Someone explain EV Mode?

1. EV Mode allows you to be more aggressive with the throttle and stay in EV mode than trying to sustain EV power without the special mode selected.

2 and 3. EV Mode is restricted by engine temp for various speeds. I cannot remember them off the top of my head but there is a 10mph restriction for temps under 103F, a 15mph restriction for temps between 103F and 150F and a 25mph restriction for pure EV Mode. The car can function in EV power higher than 32mph but NOT in EV Mode. You must be clear when you use the term EV Mode vs. simply using EV power only. You can use EV power in any mode. EV Mode is engaged when you press the EV button.

 

To expand on F8L's answer: EV mode is not available at all below 68F. And if you don't/can't get into EV before the engine fires up, EV remains locked out even as the coolant warms above 68F, until it reaches some triple-digit temperature that varies with other parameters.

Caveats:
This was for U.S. market 2010s, other markets were more generous;
I haven't rechecked this on my 2012 Liftback;
Not having a 'c', I don't know what it may do different.

 

EV mode occurs much of the time during city driving. It's common to see 50 to 60% EV displayed after riding around town.
Anytime you we are going downhill (even slightly) for any distance, our C goes into EV and can cruise up to 40-45 mph, just on battery.
That's why we can get 60 to 70 mpg on short city trips. Even with warm-up tossed in.

I think our best use of EV is, after we get to the mall (all warmed up and charged up), hit the EV button while we scoot around trying to find a parking space.
Or, when the engine is still warm, and we want to re-park the C in a different spot, without using any gasoline.

 

Does this make the car do anything different than it's already doing? That's what confuses me about the EV button. Driving around the parking lot, the car will already be in EV, and it won't kick you out unless your run down the battery or mash the accelerator. So what does pressing that button do?

 

When you first start the car, and all of the EV conditions are met, the EV Mode button will keep the ICE from starting as long as you drive it easy. It is most useful for moving the car short distances, such as from garage to driveway or around a parking lot or parking deck.

It is easy to see it being confusing. It is really more of a marketing ploy than a really useful mode. The only time I ever use it is moving the car from garage to driveway or vice versa and I do not want the ICE to start and have to wait for it to complete the warmup cycle.

 

Not so sure about that. I always put the car in EV mode when I hit a slow spot or stop and go city driving. As F8L pointed out, EV mode via the EV button (not the care going into EV mode automatically on the sceen) allows you to push on the accelerator more without kicking in the engine.

 

So if I am in EV mode (button pressed), is the car able to stay in EV even if I go over the Eco line on the Eco Score display?

 

with the proper conditions.. and to a certain extent.. yes.

 

So what does pressing that button do?

"Driving around the parking lot, the car will already be in EV"..
Not 100% sure, but pressing the EV button tells the 'c' that you are about to park shortly and it suppresses the ICE start by some slight margin..?.
Maybe the SOC or engine temperature can drop a little bit more than usual, before the ICE cranks up.?.

Seems logical to me anyways..

 

yes.. it suppresses the ICE.. but won't stop it if the car really needs it to be running.

 

EV button behavior should be the same in C as it is with the regular model.

It allows you to draw more power (into the green zone) from the battery-pack than normal EV (aka "Stealth" mode) but as a tradeoff lowers the maximum speed from 46 to 24.

In the PHV model, switching from EV to HV mode affects the power & speed the same way, but at higher tolerances... from 38 to 27 kW for maximum draw and 62 to 46 mph for maximum speed.

 

I would have to have F8L explain what he means by allowing more aggression with the accelerator. When I am in EV Mode, even with a warm engine, I have to be extremely gentle with the accelerator or it will kick out of EV Mode with the message something about Exceeding Speed Limits or something to that affect, even when I am well below the 25 mph limit.

 

I see, so it makes sense to press the button if you expect to be driving in EV for long enough that it might, under normal conditions, start up the ICE, and you know that you don't need the ICE to stay warmed up (because you're stopping soon). Am I understanding correctly?

For example, I have to drive across the parking lot in our apartment complex every day, but it's not that far, and the ICE has never kicked on during that time...so it's unnecessary to press the EV button...right?

(I know the EV button wouldn't do any harm, just trying to understand the benefits)

 

Like Proximalsuns stated above, i am able to accelerate slightly faster with EV Mode active than I am with it turned of. So if one were to try using Wayne Gerdes method of delay ICE fire until 15mph then activating EV Mode allows you to accelerate somewhat normally from a stop and will delay ICE fire until 25mpg or less if you choose to disengage EV Mode. I have tried accelerating in this manner using EV Mode and by simply applying less throttle. EV Mode allows me to give more throttle input before the ICE kicks in. Press the pedal too hard and it will kick you out of EV Mode. You may need to be in Eco Mode then activate EV Mode for this to work properly. I've never tried it in Power Mode but the increased throttle mapping could make this tricky.

 

I have only tried this in Normal mode and had to be gentle on the accelerator. I will have to try this in Eco Mode in the morning and see if I can see what you are talking about.

Thanks

 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. It seems to be easier for me. I could just be a weirdo driving without a right shoe, however.

 

Works fine in PWR mode, my default. You can go well into the "PWR" range on the scale without triggering the engine. Getting the car going and up to speed 10-15 miles an hour is a bitg gas saver. The 0-15 takes a lot of energy since car is stopped.

 

Thanks!

I've also found that you can recover most if not all of this energy by your next stop if you use regen wisely and are not interrupted by unexpected traffic or signals.

 

If I'm using to max effect, I find I'm cruising the last mile home on EV with the battery low. Which works well because in the AM when it's cold, the engine is going to come on anyway and start charging.