So what would happen with the followings? 1. Smart key in my pants 2. get in the car, start the car 3. walk back in the house because I forget about my mobile phone will the car stop/power off itself?
I do that quite often actually... You Prius would beep a couple of times to let you know that the smart key transponder is not sensed inside the vehicle. (Yeh, it knows that whether the key is INSIDE or NEARBY thru comparing the signal strength of multiple sensors) When you come back to the Prius, it goes back to normal.
The car would stay running – even w/o the key. It would, however, beep at you to let you know. My friend went on a trip with his Prius. He dropped his wife off at the store and went on to their beach house. Once he got there he turned off the car. When his wife called him to return and pick her up, he realized that SHE had the key! No key… no start!!
Took my car to NYC and left it at a parking lot. Got out, leaving it running for parking attendant and left...with key in my purse. I never realized I hadn't left it! When I returned the attendant went to get my car and of course, he couldn't start it. He then pointed to the sign which said (small print) that if you take your key...charge is another $25! I paid $55 for less than 2 hours parking! UGH.
Too bad there isn't a standby mode the car goes into after like 10 minutes while parked. They could put a starfield screensaver on the MFD.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SiliconAddict @ Oct 16 2006, 04:55 PM) [snapback]333678[/snapback]</div> Wow, that's some what a cool idea. Maybe even self lock if the key is out of the car.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TJandGENESIS @ Oct 17 2006, 02:48 AM) [snapback]333851[/snapback]</div> Yeah, but it's probably a safety issue (might accidentally lock a child in a car, etc.).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PA @ Oct 17 2006, 11:31 AM) [snapback]333952[/snapback]</div> Agreed - while it's unlikely to happen (since the key is still with you), it's possible for someone to come by, drop off the car for a spouse and run over and hop in another car (say of a friend) and drive off before the spouse gets to the car - if it's locked and you have the only key (say the other was lost), then there could be a problem. and that last thing we need is headlines saying "Hybrid car tries to kill baby - Quick save by local fire dept" with the actual details burried in the article somewhere.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusnyc @ Oct 16 2006, 12:30 PM) [snapback]333442[/snapback]</div> The Prius won't power down, but when the ICE gets to temp, IT will shut down. If you leave it long enough (depending on ambient temp, accessories on, etc), the ICE will restart.
