EV Switch - What has it done to your MPG?

[bigmahma]

I don't want the EV switch to just throw another mod on the car - but only if it has an actual real benefit.

Other than moving a car in the driveway once a year. (the gas savings wouldn't justify the 80 bucks for the switch)

Is there real use for driving.

Thanks for your feedback.

[Presto]

EV isn't really for better/worse economy. There'll be circumstances in which you can use it for better economy, but mainly it's good for those short moves that you don't want the ICE to come on. For me, it's just a cool, almost free add-on. If you don't want to shell out for an actual OEM switch, you can just use any old switch. The EV mod just taps into a pin on the ECU and when the connection is grounded, EV is enabled/disabled.

[F8L]

I only use it for demonstration purposes. To show people how you can drive in electric mode.

[CinciPrius]

I use my EV switch primarily to delay startup of the engine when I know I'm going to have to wait at a long light to get out of a parking lot. The light at the primary exit from my work's parking lot has a 2 minute cycle and I invariably get to it just after it's turned red. Now I just hit the EV switch when I start the car and delay the ICE start up until after I clear the traffic light.

[bestmapman]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CinciPrius @ May 16 2007, 10:02 PM) [snapback]443838[/snapback]</div>

I use my EV switch primarily to delay startup of the engine when I know I'm going to have to wait at a long light to get out of a parking lot. The light at the primary exit from my work's parking lot has a 2 minute cycle and I invariably get to it just after it's turned red. Now I just hit the EV switch when I start the car and delay the ICE start up until after I clear the traffic light.
[/b]

Hello another Cincy area Prius driver. We should get one of the local dealers to sponsor a Cincy Prius club. What do you think?

[keithnteri]

I use mine when I move the car to put it in the garage each night. I also use it when moving through our parking facility at work.

[avdavsim]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CinciPrius @ May 16 2007, 09:02 PM) [snapback]443838[/snapback]</div>

The light at the primary exit from my work's parking lot has a 2 minute cycle and I invariably get to it just after it's turned red. Now I just hit the EV switch when I start the car and delay the ICE start up until after I clear the traffic light.
[/b]

I'm sure your co-workers behind you just love that! When I accelerate from a standstill, and do so gently enough that I don't engage the engine, the acceleration is excruciatingly slow. Is it any better in EV mode?

My impression of EV mode is that it is not a command, but a strong preference for EV driving. Ultimately, the Prius's "brain" will decide if it can honor your request, but will kick on the engine if it has to. It seems to me that if you haven't driven your car for a few hours that you can't start off in EV mode.

I'd like to drive 3/4 to one mile in EV mode even before the IC system gets warm, but I don't think that is possible. Is that right?

But, what this also means is that the Prius is "smart" enough not to let you ruin it by doing your best Ed Begley, Jr. impression.

I must admit that my original enthusiasm for the switch is waning. Do any Europeans or Japanese out there have any experiences they'd like to share? They have the switch built in! No modding necessary.

[Tideland Prius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(avdavsim @ May 16 2007, 09:23 PM) [snapback]443911[/snapback]</div>

I'm sure your co-workers behind you just love that! When I accelerate from a standstill, and do so gently enough that I don't engage the engine, the acceleration is excruciatingly slow. Is it any better in EV mode?

My impression of EV mode is that it is not a command, but a strong preference for EV driving. Ultimately, the Prius's "brain" will decide if it can honor your request, but will kick on the engine if it has to. It seems to me that if you haven't driven your car for a few hours that you can't start off in EV mode.

I'd like to drive 3/4 to one mile in EV mode even before the IC system gets warm, but I don't think that is possible. Is that right?

But, what this also means is that the Prius is "smart" enough not to let you ruin it by doing your best Ed Begley, Jr. impression.

I must admit that my original enthusiasm for the switch is waning. Do any Europeans or Japanese out there have any experiences they'd like to share? They have the switch built in! No modding necessary.
[/b]

Hence the EV switch so you can accelerate harder without the engine coming on. He's just delaying the warm up so he doesn't have to idle at the light.

You can start off in EV as long as the parameters are met.

[daniel]

I suspect that under very limited conditions* there is a very small improvement in MPG, but not enough to demonstrate clearly over the normal tank-to-tank fluctuations. I love the EV switch for the cool factor. And because I just get frustrated when the ICE stays on at times when I think it should shut off.

*Conditions for EV use: When the system is fully warmed up, and the SOC is high, and the power demand is low (steady slow speed on level ground) but the car won't shut off the ICE because it's still in Stage 3 operation, then I like to use the EV. This happened to me a lot in Fargo, where my commute was about 3 miles in 10 minutes.

There are other situations as well. But not many or frequent. If your only reason for the EV switch is to increase mpg, don't bother. It's a very fun toy. But it is a toy, mostly, unless you frequestly have to move your car very short distances, such as letting other cars in or out, or pulling out of the garage to wash it, etc.

You can implement the switch for 2 or 3 bucks for a cheapo momentary-on switch. See the Knowledge Base. The OEM switch is probably the most expensive and difficult implementation. I have and like the Coastal Tech switch.

[hschuck]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ May 17 2007, 07:28 AM) [snapback]444115[/snapback]</div>

. . . . .
*Conditions for EV use: When the system is fully warmed up, and the SOC is high, and the power demand is low (steady slow speed on level ground) but the car won't shut off the ICE because it's still in Stage 3 operation, then I like to use the EV. This happened to me a lot in Fargo, where my commute was about 3 miles in 10 minutes. . . . .

[/b]

Additionally, on initial startup (engine still cold), select EV immediately after ready state but before engine start-up. The engine will not start and EV will operate.