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Sleeping in hybrids- a/c run all night off battery?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Haraald, Mar 26, 2017.

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  1. Haraald

    Haraald New Member

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    I'm considering a 2017 Highlander hybrid for camping, and I read that if you sleep in the Prius the AC will run all night, the gas engine kicking in for only a couple minutes every 30 minutes or so to charge the battery. Is the timing in the Highlander about the same as that? No dealership will let me sit in their car for 30+ minutes with the AC on lol
     
    #1 Haraald, Mar 26, 2017
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  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    The engine should kick on more often than once every 30 minutes
     
    #2 JC91006, Mar 26, 2017
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  3. pakitt

    pakitt Senior Member

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    Buying a hybrid car to save fuel and co2 and the planet, to then let it idle to have fresh air on a camping trip.....really?!!
     
    #3 pakitt, Mar 26, 2017
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  4. Haraald

    Haraald New Member

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    Since I don't want this issue to distract from getting a good answer to my original question, I'll clarify- I'll be living in the vehicle roughly half-time; not just camping. I'm pretty sure the carbon footprint of living in a Highlander is far less than if I was in a house ;)
     
    #4 Haraald, Mar 26, 2017
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  5. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    As JC91006 says, the A/C takes quite a drain on the battery, so the batt will drain more quickly than half hour if A/C running. But if you are just trimming the temp a bit that would take longer. So if you are sitting in a Prius or Highlander you could probably prove that to yourself in 5 minutes.
     
    #5 wjtracy, Mar 26, 2017
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  6. Haraald

    Haraald New Member

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    I sat in a 2017 at a dealership for 5 minutes with the AC on max and the engine didn't engage; the salesman lost patience though so I couldn't test it longer

    Oddly, with the heat on max the engine didn't turn off; I guess it uses engine heat rather than battery to heat the interior?
     
    #6 Haraald, Mar 26, 2017
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  7. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    OK good...but are you sure you were running A/C to cool off or just the fan on high?
     
    #7 wjtracy, Mar 26, 2017
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  8. Haraald

    Haraald New Member

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    I'm pretty sure it was max AC, the air was really cold
     
    #8 Haraald, Mar 26, 2017
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  9. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    sold one HiHy?
     
    #9 wjtracy, Mar 26, 2017
  10. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    From a full charge, it may take about 15 minutes for the engine to engage if you have the ac on high.

    After the engine engages, it'll only charge the battery a little before it stops. From that point, the ac should drain that little charge in about 5 minutes, then engine will kick on again
     
    #10 JC91006, Mar 26, 2017
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  11. Haraald

    Haraald New Member

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    That's the timing you've seen on your Prius for AC on max?
     
    #11 Haraald, Mar 26, 2017
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  12. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Yes, sometimes not even on max

    This is my experience waiting at the in n out drive through
     
    #12 JC91006, Mar 26, 2017
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  13. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I just sleep through it, so I don't care what the cycle period is. :) I had an apartment with a loud air conditioner too (in fact, I think the Prius is quieter).

    Took me less than one night to acclimate to it and stop waking up.

    -Chap
     
    #13 ChapmanF, Mar 26, 2017
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  14. Robert2P1CT

    Robert2P1CT Junior Member

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    Good question, and two good choices of hybrids. Have you also considered the RAV4 hybrid? Still amazing but cheaper to buy and slightly better mpg than Highlander.

    I envy you, I wish I could live in my Prius part time, but my wife and kids still need me. Darn! LOL Hopefully, they won't need me in a few years so I can runoff and elope with my Prius and we will get lost in some majestic western national park. Ha ha

    BTW: There are many videos on YT of people who live full/part-time in their hybrids. There are tons about the Prius, I haven't looked for RAV4 or Highlander yet.

    Take care and Godspeed!
     
    #14 Robert2P1CT, Mar 26, 2017
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  15. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    You can wait for the kids to launch and hang on to the wife ... a Prius'll sleep two in air conditioned comfort.

    -Chap
     
    #15 ChapmanF, Mar 26, 2017
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  16. Robert2P1CT

    Robert2P1CT Junior Member

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    Good point! Thanks! I will try to work on my wife. She needs to learn to rough it in the woods with me in the Prius. :) Wish me luck!
     
    #16 Robert2P1CT, Mar 26, 2017
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  17. Haraald

    Haraald New Member

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    All the Prius sleepers confirm it's about 2 minutes charge every 30 min or so if temp is set at 68, but I can't find any info of how the Highlander behaves.
     
    #17 Haraald, Mar 27, 2017
  18. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    The Highlander has a larger engine. I do not know if the traction battery is larger.
    The other part affecting this could be the size of MG1 since it charges the battery. It could be larger since it starts the larger engine.
     
    #18 Prodigyplace, Mar 27, 2017
  19. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    I think you're gonna want something more than luck for that, but all the best anyhow! :ROFLMAO:
     
    #19 RCO, Mar 27, 2017
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  20. William Redoubt

    William Redoubt Senior Member

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    In the Gen 4 Prius the ICE typically comes on at least once an hour for 2 to 3 minutes. If it is very, very hot, the frequency will increase. The frequency may be different for the Highlander.
     
    #20 William Redoubt, Mar 27, 2017
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