The last time I measured from empty, the Hymotion battery pulled 5.2 kwh of electricity. Some of that is lost during transfer. Also, after the battery is full and the lights shut down, there is still a draw of 20 watts happening just by being plugged in. During the recharge, it is pulling 900 to 1,100 watts for 5.5 hours.

I understand that while charging, the tail lights stay on? Is this true? Can it be turned off? My neighbor will have his living room lit up at night.

The rear lights go on at 1/3 of normal strength.

What are you averaging for MPG?

I am right at 100 mpg lately with the colder weather. I used to be solidly above 120 mpg. But I have noticed with the beginning of colder temps that my car spends more time in the warm-up phase.

PeakOilGarage,
Did you ever find out about the grill blocks. I start putting mine in when it gets below 50, with 1 upper blocked. It's now 20's to 40's (Chicago area) and I have the uppers blocked and 2 lowers. I also use the ebh, for 3 hrs prior to driving. I'm still eking out 50 mpg, though short trips kill the mileage.

gkalkas, when is your Hymotion being installed? I thought you already had it.
I have not done the grill blocking yet. I am torn on that one. My car is garaged and I have the EBH for 2 hours in the morning.

However, with Hymotion and SGII, I am finding that the water temp is not that important to Hymotion. I am able to keep my Hymotion Prius in pure EV mode even when the engine is stone cold and the outside temp is 40 F.

All of those things with stage 1 through stage 4 don't seem to play by the same rules with Hymotion is engaged. I am still figuring out the parameters. The EV request communication software really does change things.

"gkalkas, when is your Hymotion being installed? I thought you already had it."
Jan. 8th. I can't hardly wait! (or is it, I can hardly wait??!) I was counting the months, now I'm finally counting the weeks, well, 6. I'm driving to Minneapolis. Denny Hecker Toyota does it at their VW dealer, so as not to have Toyota lean on them. They said it is a day and 1/2 install. Bring it in at 9 a.m. and pick it up next day, afternoon.

"I am able to keep my Hymotion Prius in pure EV mode even when the engine is stone cold and the outside temp is 40 F."

Really! I'll have to re-learn how to hypermile! And you're at 100 mph even in the colder weather. Great!

I don't have a scanguage II. Do you think it is necessary? Though I do have the ebh and ev button.

Can anyone tell me how to change my "?" icon to a picture? It's not picking up my priuschat pic. Thanks.

gkalaks, there has been a software update for California CARB rules. It now forces a warm-up phase on the ICE/catalytic converter for 55 seconds, even if you are just doing a short trip that would otherwise stay below 33 mph.

So all new Hymotion installs nationwide are getting this software version so that they are consistent. Any older Hymotion installs that gets any future update will also get this CARB update.

I am currently on an earlier software version that allows me to stay pure EV even when the engine is stone cold. I only do the warm-up phase if I exceed 32 mph or if I do a fast acceleration. I am going to test drive a few Hymotion Prius vehicles to determine if I want the software "downgrade". I don't like the changes mandated by the CARB bureaucrats in California.

ScanGauge II will improve your performance by 20%. Just having that RPM and MPG data is important for maintaining EV mode just under the threshhold for triggering the engine.

PeakOilGarage, drove mine home from Minn. in snow storm. While charged, got 100 mpg at 60 mph. Might have had a tail wind, though.

Today I had to shovel out of my driveway, but plugging in first time was a real trip!

Thanks for all your suggestions on priuschat.

Did you put either of the 2 stickers on you car?