Got a call from Jim @A123 about a new rev. of the firmware. Sounds like a smaller change than the last one. He stated that the details will be in a letter sent out. In summary it should allow better range from the pack. In short he wanted to come by to install the new rev. So without having to go to the CHiP Installer he came to the house and did it here. I hope that all Hymotion owners get the opportunity for a housecall. BTW, I just finished a complete tank with the last Rev. (CARB update with no EV on startup and forced ICE on) I went 1006mi. 103MPG for the tank. This is with a few weeks with colder ambient temps too. It pains me that the ICE starts every trip, but the fuel mlleage is not different than before the rev. Chris
When I got the CARB update I think it was Jason that made a housecall for me. I think he was from North or South Carolina and was making a trip up north for the updates. I would still have to make a 2 day trip to get my battery serviced so I really appreciate him coming out. I hope to get the letter soon. I really want to know what this update is doing to get better range. I was told the battery is using a SOC of 100%-3% so I wonder how they are going to do that? I hope they are not lowering the amp output. When did you get your CARB update? When did you get this new update done? Have you noticed any difference in the new firmware yet?
I'm on the list for a housecall myself. I'm still running the original firmware and if I plug in to recharge too soon after shutting down the car, it drains the 12v battery. ---Kent
Hi Jay, I got my CARB update 26th August. The new update was yesterday 9th November. Only did a short trip so far. Jim did say something about the pack having to rebalance which could take up to 12 hours. I do not know if this was for this or the CARB rev. I did ask about amp output and without him answering the question I had the feeling that amp output was not impacted, I could be wrong though. Chris
Hey Kent. I though you had the CARB update? Thought you had it done near the same time I did when the guy did his trip up north. Thanks Chris. Keep us updated.
Does nyone know the rev#/date of the latest hymotion software. I'm taking my prius in for its first software update after 8 months of ownership and want to make sure I'm getting the latest. Thanks, Stephen
First post here....picked up my first Prius yesterday and the Hymotion kit goes in before the end of the year.... I too am interested in the mod of the latest release Thanks, Ross
No, I have never had an update from the original installation last year. I was never informed of the CARB update when the installer was in Columbus. I would have driven over had I known. ---Kent
If the update is CARB related, my best guess is that it has to do with EV mode usage. Does your current firmware allow you to go straight to EV mode when you turn the car on without letting the gasoline engine warmup? When the vehicle breaks EV-mode at high speeds (over 30 mph) under load the amount of emissions from the vehicle is substantially increased and the vehicle no longer meets SULEV (super ultra low emissions vehicle) emissions standards which was something CARB was upset about with the early PHEV conversion kits. If EV mode is broken at a low speed, the electric motor can provide the necessary power to drive the vehicle while the gasoline engine warms up. It might also have something to do with monitoring the catalytic converter temperature and denying EV mode if the temperature drops to the point where the converter becomes less effective during normal driving. Limiting EV mode usage would probably extend the range of the conversion system since you aren't as aggressively using battery power. Andrew
I do not know the version Of this rev. I'm sure an email to Jim would be quick. BTW the time it took to update the rev. Was very fast. Welcome Ross. I hope you enjoy your time here. Many old threads will give you much to digest. Chris
Well if they are limiting EV even more with this update I wont be affected. I have a manual EV button. I guess the gas I burn is more dirty per tank but since I can EV out to the highway and do S1 on the on the highway I burn less gas per tank than if I would let the car go to S1 then ev then burn more gas on the highway.
You are correct. I do not have the CARB update. I can drive without the engine warming up at all until I reach 32 MPH and the engine starts. For in town driving, I use the EV button so the CARB mandate will not affect my performance. ---Kent
Yikes, well I guess that does increase mileage but yeah it does significantly increase emissions. According to Argonne National Labs it produces between 8 to 12 times the regulated emissions if you break EV under load like that than if you had let the ICE warmup on its own when the car turns on--which I'm guessing is what CARB is upset about. Andrew
I can see their point, except with the EV button I will not start the engine at all and my emissions are zero. I live in town and unless I'm going out of town, I use EV 90% of the time. On long trips, I let the engine start normally for the best of both worlds. ---Kent
True--though most people either forget or intentionally choose not to let the gasoline engine warmup normally because it uses more gasoline. Really the only way around the problem would be to force the vehicle to go through the gasoline warmup sequence normally without the gasoline engine being under load. My PICC conversion system does just that when I exit EV mode even at highway speeds. It allows the gasoline engine to warmup normally before using it to move the vehicle regardless of what speed I'm going--thus I get EV mode without increasing my emissions. Awhile back some people had toyed with the idea of an electrically heated catalytic converter, but I think that idea fizzled because it causes extra wear and tear on your catalytic converter (and drains your battery). I know it seems like a ridiculous thing for people like CARB to complain about but it really does make sense given that PHEV's are suppose to be lowering emissions instead of raising them. Andrew
