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Braking while in neutral

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by georgekessel, Oct 9, 2007.

  1. georgekessel

    georgekessel Member

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    I couldn't find the answer to this in my forum search.

    If you are in neutral but going 40mph, and you hit the brakes does that only active friction brakes or does some regeneration occur?

    I have a tendency (as do many) to coast down slight hills in neutral.

    I always shift back to D before hitting the brakes to cause regeneration but thought I'd ask if maybe I don't have to...
     
    #1 georgekessel, Oct 9, 2007
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Regeneration is not possible in Neutral...pure friction braking.
     
    #2 efusco, Oct 9, 2007
  3. D0li0

    D0li0 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ecojosh @ Oct 9 2007, 03:16 PM) [snapback]523323[/snapback]</div>
    That's probably not a good idea, if the ICE is not running as you begin to go faster than 40mph one of the MotorGenerators could overspeed. If the ICE is running you should be alright, but why exactly do you use neutral?

    L8r
    Ryan
     
    #3 D0li0, Oct 9, 2007
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ecojosh @ Oct 9 2007, 03:16 PM) [snapback]523323[/snapback]</div>
    You'll use the friction brakes. It's a good way to clean them!

    Why not feather it? It's like neutral except that if you need to brake, you can simply lift off and brake without shifting.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(D0li0 @ Oct 9 2007, 06:13 PM) [snapback]523368[/snapback]</div>
    The engine will spin even in neutral, no worries.
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Oct 9, 2007
  5. georgekessel

    georgekessel Member

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    It's very hilly here and my 06 doesn't like being feathered. Sometimes she'll really fight with me about that and outright refuse to go 'neutral'.

    My friend's 05 is easier to feather than mine, do not know why.

    So, as I coast I find it a lot easier to just switch to neutral (it's way easier and more relaxing then trying to hold my foot at just the right spot, and as I said sometimes she just refuses to to....)
     
    #5 georgekessel, Oct 9, 2007
  6. subarutoo

    subarutoo New Member

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    You should never coast for any distance in neutral. Its like flat-towing a car with automatic transmission, which is never recommended. I guess you have your reasons, but nobody that I can think of would say coasting at speed is a good idea with an automatic, or any car for that matter. Isn't 50 mpgs good enough for you?
     
    #6 subarutoo, Oct 10, 2007
  7. Bob64

    Bob64 Sapphire of the Blue Sky

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    I heard, from FireEngineer (I think), that the prius consumes more power when gliding as opposed to neutral-gliding...
     
    #7 Bob64, Oct 10, 2007
  8. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(subarutoo @ Oct 10 2007, 02:46 PM) [snapback]523754[/snapback]</div>
    Well..... It's really not like an automatic transmission in the Prius. Everything spins freely and is completely disengaged at the inverter. There's really not any risk of damage to the PSD or MGs unless you exceed 62mph with the ICE off.



    While there may well be good reasons not to do this the justification you gave is not amongst them.



    And NO, 50mpg is definately NOT good enough. I'm severely disappointed in any tank below 55 these days. YMMV. B)
     
    #8 efusco, Oct 10, 2007
  9. PA Prius

    PA Prius Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(subarutoo @ Oct 10 2007, 03:46 PM) [snapback]523754[/snapback]</div>
    I agree with efusco. I think coasting is a good idea and 50's is not good enough for me. We finally got the previous tank in the 60's and currently are at 60.5.

    Two reasons I coast in N-- sometimes I want to give my foot a break from feathering to find the "no energy" zone. Second, on some hills I know I will be able to accelerate by coasting to a speed above 41 mph. If I am in D the ICE will come on at that point, if in N it will not.

    Happy coasting!

    PA P
     
    #9 PA Prius, Oct 10, 2007
  10. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    This is a small point, but it many locations it is illegal to coast in neutral. Make sure to shift back to D before you crash. :D

    Tom
     
    #10 qbee42, Oct 10, 2007
  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Ditto. 50 isn't enough any more lol. I haven't seen anything below 55mpg in 5 months. I'm sooo not looking forward to winter.
     
    #11 Tideland Prius, Oct 10, 2007
  12. PA Prius

    PA Prius Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Oct 10 2007, 04:31 PM) [snapback]523804[/snapback]</div>
    Right, I suppose this is the one upside to global warming :( we had 93F here yesterday. And then there is that cheap set of 4 snow tires I couldn't pass up at $10. each. They killed my mileage last winter....

    PA P
     
    #12 PA Prius, Oct 10, 2007
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