Possible EV issues with my 2016 Prius Touring

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by BigalG, Feb 21, 2017.

  1. BigalG

    BigalG Junior Member

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    When in cruise mode, which is my default motorway mode, the EV light never activates. EG going down a hill with 3/4 battery level EV light doesnt show, whereas in non-cruise it always does. Also fuel economy is just under 5l/100km about the same as my other 2007 Prius.
    Switch Cruise off and EV light starts again.
    Comments?
     
    #1 BigalG, Feb 21, 2017
  2. booke02

    booke02 Active Member

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    What's your fuel economy like over a reasonable distance without cruise control activated?
     
    #2 booke02, Feb 21, 2017
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  3. BigalG

    BigalG Junior Member

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    Yea, I thought someone would ask this; to be truthful I dont know, but Im going to Auckland tomorrow so will run it without cruise all the way and can compare when I get back.
    Im a real fan of the cruise as an older driver in most situations its safer than me.
     
    #3 BigalG, Feb 21, 2017
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  4. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Using the cruise control is fine, but I find it helps the mileage if you run it in economy mode. They said, of you need a burst of speed you'll either have to floor the pedal, or temporarily switch to normal or power mode. Good luck and I hope you manage to improve things.
     
    #4 RCO, Feb 21, 2017
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2017
  5. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    I almost never use this screen - I prefer the HUD which has most of it:

    upload_2017-2-22_9-5-21.png

    I have this screen up most of the time:

    upload_2017-2-22_9-10-20.png

    This screen shows more graphically when the vehicle is in EV Mode by the direction of the flow of energy. On highway driving, assuming it's slightly undulating, it will regularly drive in EV mode.

    Oh, and this ENERGY MONITOR entertains passengers much more.
     
    #5 alanclarkeau, Feb 21, 2017
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  6. robsnyder20

    robsnyder20 Active Member

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    Even though I live in Flat USA Florida, I can answer this, the cruise is set in at least the US to hold speed, so in other words when going down a downgrade, it will turn the engine to control speed down a hill similar to using B gear to keep you from going past your set speed. This also happens if the cruise needs to apply the brakes . I also personally noticed with DRCC engaged, the prius doesn't like to slow down much without spinning the engine. Also as a heads up if the DRCC brakes harder than the normal amount of regen coasting, it spins the engine as well
     
    #6 robsnyder20, Feb 21, 2017
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  7. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    IIRC, the car doesn't let you know whether you're in ev or show the most economical band to be in when using cruise, it does its own thing.
     
    #7 kithmo, Feb 23, 2017
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  8. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    I'm inclined to agree with kithmo, as I've noticed the screens can lag behind the ICE/battery situation. Usually only by a second, 1.5 secs.
     
    #8 RCO, Feb 23, 2017
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  9. BigalG

    BigalG Junior Member

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    //alanclarkeau
    Hi there I found that my trip to Auckland and return using manual rather than cruise gave me a better l/km eg from 5l/100 to 4l/100.
    Re the displays I also found that there is a bug in the firmware in that the EV indicator particularly CRUISE mode is erratic eg when its in EV mode the green EV indicator in Screenshot 1 mostly doesnt show, whereas in screenshot 2 you can see when the car is in EV mode by the power only coming from battery. This bug extends to normal drive mode as well, but its not so pronounced.
    Your car will always go to EV mode with about 3/4 charge if you lift off pedal then keep eco meter around 1/2 way. If you keep your eye on the green EV mode icon it often does not respond accordingly.
    Im a tad annoyed also at 2014 maps in 2016 vehicle, and the cruise control does not always work but these are other issues which hopefully will be sorted out in service routine.
     
    #9 BigalG, Feb 23, 2017
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  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    doubt it, sounds spot on for toyota. enjoy your mpg's! or kml's or whatever.(y)
     
    #10 bisco, Feb 23, 2017
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  11. BigalG

    BigalG Junior Member

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    Um not sure what you mean
     
    #11 BigalG, Feb 23, 2017
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  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    get in line.:cool: it's unexplainable until you have been for your service. then, we'll discuss it in more detail. all the best!(y)
     
    #12 bisco, Feb 23, 2017
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  13. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Yes, I found that EV indicator inaccurate (and I don't think EV lights up with DRCC engaged, though I could be wrong - long time since I used it).

    I prefer to use this screen below (in conjunction with the power bar in HUD) which is more accurate than the one with the green EV indicator - I haven't had the screen you described on since I'd had the car a month or so and worked out this one gave a better idea of what is going on. I think I generally only look at the HUD mostly nowdays.

    And, yes, you can do better l/100km by driving manually - but I'm retired, and prefer to let the car do things when it will - DRCC for most of my driving.

    I'd be pressuring the salesman regarding the maps - mine doesn't have Navigation, being the base model.
    [​IMG]

    There is another post at the moment which might interest you:
    " Do you find EV mode useful and, if so, how do you use it?. "
     
    #13 alanclarkeau, Feb 23, 2017
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  14. BigalG

    BigalG Junior Member

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    Model:
    Touring
    I prefer to look at a dash quickly to get info and the meter mode with EV lamp is best for me.
    However, when its faulty its just annoying. The maps situation is ridiculous; I actually use Google Maps on my phone as the integrated one is so out of date and inaccurate.
    As an aside I took a demo non-tour model out for a spin before buying tourer model and it returned 3.4l/100km, the road noise seemed less due I guess to smaller and different tyres. The tourer on the other hand has very hard tyres which are quite noisy on our gravel mix roads here in Kiwi. After my wifes Prius 2007 which easily returns 5l/100km the Tourer 4l/100km best is a bit disappointing too.

    Toyota 2016 model decided to remove a lot of the personal storage space for some unknown reason so you basically have a tiny glovebox and centre console. My wifes 2007 prius has two glove boxes and sliding draw under passenger seat and other spaces which gives a lot more. The paints better and EV mode holds in longer. Doesnt drive as well though.
     
    #14 BigalG, Feb 23, 2017
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