energy monitor screen

kkocis · 11-06-2006, 10:12 PM

hello priuschat.... i am a new owner (3 weeks) of a prius, and so far i love it. i have been averaging around 48 mpg for my first 700 miles, and from what i've read in this forum, that's pretty good for the break-in period. but my question for you concerns the energy monitor screen. i am both fascinated with and slightly puzzled by it. is there a quick reference for understanding the changing colors of the battery, and the colors and directions of the various arrows? what's good?what's bad?what's ugly????

**efusco** · 11-06-2006, 10:33 PM

Start here http://john1701a.com

daniel · 11-07-2006, 01:24 AM

The colors merely tell you at a glance whether the battery state of charge is high, medium or low. There is no good, bad, or ugly. The car's computer will never let the range go above or below where it wants it to be. Look at it out of curiosity. But it absolutely does not matter to the operation of the car what the color is or how many bars are showing. In particular, you should never worry that the charge may be too high or too low. The car will control it, charging it whenever necessary, and discharging it as appropriate.

The arrows show the direction of energy flow from the gas engine to the wheels and/or battery, and into or out of the battery. They are color-coded for direction, nothing more.

This also is there for your curiosity and amusement. The car will always do what is right, and again, there is no good, bad, or ugly. Your relatively high mpg means you are driving it well. And there is nothing in those arrows that ever indicates anything bad.

(There are separate warning lights on the dash to tell you if something bad happens. Those are described in the owner's manual.)

sparcus · 01-12-2008, 05:20 PM

You can use the Energy Monitor for hypermiling (google it). While driving you can achieve better gas milage by managing the accelerator pedal to use the internal combustion engine (ICE) the least possible.

I try to keep my batteries at least 50% charged, below that the car will run on ICE and use more gas. How do I do this? Don't drive in a hurry, and let the batteries charge during down hills.

I also use the Energy Monitor when I need to run on ICE, I monitor the MPH and the MPG to make sure I'm not using more gas than necessary.

Finally, when traffic permits, I cruise between 30 and 40 MPH. On a level road and with well charged batteries I can run on electric and alternate with gliding, boosting my MPG to 80.

john1701a · 01-12-2008, 10:23 PM

Try these two webpages...

How It Works 1

How It Works 2

.

11-07-2006, 01:24 AM	#3
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 11,278 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 59 Thanked 201 Times in 127 Posts Friends: 0	The colors merely tell you at a glance whether the battery state of charge is high, medium or low. There is no good, bad, or ugly. The car's computer will never let the range go above or below where it wants it to be. Look at it out of curiosity. But it absolutely does not matter to the operation of the car what the color is or how many bars are showing. In particular, you should never worry that the charge may be too high or too low. The car will control it, charging it whenever necessary, and discharging it as appropriate. The arrows show the direction of energy flow from the gas engine to the wheels and/or battery, and into or out of the battery. They are color-coded for direction, nothing more. This also is there for your curiosity and amusement. The car will always do what is right, and again, there is no good, bad, or ugly. Your relatively high mpg means you are driving it well. And there is nothing in those arrows that ever indicates anything bad. (There are separate warning lights on the dash to tell you if something bad happens. Those are described in the owner's manual.) __________________ Daniel Primary car: 100% Electric 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera. Estimated range at 55 mph: 81 miles total or 64 miles to 80% discharge. Top speed 70 mph. Secondary car: Zap Xebra SD, also 100% electric. 1.9 cents per mile. Range: 40 miles total, or 32 miles to 80% discharge. Top speed 35 mph. Faster downhill. Both EVs use electrons generated from water power. Gas guzzler for when I have to travel farther than 60 miles: 2004 Prius. "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." -- Emma Goldman "Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think long and hard before starting a war." -- Otto von Bismarck

01-12-2008, 05:20 PM	#4
sparcus Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 7 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: energy monitor screen You can use the Energy Monitor for hypermiling (google it). While driving you can achieve better gas milage by managing the accelerator pedal to use the internal combustion engine (ICE) the least possible. I try to keep my batteries at least 50% charged, below that the car will run on ICE and use more gas. How do I do this? Don't drive in a hurry, and let the batteries charge during down hills. I also use the Energy Monitor when I need to run on ICE, I monitor the MPH and the MPG to make sure I'm not using more gas than necessary. Finally, when traffic permits, I cruise between 30 and 40 MPH. On a level road and with well charged batteries I can run on electric and alternate with gliding, boosting my MPG to 80.

01-12-2008, 10:23 PM	#5
john1701a Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,376 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 9 Thanked 145 Times in 70 Posts Friends: 12	Re: energy monitor screen Try these two webpages... How It Works 1 How It Works 2 .

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11-06-2006, 10:12 PM	#1
kkocis Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	hello priuschat.... i am a new owner (3 weeks) of a prius, and so far i love it. i have been averaging around 48 mpg for my first 700 miles, and from what i've read in this forum, that's pretty good for the break-in period. but my question for you concerns the energy monitor screen. i am both fascinated with and slightly puzzled by it. is there a quick reference for understanding the changing colors of the battery, and the colors and directions of the various arrows? what's good?what's bad?what's ugly????

11-06-2006, 10:33 PM	#2
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 17,242 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 49 Thanked 256 Times in 154 Posts Friends: 37	Start here http://john1701a.com