Sold my 08 and purchased new 2010 PIV today, I had not read much on the 2010 but was very surprised to find out that the EV mode was so lacking in ability. somewhere I thought that I had read that in EV the Prius would go 25 to 40 miles on the battery. What a surprise to find out that it was only capable of 1/2 mile. Am I confusing this with something else or someones mod? Still very happy with the car but really surprised that they even put the EV switch in the car. Paul
you might be confusing things. Gen III prius can be put in EV mode and travel up 25 mph for up to a mile. Or you can run silently/stealth on electric (just like a gen II) at up to 42/46 mph for short distances
Toyota is testing (not mass producing) Plug in Hybrids with 13 mile EV range. The current EV mode is great for relocating your Prius somewhere else in a parking lot, without having to warm up the ICE.
I've played with it a few times - there's a very woodsy back road near my house that an ICE seems almost vulgar on, I use it there. It's up and down but mostly down, I've been able to go about 1.5 miles between that road and some adjacent side roads. I could go more but at that point I exceed 25MPH every time. The 2010 can run in EV mode on a cold engine which, as JimboPalmer says, can be useful.
Thanks for the reply guys. This forum has so much good info on the Prius it is hard to but down the laptop. Paul
It can? I have never been able to get into EV on a cold engine. I have never been able to get up to 25mph either (hot engine, going downhill).
coolant has to be above freezing for a cold start. hmmm, I've done 35km/h before on a warm engine. Haven't tried the top speed yet.
So you are saying that even if the engine is cold, EV is possible if the coolant is above 32/0? Even last summer once the engine was an hour or two cold, I could not enter EV. The engine took longer to start up, yes but I was still not able to get into EV mode. Guess I will have to try that more this summer.
IIRC from this site. EV Drive Mode has to be activated before the engine starts. Once the engine starts (and it's a cold start), you can't enter EV Drive Mode until the engine's warmed up. Edit: Clearly I didn't remember correctly LOL. http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...e-mode-in-warm-climate-areas.html#post1024799 That's kinda high.... IOW, it's only useful in the summer. If you want to move your car in/out of the garage in the fall-winter-spring, it won't work???
As others have implied above, keep in mind that EV mode is not terribly useful. It's mostly a gimmick used to impress friends, so don't stress about it. It can be useful for repositioning a car in a parking lot, or for holding off the ICE while hypermiling, but most people will never really need it or use it effectively. Tom
Ha, I didn't see Ken's last email in that post. Explains why I was never able to get EV cold... we rarely get 68+. Ha.
After overnight in the garage, even in warm So. CA, I usually get the "EV not available" message. Now, knowing about 68º, I will try EV mode again after a "hot" night (or after driving a bit).
I've tried EV mode many times. I usually get kicked out by about 15 mph with the message that I'm going too fast. WUWT?
The lower limit is 10mph until the engine is fully warmed up, then it's 25mph. Surprised at how long it takes for the engine to warm up?? LOL
