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Battery depletes quickly from full charge even when not in EV Mode

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by PlumbersCrack, Mar 23, 2016.

  1. PlumbersCrack

    PlumbersCrack Junior Member

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    Not sure if this has been covered but I tried some search words but couldn't get any info about it. I don't plug my PiP in often due to the cost of electricity here, but what I have noticed that when it has a full charge, around 13Miles, it will quickly drop down to 7-8, even when not using EV. Meaning, I start up car, turn off EV and the motor gets warm. Engine shuts off and I drive normally using the ICE. Over the course of a few miles, I'd say about 10, that EV range slowly drops down to 7-8 and then maintains itself around there. Pretty much the whole time I would have been using the ICE to maintain ~70MPH on the highway, not climbing, just flat. I don't think anything is wrong with the vehicle because if I leave it in EV, Ill get pretty much a full charge worth, but I just find this odd. Thanks.
     
  2. se-riously

    se-riously Active Member

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    It switches automatically from EV to HV at around 62 MPH. So if you're going 70, it's using gas because it's more efficient.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    even in hv, it will use a portion of the ev battery. after it reaches that parameter, it will hold it there using the engine to charge the battery, unless you switch to ev.
    when i leave my house in hv mode with a full charge, let's call it 12 miles, it will use about 4 miles of the battery, then hold it at 8.
     
  4. gallde

    gallde Active Member

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    (Actually, the switch to HV is at 65 in my experience, not 62.)
    But here's why the battery depletes anyway: It's still a hybrid when the ICE runs in HV mode. So, the car will use what it "believes" (via its Hybrid Synergy computer) is the least environmentally-harmful means to produce motive power, meaning a combo of running the ICE only fast enough to keep the MG from overspinning at high vehicle speed, and using the traction battery's power through the MG for the rest of the motive force.

     
  5. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    The battery also needs room for more charging when regeneration braking, or regeneration going down hills. So it has to bleed off a couple of miles of battery so that it has some room for that type of regeneration charge.

    So it's normal!
    Enjoy your car.(y)
     
    Redpoint5 and bisco like this.
  6. Redpoint5

    Redpoint5 Senior Member

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    My experience is that the car indicates 65 MPH when it switches to HV, but actual speed (GPS indicated) is 62. The speedo in my car is about 2.5 MPH faster than actual around 65 MPH.
     
  7. PlumbersCrack

    PlumbersCrack Junior Member

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    Thanks for the information - sorry for replying so late. Good to know.