Auto crossing a Prime

I'd run the car in CHG while in line for the run, then HV for the actual run.

B might keep the engine revs up, but will reduce regenerative braking. In a Prime I think you're best off doing that, in a Liftback you might not be.

PWR isn't necessary - wide open throttle is wide open throttle regardless of mode. Pick the mode that gives you the best modulation of throttle for how you like to drive.

 

There’s a little sporty motivation for ya


2010 Prius IV

 

Don't know about autocross, but someone did this mod on the Plug-in Prius:

 

Nice field.

No gopher holes, stumps, ditches, stump holes,rocks, limbs - the stuff that could really wreck up a prius.

 

Autocross in a Prius, I know a guy on another form who does it in a Lincoln Town Car.
It looks like a lot of fun.
What will be your competition?

 

I autocross with the Central PA SCCA once a year so I'd be interested in seeing how your Prius standings compare to the other car.

There is a button on the right toward the top of this page for a list of the competitors, their cars, and their times from 2017's Solo Event 1:

2017 21st Century Automotive Challenge

I'm not good and don't claim to be but I did beat a Miata.

 

I run my Prime Advanced in EV and POWER mode and have "played" with getting around slower cars in moderate traffic, also dodging freeway onramp HOV lane cheaters. It ain't slaloming, but that puppy do run. Another really fun place is climbing out of Brea here in Socal, with all the twists and turns, the car is really fun! I think you could have a lot of fun slaloming against Corollas, Civics, Accords, basic Ford Fiestas & Focus, Fusions. The tires are CRITICAL. Strip everything easily removed from the car; lower gasoline level to minimum. Locate nearby L2 charger. HAVE FUN!!

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Very cool!! The EV mode feels very quick to me, and coupled with the POWER mode setting the car feels quite responsive for that relatively slow speed of slaloming. Definitely play with the tires; I assume you have a "can" of compressed air to adjust tire pressures; that's usually quicker than using a 12 volt compressor.
You should contact the AROSC (Alfa Romeo Owners of Southern California) who have offered "other" car categories. They hold a number of different competition events from slaloming to solo 1, and rallying. I haven't been in touch with them for many years, so I hope they're still active. Good luck!!


Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I just noticed that you're in Virginia? Alfa Romeo Owners National Club was one of the biggest and oldest sportscar clubs in the U.S. You'll probably find a local, welcoming chapter that holds events in your area.


Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

was gonna ask if you are/were planning to to use EV at all and if you were/are what ya plannin to do with B when the ICE kicks on?
Alas: I see that issue was address in the first two replies....
OdaTORment

 

They are i the ski country mountains of Virginia. I am sure they are familiar with various types of slaloming.


Wintergreen Resort, Premier Blue Ridge Mountain Virginia Vacation and Ski Resort

 

My butt dyno -based answer would be to run in EV mode, assuming you have a pretty tight course. I feel like the pedal mapping and power curve is pretty different between EV and HV modes (where HV modes have the car spending more time revving up the engine - soaking up precious time when you're transitioning out of corners).

If you get lots of runs in like our local Miata club likes to do, you might as well try both a few times and see how you average out.

Also: there's understeer, but I can't help but feel like moving to stickier tires would come at some cost due to much greater rolling resistance (I ran AD08s on my other Prius for a while).

 

But for most owners the Prime runs in HV mode quite a lot. I know the traction battery is divided into EV and HV sections, I had thought that's probably just a virtual separation done in the software, but maybe there are actually two separate groups of cells within the battery case, one group set aside for EV and a smaller group of cells used for HV, with each group of cells optimized for that particularly use.

 

If that is the case they need to make it clear that the Prime is not a Hybrid but an EV with a large range extender. The large extender disqualifies it from officially being classed as an EV by CARB.