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ECO mode differences include ICE cutoff threshold?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by wfolta, Jul 20, 2009.

  1. wfolta

    wfolta Active Member

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    There have been some discussions of what, exactly, ECO mode does. So far, it's been noted that:

    1. The Air Conditioner is somehow throttled in ECO mode for better mileage.

    2. The gas pedal is less sensitive in the lower end of its travel, so you have to push farther to get the same amount of acceleration as in Normal mode.

    I think I've noticed something else, now that I'm trying Normal mode: the ICE's cutoff is less aggressive than in ECO mode.

    That is, you can let off the gas and, depending on speed, etc, the ICE will not immediately cut out. I particularly noticed this today when turning into a garage and the ICE -- as indicated by a low instantanouse MPG indication -- stayed on for 4-5 seconds after I'd completely let off the pedal.

    I've been driving exclusively in ECO mode for over a month and I'm used to the MPG immediately shooting to 100 within a second or so of letting completely off of the gas -- indicating ICE off I believe -- and really shocked me when the MPG stayed at 50 for 4-5 seconds.

    Anyone else noticed this?
     
    #1 wfolta, Jul 20, 2009
  2. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    The 4-5 seconds idling is the new idling check ceremony after complete warming up on the 3G Prius.

    Ken@Japan
     
    #2 ken1784, Jul 20, 2009
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    What was it before?
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, Jul 21, 2009
  4. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    The 2G Prius idling check ceremony is required a complete stop or very slow less than walking speed.

    Ken@Japan
     
    #4 ken1784, Jul 21, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  5. wfolta

    wfolta Active Member

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    I noticed slight pauses in ICE cut -- say 1-2 seconds -- a couple of times during the day, this was just so long I feared something was broken. It came at the end of a 12-mile drive, so I don't think it was directly related to warmup. Of course, Mr. Prius might've been a little cranky and not realized he was warmed up until he was about to be parked.

    I've not experienced anything like it in a month of ECO-mode driving, so it seemed like it was perhaps a Normal mode thing.
     
    #5 wfolta, Jul 21, 2009
  6. wvgasguy

    wvgasguy New Member

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    I have not noticed the shut off as being unusual (as compared to my old TCH). However what I have noticed as compared to my TCH is that the Prius will "hold" to EV mode a lot better than the TCH. If I lift my foot and reapply throttle I can go up a grade that previously my TCH would have kicked on the ICE. The Prius seems to be able to manipulate a lot more than the TCH.

    Yesterday I drove into town. On the way back I took a long route just to experiment. It's a rural road (a typical WV road with small rolling hills) with little or no traffic and the limits run 25, 35 and 40 most of the way. I went into town and on the first 4.5 miles my avg was reading 99.9. I was getting down to a couple of energy bars left and was curious then on a little bit longer drive when my ICE would need to come on, what would happen to my milage. Rather than repeat the trip I took the long route. The ICe would only run a short time to bring me back up a few bars, never to the higher levels though. I was getting 85+ mpg. By the time I got back to my garage (it's a quarter mile up a steep hill) I had a little over 70 mpg for the 11 mile trip.

    I typically average about 47. I can see though with a little practice and if you lived in a low traffic area with lower speed limits in flat land, this thing will perform unbelievably well.
     
    #6 wvgasguy, Jul 22, 2009
  7. Prius2010818

    Prius2010818 New Member

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    I just bought a 2010 Prius iV. I read the manual which states as long as the traction battery is charged, you can drive it on EV (battery only) for up to 1 mile as long as you dont exceed 25mph. Everytime I try this, when I hit 10mph, it turns off as unavailable because "exceeded allowable mph"

    What am I doing wrong?
     
    #7 Prius2010818, Jul 29, 2009
  8. LulzChicken

    LulzChicken Prius Enthusiast

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    I'm experiencing the exact same thing, so your not alone..:confused:
     
    #8 LulzChicken, Jul 29, 2009
  9. jaywolf

    jaywolf Member

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    I can get up to about 20mph but anything over shuts off EV, It doesn't necessarily start the ice but the EV mode shuts off.
     
    #9 jaywolf, Jul 29, 2009
  10. ken1784

    ken1784 SuperMID designer

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    10mph: before warming up
    25mph: after warming up

    Ken@Japan
     
    #10 ken1784, Jul 29, 2009
    2 people like this.
  11. MikeDS

    MikeDS Member

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    It also appears you can get bumped out of EV mode my pushing too hard down on the accelerator. I've been using EV on the last mile home in my neighborhood and noticed today going up a hill it kicked me out when I was trying to accelerate up the hill.
     
    #11 MikeDS, Jul 30, 2009
  12. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    Where exactly is the "hybrid system indicator" showing when
    you get kicked out of EV? From what I gather the centerline
    isn't necessarily a hard visible limit, it's a little variable.
    .
    _H*
     
    #12 hobbit, Jul 30, 2009
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