Battery question

The blue is normal and where the computer wants the battery to be. You'll see green if you're going down a long hill.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Jun 1 2006, 11:45 AM) [snapback]264058[/snapback]</div>

That's not true anymore. Green shows up significantly more often for me now. I figure it's a combination of the hardware & software updates in combination with late-term break-in.

Originally, I mostly saw the blues. Now green makes an appearance daily, even in really warm temperatures.

 

You're right. I do see green daily, but most of the time it's blue. I haven't had any hardware or software updates.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aparks1569 @ Jun 1 2006, 09:40 AM) [snapback]264054[/snapback]</div>

I have a 2005, so my experience may be a little different, but I get 7 or 8 green bars on a regular basis. Both in winter and in warmer seasons. The reason for this is because my commute regularly takes me down some long hills that lets the battery recharge to it's max. While going up those same hills, I find that I rarely go below 4 or 5 bars. On some rare ocassions, it's gone all the way down to 2 pink bars, but gets right back up into the blue bars after I crest the hill. If you aren't traversing a lot of hills, you probably won't see the green bars. The car likes to be in the range of 5 or 6 blue bars most of the time I've noticed.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aparks1569 @ Jun 1 2006, 12:40 PM) [snapback]264054[/snapback]</div>

I see green bars once or twice a day. They don't last long though. I usually see then after driving on the highway with no electric assist, then regenning on half mile downslope to my exit. Doesn't last through the second light after that.

 

I have about 1700 miles and see the green bars on my way home everyday. But going to work I hit the 2 pink/purple bars regulary until I crest the last hill.

Tad

 

Aggressive driving with frequent stops can create green bars due to higher than normal regen braking, but your MPG will be crummy.

 

There is some good information here:

http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=10601&hl=battery

If you have the opportunity to drive your Prius in the mountains someplace like Colorado, Utah, Nevada on U.S Hwy 50, etc. you will see all green bars and be down to the last pink bar a bunch of times. I have never seen the last pink bar go away though. If you are still climbing and the battery gets down to 40% I think the engine supplies everything from then on until the battery is charged up a little. If you stop and shut the car off with the battery down to the last pink bar there is no problem however, it will use whatever it needs to get going again.

Coming down some of the long steep hills you may discover there is really a legitimate use for the "B" mode.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aparks1569 @ Jun 1 2006, 09:40 AM) [snapback]264054[/snapback]</div>

I have over 3k miles on my '06, and I just yesterday saw the indicator reading 'full', and that was indeed after a long trip downhill. Occasionally I will see green bars, but more often than not they are blue. Never been down to the pink, though.