Featured Dr Prius App Deep Dive - Request Assistance

Greetings to all!

Noob on this forum. I am the third owner of a 2014 Prius V here in Southern NM with about 185K on the odometer. This vehicle is originally from Michigan. It is still running the original traction battery. Although I suspect the heat of the summer months are the primary cause for the rapid battery drain due to AC usage, I also harbor a feeling that the age of the battery is part of my concern.

I recently downloaded the Dr Prius app and I have finally gotten this to work. So my question goes to interpreting the data that is saved to csv files.

I recorded the data from a drive this morning. I am trying understand the various aspects on this software. I am not running the two paid for app extensions (yet). From what I have read the traction battery is only intended to charge to 80% and that the multi-function display, at the lowest one bar indicator, is at 40%.

I have noticed that within the State of Charge (SOG%) column the lowest is 55.692398% while the highest is 67.8506%. I have tried to upload this file but the forum software does not like this format. It contains 2369 lines and 39 columns of data for an approximately 35 mile drive over 30 minutes. So it contains a fair amount of data.

Given the age of the battery and mileage am I correct in interpreting that this battery is nearing the tail end of service life? Am I deficient in my understanding of this technology?

I am interested in the new sodium ion batteries that are coming to market and looking to make a purchase along those lines.

Thanks,

Brian

 

Thanks for the response. Which areas are you seeing the high amperage? That way I can narrow it down to which road I was driving.

I changed the spark plugs back around 145K. That gave me a small bump on the mpg that I remember. I saw a good bump by adding a can of Sea Foam every couple of months to clean the fuel injectors. Currently experiencing approx 43 mpg. I track my mpg tank to tank when I fill up. I do know that some of the gas ant the stations has a bit too much ethanol in it at times and I see that after I fill up on occasion.

I am thinking of treating my gasoline to remove the ethanol, but that is down the road.

 

Had to make a tip this morning to the post office, up through a mountain pass. I have two files; one for each direction. The -1 is a bit truncated as I forgot to hit the record button about a minute into the drive. The -2 file is the return trip. PWR Mode is typically used by myself. I also use cruise control much of the time I am on highway style roads; which these were.

I notice on the app that when I brake the color of the blade indicators turn yellow. On the way to the post office they blade indicators turned red even though I was not braking hard (compared to other braking periods).

The Pack Voltage and Blade Voltage turned red a couple of times. Not sure why as the car was in cc mode and was not struggling with the mountain pass. I remember that the Pack voltage was down to 209 volts for a second or two before it bumped up to about 219 volts.

 

I had to run to the post office this morning so I was able to collect a bit more data. Two files; -1 is the trip to the post office and -2 is the return trip. -1 is a bit truncated as I forgot to press the record button until a minute or so into the drive.

Up and through a mountain pass for most of the drive. Cruise control both ways as much as possible. I tend to drive in PWR Mode.

I noticed that when braking the blade indicators on the app turn yellow. Today then were turning red a couple of times. I was not braking excessively when this occurred. I was just slowing down as I caught up to traffic in front of me.

I also noticed once when the Pack Voltage and Blade Voltage numbers turned red. The Pack Voltage was 109 volts then shot up to about 122 volts. Not sure what the cause was as I was in cc mode on flat road at around 55 mph.

On the app you advise me to watch the voltage difference. What should I be looking at in the spreadsheet for this information?

The largest draw was 101 amps. This was just after accelerating to around 55 on a flat road. Not sure of the timing but this is also roughly when I noticed the red Pack Voltage numbers.

 

Thanks for the information as I learn to understand this technology.

 

I will give it a try.

Thanks,