Featured Toyota cars will now turn themselves off if you forget

That's disappointing. I was expecting the wide spread use of auto stop/start among their non-hybrids to match what other companies are doing to get better fuel economy and emissions. These announced systems are for when people forget the turn off the car or put it in park before walking away. Granted, a safety concern, but of smaller impact than having all your cars turn off their engines at stops.

 

that'll be hopeful to those who get out with the car in drive and watch it sail down the street

will the auto engine shutoff kill prius camping?

 

My 2005 knew not to lock the doors when the SKS fob was in the car. So this doesn't have to kill Prius use for camping or emergency power.

 

the article doesn't mention doors being locked or unlocked. just that the engine will be shut off after a predetermined period of time.

 

Will it shut off and go into park while driving down the road or sitting at a drive through?

The announcement has no technical details, but the gist of why Toyota is doing this is because, despite current alerts, people are regularly not turning off the car, putting it in park, or both when they are done using the car. The most likely happens with SKS equipped cars. Again, no details, but my guess is these systems will be looking for the fob's location to trigger activation. A SKS car already does so when determining if it is okay to lock the doors.

 

good point, could very well be. otoh, how many people who leave the car running, or in drive, leave the fob in the car?
will be interesting to see what it entails, there have always been complaints about the car staying on when you walk away with the fob.

 

That's why the car beeps when you do.

 

right, they mention that. this will be another level of safety.

 

Or annoyance, depending on how you look at it.

 

true

 

I would hope this shut off feature is selectable as on or off in the car's menu. There might be reasons you would want the car to remain on. Camping, power generating, etc.

 

Toyota adds engine shut-off feature for safety - CNN

Starting with the 2020 model year:

"Toyota cars and SUVs with push-button ignitions will now turn themselves off after being parked for a period of time, even if the driver didn't hit the "Engine Off" button."

"Toyota will also add features to some vehicles that will automatically shift it into park when the vehicle is turned off. This system will be available only on vehicles with electronic gear selectors rather than mechanical levers."

 

"... automatically shift it into park when the vehicle is turned off ..." - all TOYOTA hybrids do this (at least the last couple of generations.

The "automatic turn off" could be frustrating to those who use them for camping, they leave it running with Climate control running - and it'll go for a week or 2 (?) - well, overnight - till it runs out of petrol. Maybe there will be an over-ride?

 

Yeah, the autopark has been around for a while now. I'm guessing they want to add it to more of their models. When I read about the auto turn off, the campers were the first ones to come to my mind also. An over-ride would be a good idea.

 

I believe the issue mostly involves cars with SKS, and more models have it these days. When the fob can stay in your pocket or purse means not needing to remove a key or fob from the ignition. Which makes it easier to forget the engine shut down step.So it's easy to walk away with the fob in pocket with the car running.

With the spread of electric parking brakes, other companies are already having them auto engage when the car is placed in park or shutdown.

 

https://priuschat.com/threads/12jun2019-toyota-press-release.207158

Electric parking brakes are becoming common, so they can be part of the auto park routine.

 

Hmmm, missed that thread, thanks.

 

Unless they give the option to disable this feature, RIP Prius Camping.