EV mode Q: Benefits? Damage?

Limits on torque demanded and maximum MG1/MG2 RPM trigger the switch to ICE. You can achieve what you intend in any of the three drive modes, which just serve to map your right foot position to MG and/or ICE "throttle" position.

 

1) no, you can't damage the car.

2) you may be saving a little gas, but don't try keeping it in ev as much as possible, that would waste gas.

3) be courteous to drivers behind you, as you accelerate slowly.

 

EV mode won't stay on longer because there is not much capacity in these hybrid system batteries. EV mode use won't improve acceleration or do you much good at all since the system will switch to gas very quickly. The "purpose" of EV might be to leave a parking spot quietly, assuming the engine has already warmed up first. In my mind, the only reason to purposely drain the battery might be if you know miles and miles of generally downhill regeneration is likely and you want to prolong regeneration going to the battery. When the battery can't accept more charge and you are still in a regen situation, the car will use engine and friction braking more with no furthe help to your overall mpg. I have even seen the engine come on a stop if the battery is maxed out, I assume to burn off some charge.

 

This is from the owners manual for our Prius v...

Personally I simply let the car computer figure out the driving mode. It's smarter than I am...

 

Welcome!
If you're accelerating gently enough for it to stay in EV on its own, you're saving gas by virtue of the gentle acceleration. If you put it in EV mode and drive that way as long as you can, you're probably wasting gas unless you're about to regenerate by going down a big hill or something like that. As @Sooner Al said, let the computer decide. It knows way more about what's going on inside the engine and drive train than we do.

You're apparently doing something right, though, because 50 mpg with a v is pretty good.

 

Under normal circumstances (but especially in Eco mode), if you feather / lightly pulse the throttle in, say, a parking lot or in slow-moving traffic, the computer will probably have you in EV mode anyway.

Our driveway is narrow and we sometimes have to switch cars around, I engage EV mode to move my car the 30-50 feet so that the engine doesn't have to start.

 

bisco, your profile shows you have a 2012 Prius Plug-in. Your power train should be identical to a regular Prius right? Except you can go up to 60mph in pure EV mode? Can you accelerate from 0 to 60 in pure EV or does gas have to kick in? This would tell me that any Prius is capable of going pure EV if given the right battery and upgrade to be plug-in capable.

I found out that Chevron bought the rights to nimh battery chemistry and forbid any car maker to give it a plug. They would sue any car maker that does.

Chevron and EVs – GM, Chevron and CARB killed the sole NiMH EV once, will do so again

 

However, this Reddit post mentions the patent expired in 2014.