Here is a link to one type of install out there and a PDF of yet another.....There are more out there if you do a search..... A EV PDF
Just put a switch in on my 2007 following these instructions and it works but it doesn't beep to acknowledge it's been turned on like the PDF says it's supposed to. Anyone have any clue why that might be?
The UK Prius that has the EV button as standard fitment does not beep when going into EV mode only giving 3 beeps when exiting the mode through going over the EV speed limit (31 mph registered 29 mph actual). It does not beep if you exit EV mode by pushing the button to cancel EV mode . Cruise control cannot be used in EV mode. John
welcome! it's for showing someone how the car can move around without the engine, of it the engine is warm enough, you can move the car out of the garage, etc. without the engine starting. it's pitiful really.
It is for forcing the car to run in electric mode only (Electric Vehicle). It will only do this if the HV battery has a reasonable state of charge. The engine temperature has no bearing on it's use as long as it is used before the engine has started "about the first 7 seconds of going into ready mode". If used incorrectly it can cause the you to use more fuel. In certain circumstances it can save fuel. Moving the car a short distance when cold in EV mode will save the engine starting and running it's cold cycle requiring more fuel than when it is hot. I live near the top of a hill, and by going into EV mode part way up the hill "at the same point each time" when returning home I can finish that part of the journey using no fuel. On starting my next journey I can go into EV mode to reverse out of my driveway and roll down the hill to the bottom recharging the battery fully using regen again saving fuel. John
i modded my US Prius base 2007 a few weeks ago. just wanted to confirm everything above. also. If it doesn't work when pressed, it will flash a message saying "Cannot change to EV mode", and beep thrice. If it does work, it will switch the MFD to Energy mode if it's in another mode --- I grounded by loosening a screw near the HV ECU, wrapping the ground wire from the switch around it, and tightening.... seemed easier than splicing into the OEM wire harness. I noticed a lot of sharp metal so I used a lot of tie wraps to keep the wire from moving around. Was it worth it? Yes! I can pretend I have a really slow Tesla for about 3 minutes. That is super fun. But also there are legit times when some people would rather not have the engine on, so it could make sense for a small number of niche cases. For example if you are in the middle of a bison herd, maybe you want to listen to the bison and make sure the engine stays off for a little while.
Hi Everyone - this is a very old thread, but an interesting one. I just bought a used UK EV button and am wondering if Evan Fusco's PDF instructions from above (thanks!) can be improved for actual OEM EV button installations. Is it possible to get the EV light on the momentary switch to light? I didn't particularly like the part of the instructions where he says 'remove between 1 and 3 wires...' Thx
