To EV or Not to EV. That is the question

Blue-Adept; welcome to the forum!!

actually the EV is one of the more popular mods. if you have a real need for it, then do it. there have been many people before you that have tried it and i havent heard of any problems from it yet.

 

For the people who have installed EV switches, are you using the EV mode as often as you thought you would? I could see using it if you had to move the car short distances on a regular basis, but other than that, I'm not sure of the usefulness. How many of you still feel that it is a useful mod?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Blue-Adept\";p=\"77805)</div>

I am less than convinced that adding this switch will not void a warranty. My guess is that with an electronic diagnostic procedure it would almost certainly be found. There is another consideration that has not yet been addressed, as well: at least in California the ENTIRE hybrid system, including battery and all controls, are considered to be emissions control devices. It is technically illegal to alter them unless the installed parts have a CARB exemption. I am not certain how the Federal pollution control laws work, as California is more stringent. Personally, I would not install this switch unless it had a CARB exemption AND I had some acknoweledgement from Toyota that they wouldn't void my warranty. It is a slick little device that could be fun, but the potential real gains in MPG do not outweigh the very real of losing your warranty and violating the law.

 

EV. EV! wait.. what was the question? (reads)

well.. if i were to get the switch, it would use it for leaving the driveway.. no need to waist fuel when going down the hill to the road. I would use it in parking lots. I would also find.. yes.. find other reasons to use it.

Even simply to use it when leaving the house.. i think it would be worth it. You could also use it to show off how cool the car is too.

People have had their cars serviced with no problems. I've seen several post on here about it.

Evan does have a good point. If you are really worried, don't do it. A peace of mind is better than anxiety attacks.

I have good faith in Toyota. Maybe i'm ignorant in that point.. but i like to think my car won't fail because of the EV switch. If so.. i would think they would just replace something if it was a general flaw without asking too many problems.

 

"Besides, we're not tinkering with the electronics since the computer programming is already there. We're just adding a switch to activate it."

yes.. but on the other note.. for USA citizens (not sure if it applies anywhere else) Toyota stated that any EV mod will void warranty.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid\";p=\"78224)</div>

Yes, and I'll be happy to "state" that it won't, if you like.

The thing is, for warranty purposes, it makes no difference what either one of us "states".

A manufacterer can't duck its warranty responsibility by "stating" things, although it is free to go ahead and do so. But, in fact, the warranty depends upon the actual language in the warranty, and on the law. The law says that the warranty is voided only if what you do to the car actually does harm to it, and it is voided only to that extent and no more.

So far, since nobody has ever reported having their warranty denied for that reason, it's all speculation. So, to whoever asked "Can someone give me a definitive answer?" the answer is, "No, nobody can."

 

smartass.

damage.. yes... using an EV mod in excess will shorten the life of the battery.. that counts as damage.

Nobody has been caught. Nobody has been penalized. We know this. The fact remaines that Toyota will try to void your warranty if you use an EV mod where they are not offered by the Toyota at the time of sale.

Your word against theirs... guess who normally wins in those cases.

Even I will get the EV mod one day. If i get caught, o well. i'm sure the car should last longer than any other car.. warranty voided or not.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid\";p=\"78233)</div>

Sure, but I don't use mine "in excess" of course. And considering that the Toyota-written computer program turns it off whenever it wants to, and refuses to go into EV mode if it doesn't feel like it, I'm not sure how I could use it "in excess" if I tried.

I'd be much more likely to "damage" the car using all the controls they've already provided me with, than using the EV switch.

 

hehe.

i'm just making sure that people know that Toyota is aware of these mods we have.

Every once and a while a prius will fail. The day that a prius fails and Toyota sees EV usage on the computer will be an interesting day. Will they not care because it's doing no harm. Or will they be mad and void that persons warranty. Just looking out for my fellow Priuschatters

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid\";p=\"78233)</div>

So, where are the warnings Toyota has issued to Japanese and European owners about the life-shortening aspects of EV?

*IS* it just North American owners that can't use it because it will shorten our battery life? Do the non-US models already state a much shorter battery life, and not using EV might keep ours going as long as possible?

California (et al) already has 50,000 extra miles promised, on the same battery I got. Would that extra 1/3 life be burned away by draining the battery more? 'Excessively' more, or just more?

No answers, other than Toyota laying down the 'law' about EV being a warranty-buster? Figures...

 

The battery warranty in the UK is the same as here.

They get EV mode standard.

So if Toyota is afraid of shortened battery life, they have a funny way of showing it.

 

They said it because of the warranties which are issued in some states. California for example has a 150k.. 200k mile 8year or 10 year?.. can't remember at the moment. It's higher than anywhere else. there are a few states that get the same warranty as California though. Since they have to support this higher warranty, they said that any models with EV not an option can not have it aftermarket. we'll see.

 

Well, I've never heard them say that, but I hope they were dumb enough, because they just admitted that their policy is arbitrary and capricious.

That's like voiding the warranty for driving 70 mph in Virginia because the max limit in New York is 55.

I don't care what the warranty is in California. I don't live there, I dont' drive there, I didn't tell them what to price the cars at there; it's not my problem. It's theirs.

When, in the course of disputing a warranty claim, you point out that the warranty is the same in NJ and the UK, and they get the EV switch, and Toyota argues some nonsense about different warranties in different states, then your word against theirs doesn't sound like such a bad deal.

 

according to articles i have read, the reason american Priuses dont have the EV switch is because of problems with emission testing.