Switching in and out of EV mode while driving

even in HV Ev will still be used. that is normal. And when EV is switched back if you're using A/C, DEFROST or any combination ICE will run. ICE will run to satisfy emissions requirements, once it's satisfied ICE will turn off and run in EV

 

but i don't think it will completely deplete the battery unless you're almost empty anyway? how many miles of ev left when you hit the hv button?

 

Shell -- I'm also confused by your statement. Try starting up the car and driving in HV mode. Does the battery still deplete from a full charge with the engine running? If it does, then there is definitely something wrong with the vehicle.

Side note .. the battery should be actually receiving a charge when you press the HV button if you are not moving because as the engine warms up, it uses the fuel to add charge to the battery. The only way to see what's going on is to possibly get a scan gauge 2 to see how much energy the vehicle is pulling. Hard to tell without the SG.

 

i'm pretty sure you can switch back and forth at any time.

 

I do it all the time and never had anything unusual surface.

 

Since pushing the HV/EV buttons switches the system to hybrid mode, that comment is a contradiction. My guess is you are actually still in EV mode. Are you aware that the engine will run then? When it does, you get a major boost of electricity from the battery rather than the modest amount HV mode would provide. We've coined this EV-BOOST.

Look at your MPG while cruising on the highway. If it is 50'ish, you're in HV mode. If it is pegged at 100 MPG, you're still in EV mode.

Notice the symbol differences...

EV


EV-BOOST


HV

 

If you are in EV mode but exceed 62 mph then you will be using both the engine and battery/motor.
Have you tried EV mode on slower roads?
Have you tried switching to HV right after starting with a full charge...your EV miles should stay close to full.

Mike

 

No, that would defeat the point of being a hybrid. Even in HV mode, the battery-pack will still be taken advantage of. The difference is the draw is less.

 

I believe you have a problem that needs to be repaired.

When I go on a longer (30 mi +) trip I always save my EV miles for where they are most efficient, on the flat for mileage and downhill for mileage and regeneration. I do this by switching the to HV for hills small and large. The car always goes into HV when requested and the battery SOC stays reasonably close to where it was when the EV to HV switch was made. There are exceptions, if the battery is fully charged the SOC will go down to around 70% and stay in that region. Since I use HV to go up hills some, but not all, of the battery may be used depending on what the computer thinks is appropriate. This generally amounts to 5% of SOC. There is never any problem switching back to full EV if the usual conditions are met.

 

o/p, it sounds like a chip may have been fried, or logic scrambled. i think you have to go back to the dealer and show them. all the best!

 

What John says is true. But to clarify... When you switch off EV mode, wanting to "save" the battery for later you aren't guaranteed to maintain your EV miles being displayed...but you do generally get to save most of it. It should not go from, for example, 10 miles remaining down to zero while driving 20 or 30 miles. I can usually switch to HV with 10 miles remaining, go 10 or 20 miles and still have 9 miles remaining. This is with no unusual terrain, etc.

While in HV mode the car will operate (more or less) like a regular Prius using the battery a bit when it needs to then recharging it a bit...you will see the EV miles remaining for the battery go up and down a few tenths as it does this. If you accelerate hard up a hill, for example, you will see it drop even more.

Mike

 

That's a good next step.

I'd also suggest reviewing my collection, search for "priusguru". There's a variety of driving capatured with scenery & dash info, some with an aftermarket gauge too.

 

The bolded part just caught my attention.

If you are driving in EV Mode from the time of start up until you get on the freeway then engage HV mode then the engine will be cold. The car will continue to draw EV power despite being in HV Mode until the engine has warmed up a bit. Now, in my experience, this EV power will come back up as long as you were under 72% SOC or approx. 8.9miles of range. If you switch to HV Mode with a higher SOC then the car will not charge any higher. I.e. if I switch to HV Mode with 10.6 miles of range (SOC at 80%) then the EV power will continue to draw down until it hits around 72% SOC (8.6 miles EV range).

 

I charge during rain and thunder storms. No problems at all.

 

if the car is outside, and you have a local lightning strike, then it's possible that the charge will follow the ground to a cord lying on the ground or underground power line. those can be susceptible to damage.