A whole lot of noise to wake the neighbors just to step out and get my paper

Page 248 of the 2019 owner's manual
"Switching to EV drive mode when the gasoline engine is cold
If the hybrid system is started while the gasoline engine is cold, the gasoline engine will start automatically after a short period of time in order to warm up.In this case, you will become unable to switch to EV drive mode.After the hybrid system has started and the “READY” indicator has illuminated, press the EV drive mode switch before the gasoline engine starts to switch to EV drive mode."

There is a momentary grace period between starting the car and the engine turns on for warm up in which you can put the car in EV mode. Now the preceding page lists reasons for why the car may not go into EV mode. The hybrid system being too cold and the battery charge being too low are likely ones if you can't get it into EV mode on start up.

Manuals for the early generations(the gen1 had EV mode in other markets) had examples like moving the car out of the garage to get the lawnmower out as a use for EV mode. So avoiding engine start up with short EV use was always a feature.

 

She's talking about wanting a "quieter beep". Not the ICE.

 

As Alan's video shows, you just get three short beeps if you put it in park before you exit. I would say that's probably the least intrusive.

 

honestly? that's waking the neighbors?

 

When mine makes the single (I think might be double) beep when I lock the door, that's when my dog hears that I'm home - and lets the neighbours know. I can sneak in and he doesn't hear that.

Little dog, big noise, excited that Daddy's home.

 

Parallel concrete walls/alleyway has the potential to turn those 3 beeps into a very loud sound, for sure.

 

Which isn't possible for that beep. No noise means turning the car off. I brought up EV mode because it also eliminates engine noise.

The intro to EV mode in the manual.
"In EV drive mode, electric power is supplied by the hybrid battery (traction battery), and only the electric motor (traction motor) is used to drive the vehicle.This mode allows you to drive in residential areas late at night, or in indoor parking lots etc. without concern for noises and exhaust gas emissions."

Not disturbing your neighbors in the early morning or late at night is one of the main reasons Toyota even bothered with having an EV mode at all.

 

except it only works with enough battery and above a certain temperature

 

I mentioned that my C won't "alert" if you leave the car when it's running IF you leave the drivers door open.
That was several days ago and so far nobody has said whether or not that works with the other Prii models.

 

see post #11

 

Mine (UK) doesn't beep when you lock/unlock it, just a clunk sound which you can change the volume of in the settings.
I have the same with the dogs. the little one sits in the front window looking for me coming home and he's the one who instigates the barking with the other three joining in

 

Maybe I missed something, but why would anyone leave their Prius powered up when they get home ? I mean, I've done this by accident a few times, but when I went to set my alarm, I was like, "Hey ? Why wont this set" ? Oh... because I'm being stupid again lol

But I mean, if you do leave it powered up, wont it use the heck out of your battery, and cycle on and off all night long for your heating / air ?

 

yes, you missed: 'i start my car, back out of the garage, put it in park and get out to pick up the paper. is there any way to lower the caucophony of warning sounds when i open the door?'

you only had to read the first post

 

It won't use up the battery, in fact it will do the opposite, it will charge both the HV and the 12v as it cycles on and off regardless of the heating setting.

 

Plays havoc with your fuelly stats.

 

I just listened to the 3 warning beeps on my 2018 Gen 4 Touring. At the curb in front of the house, no walls near the car, the beeping isn't loud. If the car is between my brick wall and my brick garage wall, it's rather loud. Between sunset and sunrise, I can see how it would be annoying.

 

i guess you can always dig in and cut the wires

 

Oooh - I'd be surprised if it didn't then come up with an error.

 

Someone, back 4 or 5 years ago when I first started on PriusChat relayed a story about someone who, somehow left their car powered up at the airport. Came back, I think a week later - fuel tank nearly empty, but ... the car was lovely and cool.