LED daytime running lights EV power draw?

Since they are LEDs i doubt there is much draw on the battery.

 

I'd think the very tiny number of yards gained in EV driving range is not worth the increased chance of some idiot not noticing you because the DRL's were off. Safety first day to day. Experiment for fun in a controlled area with no other idiots around you or at least in a rural situation.

 

Mark nailed it. Three rules:
Drive safely
Drive courteously
Drive efficiently
(in that order)

 

I believe your American-market 2008 does not have DRLs. Though if it is a Canadian import, it will have DRLs, most likely reduced-power incandescent highbeams.

At a mere 14 watts on my 2012, my LED DRLs are on full time whenever higher level lighting is not. This is less power than any incandescent version. On my earlier Prius and Legacy without DRLs, I frequently turned on full lighting (100+ watts) for the increased safety, it was worth it during our dreary overcast days (i.e. half of them).

 

Does the Prime even use the headlamp "bulbs" for US DRLs? Many cars don't. I can't check. We aren't allowed to have or look at a Prime until next year.

Do note, for poster above, if a Canadian Prius you can't turn off DRLs, so in that case the question would be moot.

 

I turn the lights to the third click, my front markers are on,as are my rear lights, I’m not afraid of what’s in front of me, I want the people behind me to spot me before nudging me. Drl’s leave the rear lights off.

 

The NHSTA stands with the effectiveness of DRLs in the US has not been conclusively shown in the research. Otherwise, they would be mandatory.

I turn my DRLs off, but I don't have LEDs. With those, I would not worry about EV range.

In mist, haze, and fog, I leave the DRLs on because it is an auto system, and the head and tail lights get turned on in those conditions.

 

According to my ScanGauge II, using the heated steering wheel uses only about 0.1 amps from the battery, and the DRL less than 0.1 amps, because I do not even see the change in current at the tenths place. So, let's say that you commute at a mean speed of something like 35 mph using 20 amps from the battery. Without DRL or the heated steering wheel, you might be able to go 30.0 miles without DRL. With DRL and heated steering wheel on the same trip, you would still be able to go 29.9 miles on the same battery charge. That 0.1 mile difference is even smaller if you're just using DRL and no heat. So, you decide if that negligible range difference is important to you especially around sunrise or sunset. (Also vote for your favorite cat in the links above!)