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Anyone Know Why Prius Has No Auto Off Feature?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Matt Hirn, Jun 22, 2013.

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  1. szgabor

    szgabor Active Member

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    Where did you get that ?? sure you can. Not with the remote ... BUT

    Sure you can lock the doors with the little key in the fob !!!!! No problem did many times !!!

    Just sayin..............
     
    #41 szgabor, Jun 23, 2013
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    read through the threads and don't see it as a reason toyota can't do it. just my opinion.:)
     
    #42 bisco, Jun 23, 2013
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    a thought came to me in a dream last night, what if it acted like a computer and powered down after so many minutes of the gas pedal not being pushed?
     
    #43 bisco, Jun 23, 2013
  4. Matt Hirn

    Matt Hirn Junior Member

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    I might consider writing to Toyota about this. I don't think that having the issues surrounding it sorted out is essential when making such a recommendation to them. Given the maturity of the Prius product line and the existing three beep warning, I am guessing that Toyota's design engineering team gave it more than passing thought. The three beeps appears to be their simulation of the engine running in a conventional car.

    More than anything else, Toyota probably considered how frequently people hop out of the car to do some quick task and then hop back in. In the northern states we start the car in winter to get the heater/defroster going to work on the frost and snow while we get our scraper and scrape the exterior of the glass. We leave the car running when we pull up to a friend's house and run up to the door to grab an item from them and quickly return. We have people delivering newspapers and exiting the vehicle with it running dozens of times on their daily route. While a 15 minute timer would cover these scenarios and probably could be implemented using existing components, one gets into the discussion of what is the primary driving force behind adding the feature. Is it safety and liability? Well, 15 minutes is a big gap for safety. If it is convenience (preventing the waste of fuel and/or damage to the 12 volt battery) then we get back to scenarios where people want to be out of the car and leave it in the ready mode for long periods of time.

    One may conclude that the function of a car is to provide safe, reliable and convenient transportation. In which case, the added safety of an auto off feature after 15 minutes while also providing ample warning that the car is in ready mode when the driver exits through auditory and visual cues does improve safety and convenient reliability in most scenarios. Savvy users could still circumvent the feature by tricking the door switch by pressing it with the door open or exiting through a different door to allow for use as a generator and other uncommon events while not supporting the idea of leaving something as potentially dangerous as a car idling and unattended.

    I started this discussion to fully understand why there is no power off feature and I received far more thoughtful insight then I was expecting. I've learned about unusual Prius scenarios, became fully aware of how the current design actually works in all situations and even discussed a little consumer design engineering to second guess Toyota's already thoughtful design. I appreciate the time that so many people have taken to respond as you did. Thanks.
     
    #44 Matt Hirn, Jun 23, 2013
  5. chengisk

    chengisk Junior Member

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    I do not understand the problem here. Once the battery and gas runs out, it will shut itself down. My old chevy did that all the time :( .
     
    #45 chengisk, Jun 23, 2013
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  6. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    So what you're saying is when I back my car out of the garage then get out to close the garage door it will shut off?
    No thanks! Glad none of you are Toyota engineers!
    Poorly thought out and poorly said.
    I like the car just the way it is. Poor people, the car won't think for you!
     
    #46 David Beale, Jun 23, 2013
  7. PLSPUSH

    PLSPUSH Active Member

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    lots of cars have this ability already, but they will only drive a few hundred feet before shutting down
     
    #47 PLSPUSH, Jun 23, 2013
  8. PLSPUSH

    PLSPUSH Active Member

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    edited because of ignorance
     
    #48 PLSPUSH, Jun 23, 2013
  9. Matt Hirn

    Matt Hirn Junior Member

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    Yeah, the conversation progressed past the whole smart key idea. A failed key fob would also be problematic. To be sure, the existing design is well thought out. Thanks for the welcome! All of you experienced Prius owners have been amazingly helpful!
     
    #49 Matt Hirn, Jun 23, 2013
  10. Matt Hirn

    Matt Hirn Junior Member

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    Thanks for sharing. Clearly designs are changing as new technology becomes available. Discussions like this one provide lots of food for thought.
     
    #50 Matt Hirn, Jun 23, 2013
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  11. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    What if the car were designed in such a way that when you get out to close your garage door, the car turns off, and when you get back in, it turns on?

    Also, I agree with you that no car will think for the driver. However, many items added to a car are simply a matter of convenience.
    When we first test drove a Prius I considered the Smart Key system an unnecessary gimmick. I soon found how incredibly convenient it was and swore I would never buy a car without it (with one small exception).
     
    #51 Zythryn, Jun 23, 2013
  12. stevemcelroy

    stevemcelroy Active Member

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    I'm truly interested in just how the system in your Dodge works. How do they safeguard against the car turning off when it should not? For example it is well known that cell phones can interfere with the fob. What happens if during the drive the phone and fob wind up next to each other. I have to assume that even Chrysler would not allow the car to turn off while driving down the highway, though any company that sold the Seibring, PT Cruiser, Compass, Avenger and Caliber all at the same time is capable of anything.
     
    #52 stevemcelroy, Jun 23, 2013
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  13. PLSPUSH

    PLSPUSH Active Member

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    I'm not sure how to answer that. I do carry my phone and keys in the same pocket and have not had any problems. And yes it will turn off when being driven if the fob is not in it, so unlike my prius it cannot be stolen if I leave it runnig.
     
    #53 PLSPUSH, Jun 23, 2013
  14. KyleT

    KyleT Junior Member

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    I really like the idea of having auto-off feature. It would prevent car jacking, stealing... or someone forgets to leave it on for days in his/her garage. Toyota can use the same seat-pressure sensor which is used to turn on/off the air bag at the front passenger seat to turn the car off as a kill switch. If someone doesn't like it, he/she can deactivate this feature at any time.
     
    #54 KyleT, Jun 23, 2013
  15. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    We've already discussed this in another thread. It adds another point of failure that could potentially cause an unexpected shutdown or inability to restart.
     
    #55 cwerdna, Jun 23, 2013
  16. PLSPUSH

    PLSPUSH Active Member

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    I'm sure the same thing was said at one time about power brakes or airbags or...........
     
    #56 PLSPUSH, Jun 23, 2013
  17. jgilliam1955

    jgilliam1955 Sometime your just gotta cry! 2013 Prius 4.

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    Maybe a software change can give the driver a choice to enable or disable this feature. Being able to have the car go through a car wash with out cutting off is important to some people.
    I can see both sides. I have come close leaving my car on & I have decided I just have to learn a new way to operate this car.
    Like a new computer.
     
    #57 jgilliam1955, Jun 24, 2013
  18. stevemcelroy

    stevemcelroy Active Member

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    But turning off your car when you are done is the old way.
     
    #58 stevemcelroy, Jun 24, 2013
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  19. 3PriusMike

    3PriusMike Prius owner since 2000, Tesla M3 2018

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    Here is how to auto shutoff should work:

    If the car is placed in park AND the driver seat pressure goes from on to off (maybe this is optional) AND the driver door is opened and shut AND the SKS key presence not detected (3 beeps given) AND X minutes elapsed with "no" changes to the above state, then auto shutdownthe car . The X minutes can default to something like 15 minutes and maybe is a user setting.

    This nicely solves the "I accidentally left the car on" scenario.
    It also allows 15 minutes for running back into the house, delivery services, etc.
    It also allows a moving car to properly operate as it does now if you accidentally lose the key, its battery goes dead, spouse took it, etc.
    It also allows for using the car as an emergency generator...all you have to do change the state of any of the triggers a second time after you park the car...such as open and shut the door an extra time. If you intend to use the car in an out of the ordinary way, it should be no problem to have some extra action required to enable this mode.

    Mike
     
    #59 3PriusMike, Jun 24, 2013
  20. Matt Hirn

    Matt Hirn Junior Member

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    Exactly what I was thinking after going through this discussion and giving it some thought with the exception of maybe a couple more beeps when exiting and pairing it with the flashers going at the same time.Very well stated. Thanks Mike.
     
    #60 Matt Hirn, Jun 24, 2013
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