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EV Button

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by HIHOAG, May 25, 2004.

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  1. HIHOAG

    HIHOAG New Member

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    As a new guy to all this and at the risk of sounding completely stupid.....
    What is an EV button?
     
    #1 HIHOAG, May 25, 2004
  2. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    I'd suggest that you try searcing the archives if you feel your question sounds stupid :) Chances are, it's been answered before (this one has).

    In short, the EV button forces the Prius into "electric only" mode at low speeds for short distances. In the right circumstances, it could improve your mileage. In the wrong, it makes it worse. It's also useful if you want to move the car a short distance without having the engine turn over when it's least efficent.
     
    #2 HTMLSpinnr, May 25, 2004
  3. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    Has anyone installed the Costal Tech buttonless EV switch? Was it hard to install? Problems? Comments?
     
    #3 daniel, Jun 2, 2004
  4. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    If you read my comments on the Cruise Control EV switch you'll see that there are minor problems with weird beeps, inconsistent functioning and occasonal other paroxysmal problems. And, though I haven't personally done the install, I've seen Coastal Dave's circuit first hand and how/where it's installed and it is, indeed VERY simple and fast to perform.

    If you desire a fast simple and invisible installation then this is a pretty good way to go. Frankly, if I were going for an invisible install I'd use the headlight flasher technique...must cleaner, fewer errors and, arguably, just as fast to do other than running one wire behind the dash.
     
    #4 efusco, Jun 2, 2004
  5. HIHOAG

    HIHOAG New Member

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    I thought the point of the Prius was to not run the ICE if you're just moving the vehicle as short way.
     
    #5 HIHOAG, Jun 2, 2004
  6. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I don't think that was, in any way, ever the "Point of the Prius". But, with an EV button, it makes it an option.

    The car can not possibly read your mind or predict what you're going to do when you get in and push the Power button. Thus, it gives you 7 seconds of no ICE while it pumps the coolant into the engine and goes through the rest of the startup proceedure. But then it's going to kick in the ICE to immediately begin warming the catalytic converter and preparing for a drive. It does this UNLESS you "Tell it" (via an EV button) that you are not going for a long drive.

    I think the "Point of the Prius" is much more complex than making short drives with no ICE.....don't you? :eek:
     
    #6 efusco, Jun 2, 2004
  7. HIHOAG

    HIHOAG New Member

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    Okay, sorry I over simplified.......I meant the point was to not run the engine when unnecessary. I assumed that moving the car a short distance would not run the engine unless it sensed a higher throttle angle. So, is the EV button something the dealer can install or is it friendly enough that the average backyard mechanic (read ME) can do it?
     
    #7 HIHOAG, Jun 2, 2004
  8. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    This is not a dealer installed option in the US though it is standard in the EU and Japan. It is simple enough for most people with a little experience with tools and electronics to do. Take a look at my install instructions for yourself to see if it's something you're interested in.

    http://priuschat.com/forums/kb.php?mode=article&k=5
     
    #8 efusco, Jun 2, 2004
  9. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    The time when this is most useful is when the engine is cold (below optimal operating temp). The EV button is most useful during these times when you want to move a short distance or delay warmup until a more opportune time presents itself and the engine is still relatively cold.

    While the coolant shot helps heat it up, it only heats the head/intake ports, not the entire exhaust system, etc. That, and moving short distances w/ a brief ICE shot basically wastes the shot and most likely leaves you with cold coolant for the next round.

    hope this helps,
    -Rick
     
    #9 HTMLSpinnr, Jun 3, 2004
  10. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    Okay, here are the situations for which I'd like an EV switch:

    1. Winter. My short commute hardly gives the car time to warm up. It does not reach Phase III until I am more than halfway to work. The battery SOC is always nearly full. I would like to engage EV at the point of my return trip that experience will tell me will leave the battery at 4 or 5 bars (rather than full) over night. I will be burning no gas during half my return trip, and the time when the engine is forced to run in the morning will be spent charging the battery. If it's gotta run anyway it might as well do some useful work.

    2. I do not know if this is temperature-related because we've had a very late spring and hardly any warm weather yet. But I've noticed that if the weather is cool, the engine is hot, and the SOC is high (6 or 7 bars) the car will usually go rather easily (or all by itself) into electric mode if it's travelling around 35 mph. But at slower speeds, say, around 20 or 25 mph, it is very reluctant to do so. The flow will show that the battery is charging (though it is nearly full) and the mileage will be very low 20 or 30 mpg.

    Clearly, this is an inefficient speed for the car. So when I know I'm going to be in this speed range, and the SOC is high, I'd like to force it into EV mode. Then when the SOC is low, there'll be somewhere for that extra power to go.

    I will note that in moderately warm weather, on slightly-longer drives, when the car is in phase III and the SOC is moving up and down between around 4 bars to around 7 (rather than staying at 6 or 7 as it does in colder weather) I see MPG numbers at or above EPA estimates after the first 5 minutes. Clearly this car is capable of those EPA numbers. The first 5 minutes drags the average down. That's unavoidable. But I am convinced that, at least in cold weather, I could do better than I'm getting now if I could use more of the battery's range by selecting EV mode when I know the situation is appropriate.
     
    #10 daniel, Jun 4, 2004
  11. ifftster

    ifftster New Member

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    I just installed my oem button yesterday. It took me an 1.5 hrs thanks to the instructions by Efusco and Htmlspinner. my biggest problem was the pin for the ecu. i had bought the original pins from toyota( 2@$13 each). I had a difficult time getting them in and ended up breaking both.The last one was sticking up 1/8" when i decided to plug it in and see if it was good enough. it was not. so i grabbed two from flasher assembly. These pins seem a little bit longer and slightly thinner, they do not look the same. I ended up pushing the flasher pin all the way flush the first time. Plugged it in and it worked. :D
     
    #11 ifftster, Jun 12, 2004
  12. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    See, you could have just saved your $13 for a cheap bottle of wine and used the pins from the flasher from the start!!

    Glad it worked out well for you...enjoy the button and the value-added-geekiness we've been enjoying. 8)
     
    #12 efusco, Jun 12, 2004
  13. Eisenson

    Eisenson New Member

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    Does anyone know whether the ECU captures and retains usage of the EV function? That is, will Toyota's evaluation of a problem months downstream identify use of the EV function today?
     
    #13 Eisenson, Jun 29, 2004
  14. Eisenson

    Eisenson New Member

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    Also, I did Wayne's EV mod the day he posted it, using a plastic toothpick to jam the wire in place in pin 27 of the ECU connector block, and a Radio Shack pushbutton mounted in a hold drilled in the blank where the EV button's supposed to go. Worked fine, but...

    I want to use the RS switch for something else, so will convert the EV function to the headlight switch (purple wire mod). Can anyone recall the details, and/or where they're posted?

    Thanks!
     
    #14 Eisenson, Jun 29, 2004
  15. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    It's all there in the Knowledge Base and files section....go to the bottom of the page.
     
    #15 efusco, Jun 29, 2004
  16. Eisenson

    Eisenson New Member

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    Thanks, Evan.

    Has anyone determined whether the ECU retains data regarding usage of the EV button?
     
    #16 Eisenson, Jun 30, 2004
  17. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Sorry, meant to respond to that and forgot. We're 99% certain that EVb use is stored. If not it can probably be determined that it has been used from the other info that is stored (i.e. EV mode sustained above 22mph for an extended period or EV mode sustained despite only 3 bars on consumption would be indirect evidence that 'normal' EV function of the ECU was overridden.)
     
    #17 efusco, Jun 30, 2004
  18. az-seasidepearl9

    az-seasidepearl9 Junior Member

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    EV Button - thanks!

    I want to thank Evan and Rick for pioneering the EV Button install. We did ours last weekend, and have been learning the ins and outs for the past week.

    I can't imagine being the first to figure it out.

    Jan
    Seaside Pearl BC
    Fountain Hills, AZ
     
    #18 az-seasidepearl9, Jul 2, 2004
  19. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Re: EV Button - thanks!

    Thanks for the thanks Jan, but just to be clear. All I did was take Wayne Brown's pioneering of the US EVb and document the recipie so that everyone can do it. Rick did a great job figuring out how to rig the OEM EVb so it would light on his own so he definately deserves credit.
     
    #19 efusco, Jul 2, 2004
  20. molain

    molain Junior Member

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    EV mode logging

    I'm interested to know if logging of the EV mode button is something people expect to be done in a persistent memory (like flash), or if it can be reset simply by disconnecting the 12V accessory battery.
     
    #20 molain, Jul 4, 2004
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