifting your foot right off the throttle pedal will usually prompt the car to go into EV mode, and then you can reapply just enough throttle to maintain your speed without having the engine turn on again.

I've gotten so used to doing this now that I sometimes find myself doing it out of habit when I'm driving a different car.

 

The C is different; the speed threshold is less.
In my experience, even less than advertised.
The EV button is virtually useless.

 

Actually, 40mph sounds about right for the upper limit for EV operation. It won't go that fast via the "EV Mode" button of course, but I've found that the car can decide on its own to run in EV mode up to 74km/h (46mph) as long as you have a good charge on the battery and you don't need too much throttle.

 

Electric-Only operation is based on kW draw from the battery.

If demand is low, the top EV speed will be faster and automatically engaged. This is known as "stealth" mode, since it is an inherent part of the hybrid system.

That EV button offers a mode you manually engaged. It draws more from the battery, giving you more power but at the tradeoff of a slower speed maximum.

 

Well we WERE talking about the EV button.
Both the owners manual and experience says the threshold is about 24 MPH.
Actually experience tells me that it's lower because anything more than a touch on the gas pedal results in it switching off due to "excessive acceleration".

 

This is the Prius C sub-forum and that is what the discussion is about.
The C really does not have an "electric only" mode of operation.

 

The engine stops (zero rpm) while driving continues, the propulsion power provided during that time can be labeled whatever you want. It comes exclusively from the battery-pack, which is an efficiency opportunity the hybrid system takes advantage of to deliver higher MPG.

 

It certainly can't operate in electric-only mode over its full performance range, but it can indeed operate in electric-only mode. However any attempt to push the car beyond its very modest electric-only limits will cause the internal combustion engine to kick in.

I consider the Prius C to be a "gateway drug" to the full electric operation of both pure EVs such as the Teslas, Leafs, Chevy Bolts, etc., and electric cars with range extenders such as the Chevy Volt. The C teases you with a taste of EV driving but withholds the real goods.

 

I guess it's a matter of definition.

To me an "electric only" mode means that the vehicle will operate over a modest normal range of activities with the gas engine effectively locked out. The C never does that; it really is a car powered by a gasoline engine and a battery as a "helper".

I don't see that having the engine shut off under a few narrowly defined circumstances, like when coasting or stopped or from 0 to 3 MPH, qualifies as "electric only" operation.

 

EV Mode - Button Pressed - Engine cold = 9mph max, Engine warm = 25mph max
EV Mode - Computer controller - 45mph max (varies depending on engine temperature and battery charge).

 

The electric part of the car is mainly there to provide the rarely needed performance boost to the super efficient yet underpowered gas engine. Not really there for long term or high speed solo use. But I'm preaching to the long departed choir...