EV switch right application

maggieddd · 01-15-2006, 08:50 AM

I know EV switch questions come up all the time. I have one little question which I didn't find answer to by searching.
Here is a situation:
I am using EV switch and I managed to do my whole trip around the city in the electric mode only. When I finish the trip my battery is very low (purple bars). The car is going to stand in the cold for hours so the engine will be very cold when I am ready to use the car again. I know it will use gasoline to charge the battery when I drive it again, but since the engine is cold it will use gasoilne anyway to warm up. So, whether the battery would be completly charged or comletly discharged the gasoline has to be used to warm up the engine. I assume while the engine is warming up it also charges the battery, am I right? And if so, the hit on my mpg shouldn't be significantly higher in this case. Am I right or am I completly wrong?

priusblue · 01-15-2006, 09:02 AM

I'm interested in this too - I would think that would be true - I mean the engine will be running a little more than usual simply to warm up - and will likely generate extra energy to charge the battery in the process. I just ordered by EV kit from coastal tech, and was thinking it would be ideal for short trips around town between my usual long commutes where the battery typically gets charged up all the way.

maggieddd · 01-15-2006, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by priusblue@Jan 15 2006, 09:02 AM
I'm interested in this too - I would think that would be true - I mean the engine will be running a little more than usual simply to warm up - and will likely generate extra energy to charge the battery in the process. I just ordered by EV kit from coastal tech, and was thinking it would be ideal for short trips around town between my usual long commutes where the battery typically gets charged up all the way.

[snapback]190453[/snapback]

I am in the same situation. I drive to work 50 miles, the battery gets fully charged and a lot of times stays on green. Then on my lunch break I do short trips around the town and then the car sits on the lot for 4 hours or so again. Then I drive 50 miles again.

Also, I am trying to decide whether I should get the OEM switch or the one crom Coastal. Is there any difference other than the price?

**TonyPSchaefer** · 01-15-2006, 10:35 AM

Yeah, I finish my drive home with a drive through suburbs ~25MPH. I stealth all the way home and try to discharge as much battery as possible. Like Maggie, I figure that the car will warm up in the morning and recharge the battery. I would like to think that this is an intelligent use of stealthing/EV.

But Maggie, I'm a bit confused. In your original post, you start with "I am using EV switch . . ." and then follow it in your reply with "I am trying to decide whether I should get the OEM switch or the one crom Coastal." Do you have the switch yet?

maggieddd · 01-15-2006, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TonyPSchaefer@Jan 15 2006, 10:35 AM
Yeah, I finish my drive home with a drive through suburbs ~25MPH. I stealth all the way home and try to discharge as much battery as possible. Like Maggie, I figure that the car will warm up in the morning and recharge the battery. I would like to think that this is an intelligent use of stealthing/EV.

But Maggie, I'm a bit confused. In your original post, you start with "I am using EV switch . . ." and then follow it in your reply with "I am trying to decide whether I should get the OEM switch or the one crom Coastal." Do you have the switch yet?

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Tony, this was just a hypothetical scenario I was describing. I don't have a switch yet. I am trying to decide whether I shold get one or not.

jwe8f · 01-15-2006, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by maggieddd@Jan 15 2006, 08:50 AM
When I finish the trip my battery is very low (purple bars). The car is going to stand in the cold for hours so the engine will be very cold when I am ready to use the car again. I know it will use gasoline to charge the battery when I drive it again, but since the engine is cold it will use gasoilne anyway to warm up. So, whether the battery would be completly charged or comletly discharged the gasoline has to be used to warm up the engine. I assume while the engine is warming up it also charges the battery, am I right? And if so, the hit on my mpg shouldn't be significantly higher in this case. Am I right or am I completly wrong?
[snapback]190449[/snapback]

I believe the car tries to use the battery as much as possible during warm-up, theoretically to keep the load off a cold engine. I believe this because as I drive through my subdivision with my motor running in the morning, I watch the battery bars drop. It is clearly in EV mode with the engine running.

If you start out in the purple, I would assume the engine will pick up the slack. However, since I believe Toyota is trying to keep the load off the engine when it's cold, I would also think adding a load would reduce your gas mileage and increase your emissions. For that reason I do not deplete my battery more than halfway at the end of a trip.

EV switches are not usually good for 'trips', unless they are very short. The best uses are shutting down your engine when you enter your subdivision at the end of your trip, or to shut off the engine when you are driving across a parking lot or waiting in a fast-food line. I have used it for a full trip, but the trip was only a block or two long.

You should really think of an EV switch as a way to keep your mileage from DROPPING under certain circumstances, rather than a method of raising it.

I love my EV switch, but it has nothing to do with gas savings. I love the control it gives me over unnecessary use of the engine, but mostly I love impressing my neighbors and co-workers...

priusblue · 01-15-2006, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by maggieddd@Jan 15 2006, 10:10 AM
Also, I am trying to decide whether I should get the OEM switch or the one crom Coastal. Is there any difference other than the price?

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The reason I'm getting the coastal one is b/c I have a 2006 and this post
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showt...4252&hl=ev+mod
says the OEM switch won't work. If you have a '04 or '05, I'm not sure which one is best. I like the idea of having the switch on the cruise control bar that the coastal one has, instead of the button. Seems like easier access. My honda had the cruise on/off switch where the EV button should be and I found it very inconvenient.

maggieddd · 01-15-2006, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by priusblue@Jan 15 2006, 12:50 PM
The reason I'm getting the coastal one is b/c I have a 2006 and this post
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showt...4252&hl=ev+mod
says the OEM switch won't work. If you have a '04 or '05, I'm nit sure which one is best. I like the idea of having the switch on the cruise control bar that the coastal one has, instead of the button. Seems like easier access. My honda had the cruise on/off switch where the EV button sould be and I found it very inconvenient.

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I've got '05 Prius. any other characteristics of OEM vs. Coastal switch? I don't know, I think I would rather have it as a separate swich instead of cruise control, but I am not sure.

**Tideland Prius** · 01-15-2006, 01:52 PM

well Coastal's one is very easy to install (except for that orange pin that everyone complains about). Just make sure that orange pin is FULLY inserted.

The OEM one requires both sides of the dash to be removed and to me, that's more complicated especially with the power button and shifter. Also, I believe soldering is required?

I'd like to have the OEM switch but the installation is difficult for me.

maggieddd · 01-15-2006, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tideland Prius@Jan 15 2006, 01:52 PM
well Coastal's one is very easy to install (except for that orange pin that everyone complains about). Just make sure that orange pin is FULLY inserted.

The OEM one requires both sides of the dash to be removed and to me, that's more complicated especially with the power button and shifter. Also, I believe soldering is required?

I'd like to have the OEM switch but the installation is difficult for me.

[snapback]190642[/snapback]

thanks, maybe I'll go for the Coastal switch

how is the warranty issue? Do you void it or not by installing the EV switch?

01-15-2006, 10:35 AM	#4
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 10,499 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 39 Thanked 165 Times in 106 Posts Friends: 23	Yeah, I finish my drive home with a drive through suburbs ~25MPH. I stealth all the way home and try to discharge as much battery as possible. Like Maggie, I figure that the car will warm up in the morning and recharge the battery. I would like to think that this is an intelligent use of stealthing/EV. But Maggie, I'm a bit confused. In your original post, you start with "I am using EV switch . . ." and then follow it in your reply with "I am trying to decide whether I should get the OEM switch or the one crom Coastal." Do you have the switch yet? __________________ Proud father of Priapus: the '04 Tideland BC9 with an OEM EV button and sense of self-righteousness Current Mileage Chicago Prius Group Website Chicago Hybrid Group on FaceBook Find me on faceBook

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01-15-2006, 08:50 AM	#1
maggieddd Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 2,081 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 2	I know EV switch questions come up all the time. I have one little question which I didn't find answer to by searching. Here is a situation: I am using EV switch and I managed to do my whole trip around the city in the electric mode only. When I finish the trip my battery is very low (purple bars). The car is going to stand in the cold for hours so the engine will be very cold when I am ready to use the car again. I know it will use gasoline to charge the battery when I drive it again, but since the engine is cold it will use gasoilne anyway to warm up. So, whether the battery would be completly charged or comletly discharged the gasoline has to be used to warm up the engine. I assume while the engine is warming up it also charges the battery, am I right? And if so, the hit on my mpg shouldn't be significantly higher in this case. Am I right or am I completly wrong?

01-15-2006, 09:02 AM	#2
priusblue Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 152 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I'm interested in this too - I would think that would be true - I mean the engine will be running a little more than usual simply to warm up - and will likely generate extra energy to charge the battery in the process. I just ordered by EV kit from coastal tech, and was thinking it would be ideal for short trips around town between my usual long commutes where the battery typically gets charged up all the way.

01-15-2006, 01:52 PM	#9
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,620 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 344 Times in 243 Posts Friends: 23	well Coastal's one is very easy to install (except for that orange pin that everyone complains about). Just make sure that orange pin is FULLY inserted. The OEM one requires both sides of the dash to be removed and to me, that's more complicated especially with the power button and shifter. Also, I believe soldering is required? I'd like to have the OEM switch but the installation is difficult for me.