Here is a question I dont know if its been brought up or not. I dont recall seeing this question being answered but I have not really been keeping up with the official PHV stuff. So here is the question or questions. How does the PHV work long term in EV only mode. I'm talking about the whole commute being less than the range of the pack. Say 12 miles or less. Or if you can plug in somewhere else and still do your entire commute all electric. Will the car ever turn on the gas engine? Will gas go bad since its not used? Will the car turn on the gas engine after XX amount of consecutive EV only miles traveled? Does anyone in the "know" know if anyone is doing long term EV only testing with the PHV?
My guess would be you would want to turn on the heater once in while, to force the ice to come on. The Ewert brothers software modifications to the ECUs allow you to choose "hybrid" mode or "pure ev", and they go through an ICE warmup cycle, you can watch the demo on their home page. Google "ewert energy"
I know about Ewert's system but I'm wondering about how Toyota is going to do it because the car starts in EV mode right from the start.
I had a opportunity to talk with Tanaka PHV chief engineer, and he said Prius plug-in runs the ICE every 10km or so for PSD lubrication. However, I didn't ask the driving situation where it is in the city or on the highway. Ken@Japan
I'm not sure, but I see 1cc fuel usage to start the ICE when my Gen2 Prius is exceeding 42mph threshold from stealth mode. Ken@Japan
Haha! At that rate you would use up the gas tank in ..... 30 years? (just pulled the years out of my @55)
From what I read, the ICE will spin every 19 miles to protect the power train (per an owner's guide that I saw). Additionally - there's a heat-pump system built into the A/C unit (w/ a schematic that will make you cross-eyed) to avoid needing ICE use in pure EV mode. The ICE can provide heat, but there's the option not to.
I wonder if this is the first automotive application of a heat pump? Toyota must have figured out the heat pump was more efficient than using resistive heat. Pretty damn cool. Near instant heat when you turn on the car.
But do you know if it burns gas to do that or does it just use the electric motor to spin the engine like in warp stealth??
I have the pluginsupply.com 10 Kw lithium system. We can put 1 button to kill the ICE before it starts, and gun it for all it's worth up to 52 mph and always stay 100% in electric. Normal it goes 35 miles on a charge. My wife work round trip is 24 so it's easy and simple. They are the only company with that button. After the 35 it goes low, we have to stop and repower ,then drive in regular hybrid mode at only 50 mpg or so. But 90% opf the time we always go 100% electric, we hardly ever go beyong 35 miles on our daily work commute !
