I'm convinced this is a real problem with my 3-month-old 2013. When I bring it in for the 5K service, soon, this will be my No.1 issue. When running in EV mode, if you happen to start the ICE it will continue to run when you stop. In fact, it races - it doesn't just idle. I've tested this by being stationery for up to 5 minutes. This occurs not just the first time the ICE cycles on and off - it's every time. It only stops while driving (or by powering off). Anyone else?
The ICE has to complete it's warm-up cycle once it's been started up, so yes it can be running even if the car is stationary. It's happened to all of us PIP owners. The only way to interrupt the ICE warm-up cycle once it's started is to turn the ignition off. If you put the car in "eco mode" the ICE will run for a shorter amount of time in the warm-up cycle IIRC.
That's probably what they'll tell me at the dealer, but I think it's screwy. Your MPG after a short ride is either 999 or 69! - is that the way it has to be? If you press the gas too hard for 10 seconds, I don't understand why the ICE has to stay on for 5 minutes - stupid behavior when you're doing a 4-mile trip.
ICE will also kick in when engine is cold, EV battery is already full and you have a steep descent (to protect from overcharging battery). at least this one can be avoided by running AC on full blast to "bleed" some EV (kind of silly since it's usually chilly outside first thing in AM)
if you're saying that the ice will stop after warm up while you're driving, but not when you come to a stop, or runs at all after full warm up, then something is wrong. read the faq about the ice starting, then come back with questions. but yes, if you accellerate into the power zone with cold ice, it will come on and complete the warm up process for emission reasons. you can avoid this by not accellerating into the power zone. you are not the only one with this complaint, some have switched to volt for this reason.
many people dont have the correct DISPLAY screen showing, to maximize their efficiency. Use the HSI screen and watch the power bar, as you accelerate. You can power on all the way across until the RED Power section at exteme right side. That is when the ICE starts. It should never run 5 minutes, mine even in mid winter does not run that long, maybe 3 max. always keep MODE in ECO, as the pedal becomes "longer" and less "connected" to your foot. If you run POWER mode its much easier to inadvertently fire the ICE since the pedal becomes "shorter". Anytime you hear motor "race" is when its in warm up mode, which is typically fairly quick. If you are describing your symptoms accurately you may have an issue where ICE is not warming up quick enough. But Im guessing there is nothing wrong and just need to drive it like a prius, not a normal car...lol I drive mine much more briskly once ICE is on and EV is gone....but when in EV drive like there is an EGG under your pedal. Dan
I beg to differ. I experimented with that very premise in mine just last night to get some real-world data. Now that temperatures are dropping (it was 46°F then), I specifically wanted to find out what a drive normally all-electric would result in with engine warm-up. It was just a 3.0 mile drive. The maximum speed was 45 mph. There were several stoplights. About halfway into the one-way trip, I dropped the pedal hard to fire up the cold engine. Coolant temperature reached 130°F about a block before reaching my house, automatically shutting the engine off. The result from that drive which could have been 999 MPG ended up being 101 MPG. No regular Prius can even remotely deliver the same efficiency. So what if the engine started. During the first minute of warm-up, the plug-supplied electricity is used to keep RPM under 1500. It makes quite a difference.
I think you missed his point. If you like to race around from stoplight to stop light and don't want the ICE to fire up then don't buy a PIP. He said nothing about comparing efficiency between Prii models.
It sounds like an amplified version of my problem. My wife drives the kids to school 1.5km gets out and chats to her friends 30min. Then drives home. This is repeated after school. There is a steep 50m run outside our house so unfortunately the engine is always on :-$
It sounds like an amplified version of my problem. My wife drives the kids to school 1.5km gets out and chats to her friends 30min. Then drives home. This is repeated after school. There is a steep 50m run outside our house so unfortunately the engine is always on :-$
That point applies to all models of Prius... and the broader sense, any hybrid. Racing around is inefficient. It wastes fuel. Would you really want to sacrifice EV range instead? The engine will run from time to time. That's why there is one. If everything is off, including the heater, it's a simple matter of measuring how long it takes for the engine to shut off when the vehicle isn't in motion. So, we ask that question... precisely how long? If the answer is longer than 10 minutes, something is clearly wrong... perhaps a thermostat isn't working.
Yes, I would rather waste EV range instead. It is cleaner burning in most cases and cheaper to purchase. I have a Volt so I have range to spare when I am not commuting so this allows me to relax and not stress out about conserving every mile of range like I did when I had a PIP. Some people don't want to change the way they drive. For those people a car like the Volt or CMAX Energi are a better option. Both cars have more EV range and more power. I agree that the ICE should not be running for 10min, however.
