Hybrid System Indicator and Stealth

I've been trying to figure that out myself. The car is just too quiet and the HSD is too smooth. Either that, or I just haven't been able to get accustomed to it yet.

I had relied for awhile on the Gen2 Energy Screen for the feedback I needed, until I got to the point of really feeling my way through it.

I don't really like the similar screen in the 2010. It is small, the "car" is aligned differently, and there isn't much color -- the feedback is just not the same. It may be no issue for those who didn't have the earlier model Prius, but I just am not ready to adjust to that screen. I've also defaulted to the HSI.

I cannot for the life of me figure out exactly what that screen is supposed to do. I get the "Charge" end of things and the red "Power" end -- pretty big clues as to what is going on. I'd like to know why there is a vertical line in the center of the screen. Anybody? Bueller?

I think the closest I come to deadbanding is getting that HSI screen clear of anything on the charge side, while also keeping the indicator to the left of the vertical line. The MPG indicator suddenly spiking also is a good clue!

 

I'm not sure but what I understand from my different readings is that the line represent the point where the engine starts/stops to assist the electric motor...

 

here is what I figured out, and if I can find it again, I'll post the link tot he 20201 Hypermiler review.

Once the engine is heated enough to shut down the ICE, any amount of bar on the left of the center line = electric only. If the bar is in the charge then you are regen ... if you hold the accelerator so that it's not charging and not electric, you are in "glide" or deadband.
Once you pass the center divider the ICE kicks on. To turn it off, let off the accelerator until the bar falls below 30% on the electric side (if it doesn't kick off, then it's charging the battery). As far as when you are using the ICE and recharging the battery, I haven't figured out how to tell on this screen and have to push the Info button 5 times to get the the car display

FWIW,
Jay

 

Found it: 2010 Prius Preview: A Hypermiler's perspective

 

My ICE always starts once the indicator passes to the right of the middle line. I seem to remember that once in EV mode the ICE did not kick in when I passed the line.

 

There can be an arrow. When the battery feeds the motor for thrust and the engine is stopped, it is stealth. In other words...

0 RPM maintaining 41 MPH in the Classic & Iconic models

0 RPM maintaining 45 MPH in the 2010 model

Glide is the term for no arrow.
.

 

OK. I'm still trying to figure some of these things out. John: You and I talked about this one, and I agree with you on the MPH, though I thought it was still at 0 RPM at 46 mph (but you have the Scangauge, don't you?). The problem is that I can't see when there is regen during a high MPG ICE run. It used to be easy to see in the Energy screen, but I just can't see it the same way.

Has something changed here? I would think there is still plenty of time when the ICE is running, the HV is being charged AND the ICE is driving the wheels. Like Jay, I just can't seem to see it on the HSI.

Dave: Is that what you are getting at?

 

I had thought that getting to the point of not "even a sliver on the HSI" was pretty easy, and I think it is. What I've found, though, is that the "not even a sliver" ("NEAS" - I'm using it too often) view on HSI does not necessarily mean glide. It could be a stealth indicator, I suppose, but not necessarily a glide indicator.

I've gotten to the NEAS position and then flicked on the energy screen -- and I've found I'm either in reg or battery use. It may be small amounts, but it was still happening. I've then feathered the accelerator to get no arrows, and the HSI is still in the NEAS position. (Yes, this was done in the 45mph & under world.) Perhaps the amount of energy going either way is very small, but I was still hoping the HSI would be a better indicator of glide.

I'm becoming more accustomed to the new energy screen, but it is nearly worthless when I'm wearing polarized sunglasses. The red just about disappears then, and I can only see the white arrows. Unfortunately, I haven't seen the arrows change color with direction, either.

If only this car was louder or the HSD "bumpier" -- then I'd know just where I was at!

 

FWIW, I read the manual on use of the ECO display. It says to try to accelerate without going into the 3rd "power" region. It also says when you get to speed, back off the accelerator and then feather up to speed. Both of these I think we already knew and can all agree on (unless we just feel like mashing the pedal!).

It then goes on to say for best overall all results (once you are up to speed), try to stay in the lower portion of the middle region, i.e., below the centerline, because that will make the car more likely to use the electrical system. My question is whether that advice is correct, or would result in more use of the batteries, in violation of hypermiler dogma.

Should I instead aim at going just above the line, into the white, so as to ensure the engine is running, unless I'm sure I'm gliding or coasting? Frankly, I'm finding that is not even possible a lot of the time, since trying to go above the line would cause me to exceed the speed limit on slower streets, i.e., I'm sort of forced to use battery only (non-glide) mode in some situations. Sorry if I'm mangling the hypermiler lingo.

 

I avoided it for the first two weeks, though mainly because it was a different orientation. I'm more accustomed to it, so I see how it has its purposes, but I don't see it as a "main screen" for me. The HSI, even though I don't yet know what it really means, is the one I'm drawn to consistently.

I've wondered about that, but trying to keep it at the center line in acceleration is not a comfortable place in traffic. I'm always at least 3/4 to the right, much closer to, if not in, the POWER area. What really bothers me is that I used the energy screen mainly for measuring acceleration. My goal was to use all of the ICE power for and during acceleration -- have the battery neither use nor receive juice during acceleration. I can't do that with the current energy screen, and I can't yet see the equivalent on the HSI. If you think the center line IS that point, then I'll have a real measure. If that's the case, however, I'll need to drop ECO mode during those times.

Hey. I know this is all code for political talk! Take it to FHOP, buddy.

Please keep a good record of it!