The one and only Prius Plug-in FAQ!

GREAT STICKY!

 

Hi guys
You might want to remember that when you use 'B' mode to take advantage of regenerative braking the brakelights are not displayed (or at least not here in the UK) increasing the risk of a shunt as following drivers don't notice and tend to close the gap.. Conversely if you use 'B' mode on long hills, having the brakelights off means that when you do use the brake pedal to slow, the lights do come on to tell the driver behind 'now I really am braking'.

 

great tip, thanks!

 

Good point and counterpoint about the lights. But it needs to be noted that 'B' reduces regenerative braking by transferring energy to the engine rather than the generator.

 

I thought that's true for HV mode only.

PiP Specific:
Doesn't B in EV mode just engage regenerative braking a bit more agressively than D when your foot is off the throttle?

 

In EV mode it does employ more aggressive regenerative braking. I have data to prove it and that it does not spin the engine. The B mode is limited though, if you employ it within 90% of your full charge (like within about a mile), not only will the engine spin, but it will start the car. In HV mode it always spins the engine.


iPad ? HD

 

Here's a good look at a recent trip in EV of 2.1 miles to work to explain the extra regenerative power of using B. Do you see the 2 biggest negative long duration spikes? The first is me slowing down for a turn. A little coasting (the first negative part of the bump and puts about 27 amps into the battery) then the brakes are applied and the amperage shoots to about 50. Now look at the biggest negative spike. Do you see how there are three separate parts of the spike? I'm going down a rather steep hill to a stop sign. The first part of the spike is me coasting downhill and it measures about the same as the coasting in the first negative spike. The second part of the spike is when I use the B mode while the third part is me pressing the brake pedal to come to a stop. I'd show you the graph for the engine RPMs but its all zeros.

You get the picture!

 

Sounds like another clever move by Toyota then - so that you are encouraged to use the brake pedal to get better regenerative braking, but in doing so you are by default using the brake-lights to alert the following drivers and thereby keeping that nice Toyota shape at the rear. Don't you just hate the sound of breaking glass behind you (oops, plastic these days...) !

 

Well you have to be selective, depending on conditions, about using it in my circumstances. It is going down a rather steep hill and, of course, I don't use it if the roads are snow covered, icy, or slushy. Better to keep your foot on the brake pedal so ABS and VSC can be used if needed. Also traffic is a consideration, but the PiP is a special car anyways. When I take my foot off the gas during the first part of the hill, the PiP maintains the same speed so many other cars are already braking. You just have to use a little common sense with traffic, along with road conditions.


iPad ? HD

 

On situations when ICE runs, I think the following are two not on the list:

Engine battery has low charge.

HV/EV toggle button is toggled to HV

Al

 

good catch!

 

i was thinking hybrid. when it goes down beyond ev driving into hv level.

 

no, not unexpected, just not on the list.

 

ah, i get it. so it should be: why is ice starting when there is still ev charge left?

 

What's all this about difference in fuel tank capacity? My manual clearly states 45 liters.

 

can you please quote or reference a post? there are 318 of them. i don't recall that discussion.