When do you use the EV button?

Bear68 · 08-08-2007, 09:02 PM

If you have an EV modification installed on your Prius, please indulge me with your honest opinion.

Why?

When do you use it? Do you feel that it honestly provides benefits? If so, what are they?

Let's be honest here.

aaf709 · 08-08-2007, 09:14 PM

I've used it when I'm in a large parking lot. If I didn't use the EV, the ICE would be running for all but 7 seconds as it would be preparing for a regular drive. Since I know the trip won't last more than 40 seconds I see no need for the ICE to turn on.

That being said, the number of times I've used it since I installed it in February 2006 is less than 30 times. Many times the conditions aren't right and the EV mode won't engage.

dkit · 08-08-2007, 09:25 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bear68 @ Aug 8 2007, 08:02 PM) [snapback]492743[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

If you have an EV modification installed on your Prius, please indulge me with your honest opinion.

Why?

When do you use it? Do you feel that it honestly provides benefits? If so, what are they?

Let's be honest here.
[/b]

I use it when I need to get out of my garage at 4 am. Also to go up the small hill on my street just before I get home without running ICE.

**TonyPSchaefer** · 08-08-2007, 10:35 PM

I use it very jealously and judiciously. There are many hills on my daily commute with stoplights at the tops of many of them. When I have to stop at the light, I'm facing uphill. IF and only IF there is enough battery, I will EV up the hill until the crest so that I'm not revving up the hill.

I will also use it to make left turns occasionally. This will get me up to about 20 - 25 MPH where I will disable it. Oh sure, I know that I could stretch it up to 33MPH before it'll disengage, but I don't want to work the battery that hard.

These represent only a couple situations when I use it during regular driving. Like aaf and Dimak said, it's great for parking lots and moving cars in your driveway.

[WARNING] When used incorrectly and too much, the EV button will lower your mileage. My use is based on three years' experience. There are those here who will insist that I use it too much and in the wrong situations. Your usage and results may vary.

galaxee · 08-08-2007, 10:45 PM

why? because we can. because there's a blank in the dash and a button belongs there. i dunno :P

i used it when it was a <500 ft run from my parking spot to the first stoplight on my commute, which seemed to be red about 80% of the time that i approached it. that was in our old apartment.

now i use it in parking lots, and on the downhill road if i'm going to the store. that's all.

ServoScanMan · 08-08-2007, 10:48 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bear68 @ Aug 8 2007, 08:02 PM) [snapback]492743[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

If you have an EV modification installed on your Prius, please indulge me with your honest opinion.

Why?

When do you use it? Do you feel that it honestly provides benefits? If so, what are they?

Let's be honest here.
[/b]

I use mine anywhere from a couple of times a trip up to about a dozen times a trip. If I know I'm coming up to a stop and don't want the ICE running, I will use it. I always use it coming into the parking lot at work or the last couple of streets when I park the car in the garage at home. Sometimes I will use EV mode early in the morning (3AM) when I leave the house so I don't wake up my wife.

Before I installed the EV button, the ICE would run when arriving to work in the parking lot, which I thought was a real waste of energy. My combined mileage is always above 50mpg even when running the AC. If I treat the car real gentle, use the EV button at the smart times (and don't forget to disengage EV mode), I have obtained several tanks over 60MPG!

I can see the traffic ahead of me, the road terrain, and I know my route. I think I can figure out when to turn off the ICE better than the car can.

well....maybe I can.

samiam · 08-08-2007, 10:54 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bear68 @ Aug 9 2007, 01:02 PM) [snapback]492743[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

If you have an EV modification installed on your Prius, please indulge me with your honest opinion.
Why?
[/b]

Uh, 'cause the EV button came as standard equipment on mine.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bear68 @ Aug 9 2007, 01:02 PM) [snapback]492743[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

When do you use it? [/b]

When I want to sneak up on the sheep in our paddocks :P
I use it in big parking garages in the city (but I'm not in them too often)
When I want to show off.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bear68 @ Aug 9 2007, 01:02 PM) [snapback]492743[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Do you feel that it honestly provides benefits? If so, what are they?
[/b]

It gives me pleasure to have a car with an EV button.

I don't really need a radio or CD player either, but it gives me pleasure to have them.
It gives me pleasure to know I'm saving fuel, producing fewer emmissions, and driving a neato car.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bear68 @ Aug 9 2007, 01:02 PM) [snapback]492743[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Let's be honest here.
[/b]

Always.

mparrish · 08-08-2007, 11:01 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bear68 @ Aug 8 2007, 08:02 PM) [snapback]492743[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

If you have an EV modification installed on your Prius, please indulge me with your honest opinion.

Why?

When do you use it? Do you feel that it honestly provides benefits? If so, what are they?

Let's be honest here.
[/b]

The EV button helps the most during warmup, and it helps some much more than others. It helps me a lot.

I live just below the top of a hill. To go to work, I go down the hill for 1.5 miles, and then I have a flat section for 1.5 miles.

Without the EV switch, I power on and the ICE begins to run without stopping all the way down the hill. I force stage 4 at the bottom, P&G the next 1.5 miles, and end the 3 mile section at about 50mpg.

With the EV switch, I can disable the ICE at start up, EV to the top of the hill, glide all the way down, turn on the ICE, accelerate, and begin a warmup P&G cycle over the 1.5 miles of flat road by killing the ICE to start a glide. By the end of the 1.5 mile flat road, I can force stage 4. My mileage at that point is not 50mpg, but rather 120mpg.

JimboK · 08-09-2007, 08:08 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mparrish @ Aug 8 2007, 11:01 PM) [snapback]492794[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Without the EV switch, I power on and the ICE begins to run without stopping all the way down the hill. I force stage 4 at the bottom, P&G the next 1.5 miles, and end the 3 mile section at about 50mpg.

With the EV switch, I can disable the ICE at start up, EV to the top of the hill, glide all the way down, turn on the ICE, accelerate, and begin a warmup P&G cycle over the 1.5 miles of flat road by killing the ICE to start a glide. By the end of the 1.5 mile flat road, I can force stage 4. My mileage at that point is not 50mpg, but rather 120mpg.[/b]

Another Prius owner (Dan, I think), coined the term "Engine Veto" for EV. This is an apt description of this ideal application.

[Marc, you know this -- this is for the OP.]

StuartS · 08-09-2007, 08:28 AM

[quote]
If you have an EV modification installed on your Prius, please indulge me with your honest opinion.

Why?

When do you use it? Do you feel that it honestly provides benefits? If so, what are they?

Let's be honest here.

The EV button is fitted as standard here in the UK but I rarely us it. The exception is on occaisions when I want to show off to Hybrid dis-believers. Generally I prefer tolet the engine warm up as soon as possible to reduce emmissions and maximise fuel economy. On the whole I'd rather have heated door mirrors (which are not available in the UK) to EV.

StuartS

08-08-2007, 09:14 PM	#2
aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,823 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I've used it when I'm in a large parking lot. If I didn't use the EV, the ICE would be running for all but 7 seconds as it would be preparing for a regular drive. Since I know the trip won't last more than 40 seconds I see no need for the ICE to turn on. That being said, the number of times I've used it since I installed it in February 2006 is less than 30 times. Many times the conditions aren't right and the EV mode won't engage. __________________ "Blue Belle" Seaside Pearl Purchased April 16, 2005 MODS: Wheelskin Steering Wheel Cover, GT Seat Covers, DashTopper Dash Cover, MFD Sun Hood, Pioneer AirWare XM radio, DICE Silverline iPod Integration, BT Override, Goodyear ComforTreds, Coastal Tech's Auto-Lock kit, NAV Enhancement kit & EV mod

08-08-2007, 10:35 PM	#4
TonyPSchaefer Ruler of Omicron Persei 8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 7,618 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 4 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 13	I use it very jealously and judiciously. There are many hills on my daily commute with stoplights at the tops of many of them. When I have to stop at the light, I'm facing uphill. IF and only IF there is enough battery, I will EV up the hill until the crest so that I'm not revving up the hill. I will also use it to make left turns occasionally. This will get me up to about 20 - 25 MPH where I will disable it. Oh sure, I know that I could stretch it up to 33MPH before it'll disengage, but I don't want to work the battery that hard. These represent only a couple situations when I use it during regular driving. Like aaf and Dimak said, it's great for parking lots and moving cars in your driveway. [WARNING] When used incorrectly and too much, the EV button will lower your mileage. My use is based on three years' experience. There are those here who will insist that I use it too much and in the wrong situations. Your usage and results may vary. __________________ Proud father of Priapus: the '04 Tideland BC9 with an OEM EV button and sense of self-righteousness >>Current Mileage<< Spreading information and passing gas in the Greater Chicagoland area

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08-08-2007, 09:02 PM	#1
Bear68 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: West Palm Beach, FLA Posts: 244 My Car: Package: Nominated 3 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	If you have an EV modification installed on your Prius, please indulge me with your honest opinion. Why? When do you use it? Do you feel that it honestly provides benefits? If so, what are they? Let's be honest here.

08-08-2007, 10:45 PM	#5
galaxee uphill battling Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 8,808 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 19	why? because we can. because there's a blank in the dash and a button belongs there. i dunno :P i used it when it was a <500 ft run from my parking spot to the first stoplight on my commute, which seemed to be red about 80% of the time that i approached it. that was in our old apartment. now i use it in parking lots, and on the downhill road if i'm going to the store. that's all.

08-09-2007, 08:28 AM	#10
StuartS Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Carlisle, UK Posts: 34 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	[quote] If you have an EV modification installed on your Prius, please indulge me with your honest opinion. Why? When do you use it? Do you feel that it honestly provides benefits? If so, what are they? Let's be honest here. The EV button is fitted as standard here in the UK but I rarely us it. The exception is on occaisions when I want to show off to Hybrid dis-believers. Generally I prefer tolet the engine warm up as soon as possible to reduce emmissions and maximise fuel economy. On the whole I'd rather have heated door mirrors (which are not available in the UK) to EV. StuartS