When you need a tiny bit more Ev range

I usually succeed in keeping ICE off by driving like a snail when no one is behind me! I agree with you about ICE kill switch.

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Yes my Ford Energi has this tech except it's not a button; it does it automatically (can be turned off in menu) after learning common destinations like home, work, etc. They call it EV+ mode.

 

Just a thought but Google Earth can give you a fairly accurate altitude profile along any defined route. If you can safely minimize the speed going up grade, it will reduce the highest loads and greatest energy losses. On the downgrades, you might want to experiment with "N" vs "D".

Have you checked the tire pressure recently? Perhaps time to go to maximum sidewall?

GOOD LUCK!
Bob Wilson

 

So yes, N and D would both work on larger downhills, but are you saying that N is better as it would recharge the battery faster? How about the best mode to be in? EV, HV or Auto EV?

 

we've been asking for this button since fotomoto told us about his ford. it's in the 'what do you want in the next pip' thread over and over. it was disappointing that toyota didn't embrace it.

i can't tell you how many times my engine his come on within a mile of my destination, and many in the last few feet.

 

Ford most likely has a patent on it. Why wouldn't they?

 

if it's patentable, i would. genius.

 

Could it be that Toyota is protecting the traction battery by not allowing it to be discharged below certain percentage? In a LEAF forum, I've read not to leave battery below 20% or above 80% because charging in low/high areas makes the degradation worse.

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Make sense. When the expected travel distance is slightly beyond EV range (for me, it may be 38-40 miles with my local driving), I experimented with switching to HV on Hwy when EV range dropped to minimum I need off Hwy v.s. letting the traction battery being used up. It is vain of me to care about this, but Eco score board shows better MPG with latter. So, I most often just let the battery used up on Hwy. I find that Prime is more agressive in utilizing battery even in HV mode compared to PIP.

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My experience is that when I punch over from EV mode to HV the battery just keeps on powering the vehicle - presumably drawing from the HV portion of the battery.

 

What does the Prime do when the gas tank is empty and your out of EV range?

 

I've got plenty of gas. I usually save 8 - 10 miles of EV range for the end of my commute. So, I'm tooling along at 55 mph in EV and push the button to switch to HV. According to the energy transfer screen the motor doesn't start up for 2 - 5 miles. I presume that lag is driving the car in the HV portion of the battery.

 

It may still use the battery, but it's the ice firing that'a the problem.
Even if it only let you do it every so many miles, it would be great.

 

My Volt doesn't

If the tank is empty and I have zero miles of range it goes another 3-6 miles in what's called reduced propulsion mode.

The tank is monitored very closely so the engine does not fire until you add about 1.5 gallons of fuel.

My guess is the Prime would do the same but someone would need to test it and make a tank spoofer if it works

 

There have been several times when I've run out of EV range a few hundred feet from home. It's really frustrating to know that the battery could still get me there, but now I've got a cold engine to let run long enough to warm up (which only takes about 2 minutes here this time of year). Sure, it's charging the battery, but I can charge it cheaper on home current. Not to mention the time involved. How hard would it be for the engineers to program in some kind of override?

The only reason I can think of not to do that is that, while warming up, the car still draws quite a bit from the battery to reduce the load on the ICE. If you ran it down too far using some kind of override, it might violate the programmed rules for battery assist during ICE warmup. But I would think it could spare a couple percent for those situations.

 

Wow, is it worth to actually sit there while the engine warms up before you turn it off and leave the vehince? I guess I would just want to get home ASAP and switch the engine off, even when it's not warmed up... I mean, are you really doing that much damage to the engine by switching it off while still cold?