When E power used up, engine makes noise when accelerating

Hybrid cars are a balance between electric and gas engine... The lower the charge you have remaining on your battery pack, the harder the engine has to work. Many make the mistake of trying to only use the electric part, which then over-uses the gas engine to recharge the battery. So the less you try to drive all electric, the less noisy the engine. Many just recommend driving it and not thinking about it because the car is designed to take care of itself. But if you're interested in max MPG do a google search on "pulse and glide" driving technique and then start practicing.

 

The OP has a Prime. I think most of what PriusCamper is saying does not apply to the Prime. Actually, the more I drive all electric the less noisy the engine as the engine is not being used. However, when the engine only is being used it is more noisy than the engine in a comparable ICE car. Not sure why that is.

 

Have you driven a regular gas powered car before?

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Yes, the engine noise is normal

 

"Pulse and glide" is a technique relevant for non-plugin hybrids, where all of the power ultimately comes from the gasoline engine. It is a technique to keep the gasoline engine running only at its most efficient RPM, or else be off. I guess it apply to the Prime if one is using it as non-plugin hybrid, when the traction battery is discharged.

 

My Prime has more intake noise than other cars I've had. Nothing wrong with that, just a bit different. Intake noise is the sound of the air pulled into the engine when the throttle is quite a bit open...lots of push on the gas pedal.

 

how do you differentiate it from other sounds during hard acceleration?

 

It sounds different from exhaust or other noises, and is only present during hard acceleration or steep hills at speed. This sound is totally dependent on how much I mash the accelerator pedal while the engine is running which opens the throttle butterfly.

 

Is this your first car with an Atkinsonized cycle engine?
The intake valves are left open for a bit at the beginning of the compression stroke. So some of the air-fuel mix gets pushed back into the air intake manifold. This gives the efficiency benefits of a high compression engine without needing high octane fuel. It just trades of power output. You might be noticing that in the sound.