Low battery = slow acceleration

daveleeprius · 05-20-2007, 02:55 PM

Hi Folks,

Wife and I just got back from Canada. Our first trip out of the country with our Prius.

Filled up before we left, and got home with two pips still on the gauge. Love it. The Prius is by far the most comfortable highway car I've ever driven. Just set the Cruise and go. Wow.

Anyway, we spent 90 minutes in line coming back into the US at the border. Of course the engine was off while we sat ha ha. The noisy BMW next to us one time was idling around 1k rpm, it couldn't wait to get back on the road probably!

Anyway, the battery got down to two bars, the lowest I've ever seen it. It didn't go lower. At this point, every time the line moved forward, the engine turned on to charge the battery, but then turned off as soon as I hit the brake.

When we left the customs guy, the car was accelerating soo sloooww. The electric assist wasn't working according to the MFD. It took us about a minute to get up to 65mph (or so it seemed). The engine was revving high but the car wasn't going much faster.

Soon after we got to cruise, the battery was charged up and we had a great drive home.

Dave

NoMoShocks · 05-20-2007, 03:26 PM

Glad to hear you had a good trip. Sounds like the Prius need to have an option to allow you to charge the battery by keeping the engine running for a few minutes when you get close to the front of a long line like that.

If the border crossing has a 90 minute line up like that very often, just think of all the greenhouse gas being generated by the cars idoling and inching forward.

They should have a large parking area and a rest area style park with a Take a Number System. Each car could take a number, pull into the large park area and relax at picnic tables under trees or lay out on the lawn. Some capitolists could build a shopping area as well. A large reader billboard or series of smaller ones could display the current number being served, or there could be pleasnt announcements "ready to serve 1490 to 1499". Then you could drive to a shorter line just befor or any time after you number comes up. Some capitolists could build a shopping area with a cineplex as well.

auricchio · 05-20-2007, 04:03 PM

Ah, NoMo, you assume too much common sense on the part of the government. If only they would think...

JimN · 05-20-2007, 07:14 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoMoShocks @ May 20 2007, 02:26 PM) [snapback]446225[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Glad to hear you had a good trip. Sounds like the Prius need to have an option to allow you to charge the battery by keeping the engine running for a few minutes when you get close to the front of a long line like that.

If the border crossing has a 90 minute line up like that very often, just think of all the greenhouse gas being generated by the cars idoling and inching forward.

They should have a large parking area and a rest area style park with a Take a Number System. Each car could take a number, pull into the large park area and relax at picnic tables under trees or lay out on the lawn. Some capitolists could build a shopping area as well. A large reader billboard or series of smaller ones could display the current number being served, or there could be pleasnt announcements "ready to serve 1490 to 1499". Then you could drive to a shorter line just befor or any time after you number comes up. Some capitolists could build a shopping area with a cineplex as well.
[/b]

Your idea makes sense, is practical, and will benefit many people. So, no way can the government do that. However replace your idea with "duty free shop" and "casino" and enough political contributions and I'm sure it could be possible. Maybe the border crossing is on someone's sacred tribal grounds?

daniel · 05-21-2007, 12:51 AM

Even with the battery down to 2 bars the car should not take a minute to get up to 65. It will be a little more sluggish without the battery input.

boulder_bum · 05-21-2007, 12:59 AM

The slower acceleration would make sense. I think the gas motor gives you 70 horsepower while the electric one gives you 40. With a low battery, your electric motor may not be contributing to the 110 overall horsepower, and you may essentially have 1/3 less power.

finman · 05-21-2007, 11:09 AM

76 ponies for the gas, 67 ponies for the electric motor. combined (adding...or subtracting...losses, both mechanical and electrical) is 110 ponies. These are somewhere on John's site (john1701a.com)

keithnteri · 05-21-2007, 11:54 AM

I have my battery down to two purple bars every day when leaving the parking garage. I have never had a problem accelerating into freeway traffic or losing power getting on the 101 here in LA. I would have your car checked. Even with one or two purple bars there is still 40% charge in the traction battery. If you lose power something is wrong.

priusincc · 05-21-2007, 12:17 PM

I had same experience as Keithnteri, down to two purple bars on long mountain road with larger elevation gain. Accelerating out of turns, still had indication on MDF of electric motor boost to ICE. However, only took about 20 minutes to top then was back to full SOC in a reletively short time with all bright green bars on SOC. Didn't seem to have power loss in this time period, but don't know what would happen on extended climb. (Haven't been to sea level yet.)

faith2walk · 05-21-2007, 12:17 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(finman @ May 21 2007, 11:09 AM) [snapback]446658[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

76 ponies for the gas, 67 ponies for the electric motor. combined (adding...or subtracting...losses, both mechanical and electrical) is 110 ponies. These are somewhere on John's site (john1701a.com) [/b]

Your numbers are correct, but, to answer the original question, if the electric doesn't have a battery with a full SOC, then it drinks from the ICE ouput. Meaning, that some of the 76 ponies are sent to work for the elec. generator. I know that there is a drain, but not sure how much. Also, which engine gets the benefit of full power first, the ICE or the Elec?

05-20-2007, 03:26 PM	#2
NoMoShocks Electrical Engineer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Camas, WA Posts: 1,024 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Glad to hear you had a good trip. Sounds like the Prius need to have an option to allow you to charge the battery by keeping the engine running for a few minutes when you get close to the front of a long line like that. If the border crossing has a 90 minute line up like that very often, just think of all the greenhouse gas being generated by the cars idoling and inching forward. They should have a large parking area and a rest area style park with a Take a Number System. Each car could take a number, pull into the large park area and relax at picnic tables under trees or lay out on the lawn. Some capitolists could build a shopping area as well. A large reader billboard or series of smaller ones could display the current number being served, or there could be pleasnt announcements "ready to serve 1490 to 1499". Then you could drive to a shorter line just befor or any time after you number comes up. Some capitolists could build a shopping area with a cineplex as well. __________________ Lightning Green McQueen, and owner Larry 2007 Pkg 5, Jan 2007 with modifications: Toyota Mudguards Feb 2007 LED Signal mirrors March 2007 Wheelskins Leather Steering Wheel March 2007 ScanGuage II, March 2007 BT Tech Stiffening Plate, March 2007 Nokian WR 195-60R-15 tires, Nov 2007 Solar Gaurd window tint, Feb 2008 Fog Lights on idependant of headlamps, Feb 2008 BT Tech Strut Tower Brace, April, 2008

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Acceleration	rfloyd7522	Prius Main Forum	27	06-27-2007 06:32 PM
When going slow, only on battery, why MPG low?	smcracraft	Prius Main Forum	14	11-14-2006 12:55 PM
acceleration and air conditioning	roni	Prius Main Forum	23	07-17-2006 05:42 PM
Acceleration and mpg	alanhu99	Prius Main Forum	25	03-02-2005 05:44 PM
Low Battery in slow traffic	priusjunky	Prius Main Forum	5	09-24-2004 10:43 PM

05-20-2007, 02:55 PM	#1
daveleeprius Heh heh heh you think so? Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 414 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Hi Folks, Wife and I just got back from Canada. Our first trip out of the country with our Prius. Filled up before we left, and got home with two pips still on the gauge. Love it. The Prius is by far the most comfortable highway car I've ever driven. Just set the Cruise and go. Wow. Anyway, we spent 90 minutes in line coming back into the US at the border. Of course the engine was off while we sat ha ha. The noisy BMW next to us one time was idling around 1k rpm, it couldn't wait to get back on the road probably! Anyway, the battery got down to two bars, the lowest I've ever seen it. It didn't go lower. At this point, every time the line moved forward, the engine turned on to charge the battery, but then turned off as soon as I hit the brake. When we left the customs guy, the car was accelerating soo sloooww. The electric assist wasn't working according to the MFD. It took us about a minute to get up to 65mph (or so it seemed). The engine was revving high but the car wasn't going much faster. Soon after we got to cruise, the battery was charged up and we had a great drive home. Dave

05-20-2007, 04:03 PM	#3
auricchio Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cambria, CA, USA Posts: 853 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Ah, NoMo, you assume too much common sense on the part of the government. If only they would think...

05-21-2007, 12:51 AM	#5
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 9,125 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Even with the battery down to 2 bars the car should not take a minute to get up to 65. It will be a little more sluggish without the battery input.

05-21-2007, 12:59 AM	#6
boulder_bum Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Castle Rock, CO Posts: 1,119 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	The slower acceleration would make sense. I think the gas motor gives you 70 horsepower while the electric one gives you 40. With a low battery, your electric motor may not be contributing to the 110 overall horsepower, and you may essentially have 1/3 less power.

05-21-2007, 11:09 AM	#7
finman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 931 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	76 ponies for the gas, 67 ponies for the electric motor. combined (adding...or subtracting...losses, both mechanical and electrical) is 110 ponies. These are somewhere on John's site (john1701a.com)

05-21-2007, 11:54 AM	#8
keithnteri Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oxnard, CA Posts: 38 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I have my battery down to two purple bars every day when leaving the parking garage. I have never had a problem accelerating into freeway traffic or losing power getting on the 101 here in LA. I would have your car checked. Even with one or two purple bars there is still 40% charge in the traction battery. If you lose power something is wrong.

05-21-2007, 12:17 PM	#9
priusincc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern Nevada Posts: 186 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I had same experience as Keithnteri, down to two purple bars on long mountain road with larger elevation gain. Accelerating out of turns, still had indication on MDF of electric motor boost to ICE. However, only took about 20 minutes to top then was back to full SOC in a reletively short time with all bright green bars on SOC. Didn't seem to have power loss in this time period, but don't know what would happen on extended climb. (Haven't been to sea level yet.)