34

I believe I have determined that 34 mph is BOTH, the speed at which EV mode automatically disengages, if you have the EV switch and have used it to engage EV mode, AND the speed at which the car will transition from Stage 3a to Stage 3b operation.

(For those who have not followed my speculations dividing S3 operation into two sub-modes, S3a and S3b, S3b operates exactly like Stage 4 (full hybrid) operation, but is triggered by reaching 34 mph rather than by a 10-second full stop, and S3b reverts to S3a if you apply the brake below 34 mph.)

 

The car will not necessarily go into golf-cart mode in either S4 or S3b. Depends on all the factors the computer uses to decide. And it may be that we don't even know all those factors. So being in S3b does not guarantee that you can "feather" it into electric. "Feathering" encourages the car to go electric, but does not force it. I also have times when I think I should be able to "feather" it into electric, and it won't go. Then I just either let it be, or use the EV switch. Also, if you are in S3b and you apply the brakes below 34 mph, you'll be back in S3a.

My assertion is merely that 34 mph is the transition speed between S3a and S3b, and that in S3b the hybrid system functions the same as in S4, with the computer sometimes deciding to run the car in golf-cart mode. (And we already know that 34 mph is the speed at which EV mode is automatically cancelled.)

BTW, if you quit feathering the pedal entirely, and just drive it, it will still go into golf-cart mode on its own, generally not too much later than you could have feathered it into it.

 

I will write an account of my understanding and observations of the stages, and submit it to Danny for inclusion in the knowledge base. It may need to be peer-reviewed first. Several Japanese posters have given us authoritative-sounding, but not always consistent, explanations, and I have added my observations. But I forget the temperatures of the various transitions.

 

I have posted a draft of an article on the 5 stages of hybrid operation HERE. I woulod appreciate comments and corrections. Please post them as replies to the article.

Thanks.

 

Henry: If there were no arrows leaving the engine, then what you saw was "super golf-cart mode" (formerly known as "super-stealth" by those who like the militaristic-sounding terminology). The ICE is spinning, but it is not providing any power to the wheels. You are indeed running on electric. But the ICE must spin, due to the geometry of the PSD, otherwise MG1 would turn faster than its design limit.

It would amaze me if you went 3 miles that way. Overcoming wind resistance at 65 mph on the battery's power alone would drain your SOC pretty fast, and at 65 mph the ICE is efficient and would be favored by the computer.

Are you sure there were no arrows leaving the engine? Normally in highway driving there will be arrows leaving the engine, and the arrows between battery and MG will go back and forth.