Limiting engine startup in cold weather

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by sylvaing, Oct 30, 2023.

  1. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    22,576
    11,852
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    You aren't doing the engine any favors by not using it all the time.
     
  2. sylvaing

    sylvaing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2023
    1,187
    496
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    If I wanted to use the engine "all the time", I would have bought an Hybrid instead of a PHEV. You would expect Toyota designed the Prime so the engine is seldomly used. Beside, with temperature often below -10C here in dead of winter, the engine will see its fair use of the travels.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,444
    50,202
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    it's hard to know what toyota is thinking most of the time. they are on the third gen phev, and with each, they have promised less engine on, but it really hasn't panned out
     
  4. Marine Ray

    Marine Ray Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2017
    1,139
    942
    0
    Location:
    Sparks, NV
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    So much so that they get a BEV after the PHEV, and then keep both :}
     

    Attached Files:

    bisco likes this.
  5. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    22,576
    11,852
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    No, not "all the time". I could have phrased it better. Just when it is reasonable to have the engine come on. Like in winter, or when flooring it. But many see the engine coming on as such a negative that they take extra steps to prevent it. Their vocalness about it is why the gen4 Prime/PHV literally has a different EV mode between North America and the rest of the world.

    If the engine is only coming on for holiday trips, that may not be enough to keep the engine properly maintained.
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Witness Leader

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    57,108
    39,429
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    If you’ve got a daily commute, running as. Hybrid one day per week might be good.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,444
    50,202
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i can attest to the problem of not running the engine enough. at least on an 11 year old plug in with only 30k on the engine
     
  8. sylvaing

    sylvaing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2023
    1,187
    496
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    With the temperature being often below -10°C in the following months, the engine will see its fair use.

    However, checking with Hybrid Assistant, in Ready mode with Climate set to High, fan to the Max and Eco Off at 1°C, the car draws only 2 kWh. Connected to a 240V/16A (3.8 kWh) charger, I fail to see why the battery needs to be solicited to warm up the car in Climate Prep.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,444
    50,202
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Poor software programming
     
  10. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    22,576
    11,852
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    It shouldn't on Level 2, but many people with a PHEV just use Level 1. When first released, the Volt didn't allow grid climate prep when using Level 1.

    A note on comparing to the Tesla, it might have resistant heaters that heat up almost immediately that the Prius doesn't.
     
  11. sylvaing

    sylvaing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2023
    1,187
    496
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    No, it doesn't have resistant heaters since 2021. When the heatpump isn't enough, it uses many components in a 'lossy' manner. When operated on such a way, the CoP is 1, just like a resistant heat but without the added weight of more components. See this:

     
    Trollbait and Louis19 like this.
  12. Louis19

    Louis19 Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2022
    392
    359
    0
    Location:
    Laval Québec Canada
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Upgrade
    By the way , do you have a AWD TESLA, since the motors works in a lossy manner , heating with a AWD provides more heat than a single motor.
     
  13. sylvaing

    sylvaing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2023
    1,187
    496
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    No, RWD, although I have no problem driving with my coat on the back seat at -30°C.
     
    Louis19 likes this.
  14. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    22,576
    11,852
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Would it be fair to say that using drive train components inefficiently for cabin heat is like a PHEV using the engine?
     
  15. sylvaing

    sylvaing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2023
    1,187
    496
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Without emissions though.
     
  16. Louis19

    Louis19 Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2022
    392
    359
    0
    Location:
    Laval Québec Canada
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Upgrade
    How does RWD behave in our winter with snow tires
     
  17. sylvaing

    sylvaing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2023
    1,187
    496
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I've put Michelin X-Ice tires on and never had stability issues, even on badly maintained regional roads like this

     
    Louis19 likes this.
  18. Louis19

    Louis19 Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2022
    392
    359
    0
    Location:
    Laval Québec Canada
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Upgrade
    Thanks, by the way how does the ride compare to the Prime versus the Tesla M3
     
  19. sylvaing

    sylvaing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2023
    1,187
    496
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    The Prime ride is much softer (and therefore comfortable) than the Model 3 but the driving fun isn't the same.
     
    Louis19 likes this.
  20. Louis19

    Louis19 Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2022
    392
    359
    0
    Location:
    Laval Québec Canada
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Upgrade
    Thanks again:) personnaly I prefer softer ride . ..I appreciate your opinion