Sneak Peek of the New Prius #9

[jprates]

Originally Posted by TonyPSchaefer

3) Power Mode which is ICE only.

It can hardly be the case Tony.

The Prius without MG2 is a turtle. Running on ICE alone makes no sense for Power mode. Maybe for OPEC mode it would though LOL

See my post above, you can clearly see the 3 buttons, and the leftmost is the EV button.

This one was easy... can't wait for next Monday LOL

[TonyPSchaefer]

You're right about the ICE and it occurred to me only now that you point it out.

You say that this one was easy but I have yet to see the answer written out: if the first is EV as you say, what exactly are the differences between ECO and POWER modes? When would I use one over the other and why?

[patsparks]

I do believe we have a winner folks, jprates you have done well!!

Funny thing is I thought we already had the power and eco mode which the driver determines with his right foot.

I'd love to know more about the eco and power modes. Would be good if the car gathered statistics that Toyota could publish on the % use of the 3 modes.

[V8Cobrakid]

my guess is that it's the EV button.. and ... a norm button doesn't make sense.. if you accelerate too hard or press the ev button again, it kills EV.. and power, i assume, is based off how much battery you have.. unless power means a higher ICE rpm?


my point being; you press to engage, you press to disengage.

[jprates]

Originally Posted by TonyPSchaefer

You say that this one was easy but I have yet to see the answer written out: if the first is EV as you say, what exactly are the differences between ECO and POWER modes? When would I use one over the other and why?

I meant it was easy to spot the buttons on the console, and to realize the first one was the EV button.

Concerning the differences on HSD behavior in each mode, one can only speculate...

I would risk saying that the difference will be ICE controlled rpm. The eco mode would not let the ICE go out of the most efficient regime, i.e. specific power (consumption/power). The power mode would do the opposite, i.e. not care about efficiency and simply put as much juice available as possible, combining the ICE and MGs the best way it could.

This is not very different from what happens today when in EV button, it's all about software control. When we press the EV button, the ICE will not fire even if I ask for too much power from MG2 up to a certain limit. It's all about redefining the power and torque limits that each component of the HSD can tackle in each mode I would say.

[jprates]

Originally Posted by patsparks

I do believe we have a winner folks, jprates you have done well!!

Eheheheh thanks!

Originally Posted by patsparks

Funny thing is I thought we already had the power and eco mode which the driver determines with his right foot.

Ultimately you are in control, no matter how sofisticated the control software is. But just think for a minute: if we have this much fun driving these babies around with only 2 modes (normal and EV), imagine in the future with 3 modes... oooohhhhhh

Originally Posted by patsparks

I'd love to know more about the eco and power modes. Would be good if the car gathered statistics that Toyota could publish on the % use of the 3 modes.

Keep on dreaming! So you want a personal logger on board the Prius coming straight from the factory ehm??? You can ask Santa... eheheh

[Boo]

My Volvo 850 had an "Economy Mode" and a "Sport Mode":

Economy Mode

This mode is used for normal driving. The gearbox changes gears at a lower engine speed to achieve the lowest possible fuel consumption.

Sport Mode

This mode is adapted to "sporty" driving characteristics. The transmission upshifts at higher engine speeds and less accelerator pedal pressure is required to initiate a downshift.

[V8Cobrakid]

i'm wondering if they plan on changing the system. adding more planetary gears and make it more like the Lexus hybrid drive ( click on Lexus hybrid drive technology overview)

that may be fun... it would give you full independence of the electric and ICE sides at a higher rpms...

[spwolf]

sport is featured in toyota crown hybrid - it spends more electricity for acceleration, and regenerates more aggresivly from ICE.. eco does the opposite and lower A/C.

Makes a lot of sense, and I love the fact they are there.

And looks like people already guessed where it is - good spot, looks like it is meant to be used...

[usbseawolf2000]

Originally Posted by jprates

What kind of behavior would the car be required to have in "normal" mode?

Balance between Eco and Pwr... like the current Prius as we don't have neither modes.

EV Mode makes sense too.