Hi there all I have noticed that when I am driving to work (about 4.5 miles), all city driving, with some hills (up and down) . . . That twice now, while I have driven to work (more downhills than up), on the steepest downhill incline, for some reason the HV kicks on, and it starts using gas, even though I have plenty of EV range to get to work. Anybody can make a possible guess for why the HV/gas turns on? (Most days, I drive to work on all EV and it uses about 2 of the range EV miles to travel 4.5 miles, due to the downhill/regeneration - - - Then, going home I use 6 miles to go the same distance because of mostly uphill driving) Today shortly after I realized the engine was running I turned off the engine and then turned it back on to get back on the EV driving. Thanks bunches for feedback janie
My engine starts up while traveling in EV mode, also. When it is really disconcerting is when it starts up while stopped at a light. This happens with the climate control system in the Off position. What someone in another thread has said is that you need to have the climate control temperature set on the Lowest setting in the warm part of the year to keep the engine from coming on. Usually when it runs, it is for less than a mile just to get the coolant temp up if you need the engine later. I have also read the the engine needs to run every couple hundred miles of straight EV running. This may be just to run some fuel through the fuel system.
my engine never starts in ev mode. make sure your temp is set to low and you don't press the gas pedal too hard. if your battery is full and you go down a large hill, the engine may start to burn off the extra charge. what do you mean by 'i turned off the engine and turned it back on'?
I have the air conditioner/heater always in off position, and I press the gas pedal very gently. What I meant by that statement was I pulled off to the side of the street and parked the car, and turned the car off, and then restarted the car, and then it was back in EV mode - then I proceeded to drive the final 2 miles in EV mode. Usually on weekends I make long drives on the freeway that are more HV, and during the work week is when I do mainly in city driving (less than 40 mph) for the EV driving.
thank you. turn the fan on and make sure the temp says 'low'. you can run the a/c (it's electric) but not the heat. other than that it should only be the downhill with a full battery.
Hahaha- I have always made sure the fan and a/c and heater was off so that I could get the most EV range - even when I am hot, so I open my windows to get some ventilation going . . . So, to make sure I understand what you are saying: turn the fan on, and make sure it says 'low' on the temperature. Will that make the a/c turn on with the temperature set to low? I thought that when the a/c is on, it decreases the EV range? Will having the fan on help so that I don't go into HV even though I have enough EV to get to work? Thanks
No, the fan if set to high will start the engine, also if you get the car into the PWR band that will start the engine. If you have used all electric for a few day's, after 124 miles the car will start the engine for a short period of time.
Thank you - I didn't realize that the car's engine needs to be on for a short period of time after a few day's of all electric. I just filled up the tank on Monday morning and had been using all electric about the past 70 miles before the electric went on. Is it better to have the fan off or is it better to be on low? What is the PWR band? Thanks much
If the goal is to avoid the engine starting up, then what matters is if the climate control calls for heat. The set temperature can be a few degrees above the outside temperature before this happens. I don't think there is an exact threshold, as the system varies when heating/cooling are used based on temperature, sunlight, and humidity to determine the settings that feel most comfortable for the occupants. Turning the fan off turns off the climate control, so it ensures there is no heat, but then you also have no climate control at all. On the Hybrid Synergy Indicator, the small bar to the very right that is labeled PWR. In EV mode if you get up to this band, the engine kicks in.
Thanks for the explanation and also the photo what is meant by the power band. That is helpful. So, I just wanted to clarify my understanding- if I have the climate control shut off, that should not cause my engine to kick in? Albeit, I and my passengers may not be comfortable if I keep it off? PS- this is off topic, but how do you all get your average mpg from fuelly showing up as the footer on your messages you post?
Yes and yes. FAQ: How do I use a Fuelly forum signature/badge? | Fuelly Use the BBCode one in your signature.
If your climate control is off, it sounds like on these steep downhill descents, you're regenerating electricity back into the battery to the point where it can not accept anymore charge and starts up the engine to prevent additional regeneration. I ran into the same situation before figuring out what was happening. Now, I try to brake later, utilizing the friction brakes more (rather than regenerating). You can also put it in Neutral, although that may be against the law, unsafe, etc etc. anyhow, since then, I haven't run into the engine starting at the start of my commute down the hill.
Thank you Tracksyde, that is very helpful to help me understand Thanks ryogajyc on how to get info on the fuelly forum signature badge Also Thanks also to everyone who posted comments/information on this thread
i'm saying to turn the fan on to see what the temp setting is, decrease it all the way down to 'low', if it isn't already, then turn the fan off. if a/c is off and 'auto' is off, the a/c won't come on and the engine won't come on for heating reasons. if the temp is above 'low', it might cause the engine to start even if everything else is off.
Mine does the same thing when I first get going from home. I have about a mile drive down a small hill. Even with the AC on full blast the engine will come on when I'm just about to the bottom of the hill. I believe the reason is as tracksyde points out. The battery cannot take anymore charge and to prevent more regeneration the engine kicks on. The engine stays on for a brief period and when the battery falls below full charge the ICE turns off.
