Good morning all, I have a '19 awd-e and now a '13 V. I keep reading that the 12v battery starts a Prius engine, but I've also read that the 12v battery only runs the lights and such, and the traction battery starts the engine, as there's not a traditional starter. If the latter is correct (traction battery starts engine), is that for all generations of Prius? Thanks,
In all versions of the Prius, the motor called M/G1 spins the engine to start it. It is a AC motor powered by the inverter which is powered by the high voltage battery. However... If the 12 volt battery cannot start the computers and power the fuel injection and engine electrics (the spark plugs need to fire, etc) your Prius won't start. There are relays to allow the HV Battery to work, and the computers need to test things to even allow all that power out.
