electric only mode accessory

[jbond31560]

a company, i believe called coastal tech, offers a product that allows the prius to be operated in electric only mode for short distances and at speeds up to 34 mph.

per the manufacturer of this product, the software for electric only mode is in all priuses, however, not enabled in cars delivered in north america. i am hopeful that this product can increase overall fuel economy.

does anyone have any experience with this product?

john

[Tideland Prius]

Yep. A lot of us .

You basically have two choices - Coastal's mod which is very easy to install and requires minimal disassembly of your dash, or you can go the OEM route and get a Toyota EV button and install that but requires more work and disassembly. They're roughly the same price.

You're right in that the computer programming is in all Priuses and that all you need is a switch.

The uses of EV mode is varied and depending on usage, it might increase or it might decrease fuel economy.

e.g. if you're gonna go into EV Drive mode and run the battery down to two bars (at which time the car automatically comes out of EV Drive mode and turns on the engine), you might have a fuel consumption deficit cause the engine has to run harder to recharge the battery.

on the other hand, if you were just moving the car for short distances (e.g. changing parking spots or moving the car in/out of the garage), the EV mod helps cause you don't have the engine starting and warming up when you know you don't need the engine to warm up.

[aaf709]

There's a third choice. That's converting the flasher part of the headlight stalk to activate it. It's the cheapest (free if you have wire and a pin). Coastal's mod uses the Cancel part of the cruise control.

[jeneric]

Originally posted by aaf709@Mar 20 2006, 12:07 PM
There's a third choice. That's converting the flasher part of the headlight stalk to activate it. It's the cheapest (free if you have wire and a pin). Coastal's mod uses the Cancel part of the cruise control.

[snapback]227397[/snapback]

And you should have a pin if you have a Prius. At least those instructions have you using an extra one from the car. I'm finding it useful much more often than I thought I would. So much so that I'm considering a button so I don't have to flash people when the lights are on.

[dgstan]

Originally posted by Tideland Prius@Mar 20 2006, 03:01 PM
Yep. A lot of us .

You basically have two choices - Coastal's mod which is very easy to install and requires minimal disassembly of your dash, or you can go the OEM route and get a Toyota EV button and install that but requires more work and disassembly. They're roughly the same price.

You're right in that the computer programming is in all Priuses and that all you need is a switch.

The uses of EV mode is varied and depending on usage, it might increase or it might decrease fuel economy.

e.g. if you're gonna go into EV Drive mode and run the battery down to two bars (at which time the car automatically comes out of EV Drive mode and turns on the engine), you might have a fuel consumption deficit cause the engine has to run harder to recharge the battery.

on the other hand, if you were just moving the car for short distances (e.g. changing parking spots or moving the car in/out of the garage), the EV mod helps cause you don't have the engine starting and warming up when you know you don't need the engine to warm up.

[snapback]227393[/snapback]

Actually, there's a fourth choice.

You can go to any electronics store and buy your own "momentary on" button and (by following the instructions on this site) install it your self. You can put the button anywhere you want and install it in such a way that it can be easily removed in case of dealer/warranty concerns.

My switch cost 2 bucks.


DGStan

[SLC-UT]

What is involved with installing the Coast Tech option? The mention above of the of the “dash disassembly” doesn’t sound fun.

Once installed how does it work? Not the electric side, but activation and deactivation.

Is this something I will need to remove before I bring back to the dealer for warranty or recalls?

Thanks!

[darelldd]

Fifth option: Stick an unbent paperclip in the hole 27, and ground the other end. Might want to have your passenger do this, but it truly would be free.

Bottom line here, folks. ALL you need to do is pull the proper pin to ground. Many fancy ways of doing it, but they all do the same thing: pull hole #27 in H14 to ground.

Here is my list of links for the mod: http://www.darelldd.com/ev/prius_ev_mode.htm

Look around, there is a TON of info on the subject. This is likely the most popular mod that Prius drivers perform.

[Tideland Prius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SLC-UT @ Apr 15 2006, 10:51 AM) [snapback]240214[/snapback]</div>

What is involved with installing the Coast Tech option? The mention above of the of the “dash disassembly” doesn’t sound fun.

Once installed how does it work? Not the electric side, but activation and deactivation.

Is this something I will need to remove before I bring back to the dealer for warranty or recalls?

Thanks!
[/b]

Don't worry about installation. It sounds scary at first but after you do it, you'll realise that the part that requires disassembly is all just clips so you just pull a bunch of trim pieces out, remove the glovebox, do your thing and then snap everything back. There's only 3 things to remove - lower squarish piece, lower glovebox and right vent, all held by clips.


You use the cruise control stalk and pull towards you (i.e. as if you were cancelling the cruise control) and hold for 2 seconds (or wait for the beep and the screen change to the Energy Monitor if you're in some other screen). To disengage, hold for 2 seconds.

[aaf709]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SLC-UT @ Apr 15 2006, 10:51 AM) [snapback]240214[/snapback]</div>

What is involved with installing the Coast Tech option? The mention above of the of the “dash disassembly” doesn’t sound fun.
[/b]

All the EV mods require at least some dash removal. As Tideland Prius said, it's easier than it sounds. The trick is getting the pin in.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SLC-UT @ Apr 15 2006, 10:51 AM) [snapback]240214[/snapback]</div>

Is this something I will need to remove before I bring back to the dealer for warranty or recalls?
[/b]

None of the ways mentioned are designed for easy removal. Welllll, that's not quite true, all can be removed, but it means taking at least some of the dash apart. Normally once it's in, that's it. Dealers vary, some will ask where you got it (as they want one), some won't be aware of it and you may get one to install it. That being said, there are probably dealers that may try to void your battery warranty. Now there isn't a case that I know where that's happened yet.

[hdrygas]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SLC-UT @ Apr 15 2006, 10:51 AM) [snapback]240214[/snapback]</div>

What is involved with installing the Coast Tech option? The mention above of the of the “dash disassembly” doesn’t sound fun.

Once installed how does it work? Not the electric side, but activation and deactivation.

Is this something I will need to remove before I bring back to the dealer for warranty or recalls?

Thanks!
[/b]

OK I was scared shxxless. At doing this. I have a little bit of electronics experience. I built a few Heath Kits! I have done a few mods to older cars. That means taping a hot wire for power to a 8 track. Daxx that dates me! Couple of other things. My son blew out the woofer in my old car. He denies it but the system was maxed out on base and volume when I found it. I got a junk yard speaker to replace it then spent more than that on fasteners for the side panels to install the thing. I know little about cars despite being an assembly worker for two summers in college. The extra money let me set up a kicking Hi-fi Stereo system in my dorm. I was afraid I would destroy my new car. What I learned is that there have been improvements in car assembly. Those pieces click on and off. Half the dash disassembly is covered in the owners manual! Look at installing a new cabin filter. BTW do this every 5 to 10k especially if you have allergies. A blood sacrifice is necessary to get the plug in and out of the ECU but this makes you a blood brother or sister with your car. No biggie. There are a number of posts that cover the details. GET THE PIN IN FAR ENOUGH! This is truly not rocket science.