1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Confused: Why does estimated EV miles keep dropping?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Den Hare, Oct 29, 2012.

  1. Den Hare

    Den Hare New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2012
    9
    2
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I am very disappointed with my Toyota Plug-in because I have only had it 2 months and have 1400 miles on car. When I first charged it up with the 110 volt charger supplied with the car, I got 13.5 miles to use up before the car went off battery. Then on recharges, every two or three times when the battery recharged the usable mileage dropped by a 1/10 a point. I now have only 9.5 miles to use before I go off battery. When I first got the car I could go to work and have 3 miles extra to go home on. Now I cannot get all the way to work. I wonder how low it is going to go? I took it into Gladstone Toyota and had the service department look at it. They said after they recharged it and found it to be only 9.5 and that there is nothing they can do unless the red warning light comes on saying that the battery is defective. I asked them how low the battery would go and still considered normal, and they said they did not know. So I guess I will keep loosing free electric miles.

    My getting progressive lower usable mileage has nothing to do with my driving habits as they have been the same since I started driving the car.

    Every day my car is on the level freeway going 11.2 miles to work. I always use cruse control on freeway. I "soft peddle" the accelerator always. When I first got the car I could go to work and have 3 miles extra to go home on. Now I cannot get all the way to work. Weather permitting, I do not use my heater or any thing else that would drain the battery. So it is obvious to me that I do NOT have the same energy to use as when I first started driving the car to work. I am hoping Toyota will recall the battery and replace it with one that does not wear out so fast. I have only been using the battery two months and have lost 4 miles. At the rate my battery is wearing out I will be down to 5 useable miles in in just two or three more months! As my useable millage drops I will keep you updated. I wonder how low Toyota will let me go before they replace my battery?

    Update, December 19: On a full charge using 115 VAC, I have dropped down to 9.5 miles now and holding at that range. I have 2500 miles on the car. My over-all milage for that 2500 is 75 MPG.
     
    Jin likes this.
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,191
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The range displayed is based upon your past driving habits, not the actual capacity of the battery. You have the same amount of energy and battery range as the day you bought it.
     
  3. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2008
    6,155
    4,146
    1
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Dan, it may not be the battery, although that is possible.
    The range listed is an estimate based on how you drive.
    In addition, cold temps can have an effect.
    If you could post some additional information about yourself there are a number of people here that would be happy to help.
     
    Den Hare and Adam Leibovitch like this.
  4. Adam Leibovitch

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2012
    498
    102
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Den, I am really sorry to hear that you are having trouble with the EV range and the dealer. There are many factors which can lower your estimate. Do you live close to the highway and begin your commute on the highway each day? Do you live close to a canyon and begin your commute uphill each day? Has the weather been getting colder in the last 2 months since you purchased the car?

    Have you tried resetting your trip computer to zero before each trip and see how the actual range compares to the estimate you are seeing on the screen?

    There is something called "rebooting" which you can do at your own discretion. The warning with this is that it may reset your radio presets and various other data that has been collected since you got the car. But it will also reset the way your EV range is calculated, and will use the default calculation. The one that showed you 13 miles when you first got the car. To do this you unhook the negative cable from the battery for a short period of time, and then reconnect it.

    It will get your estimate back up, but if your specific driving pattern demands more power either for uphill, high speeds, or other reasons, it will fall back down. But at least you can know that your battery capacity is still the same as when you bought it.
     
    tgc and Den Hare like this.
  5. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I think you should research how the car works before you make inflammatory posts like this. It is understandable that you are disappointed in what you perceive to be a problem with the car but a quick search of this forum or a simple question could have informed you that you have nothing to worry about OR it would have provided you with the tools you need to seek corrective action.
     
  6. jbrad4

    jbrad4 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2011
    474
    148
    11
    Location:
    Rowlett, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    It's all in how you drive Your car. If you Drive with a heavy foot, the range will decrease. I Have over 6,200 miles and had a charge range a couple of days ago of 16.7 miles.
     
  7. SuperchargedMR2

    SuperchargedMR2 Diehard Rams Fan

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2011
    673
    179
    0
    Location:
    Vancouver, WA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Sounds like a simple solution to me & that nothing is really wrong. This is just the same as any comparison from different drivers with the same car getting different mpg ratings.
     
    babybird and F8L like this.
  8. benalexe

    benalexe Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2012
    198
    30
    0
    Location:
    Commack, New York
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Dan I agr
    Dan I agree. I love the car but having the same issue. I have tried to drive slow etc. no help
     
  9. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    My estimated range dipped down into the 10's. At one point, it had returned to the 13's. Now it's back into the 12's.

    That EV value is based entirely upon your own particular driving conditions experienced. And now that it's getting cold out, the odds of seeing high numbers are more likely.

    In my case, the drop came from a trip up north. There was lots of inefficient driving (highway with bikes on the back) and no opportunity to recharge. The system adjusted accordingly to take that into account. New owners don't understand that, especially in this case when so few miles have been driven. They assume something is wrong.

    The advice we have to give to those new owners convinced that the system isn't working correctly is to have them focus on MPG results instead. After all, Prius PHV is a plug-in hybrid, not an EV. Even when the engine runs, you still get great efficiency. My lifetime after as of 11,500 miles is 81 MPG. What's wrong with that? So what if it isn't all electric? That isn't the goal.
     
  10. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Try to learn how to drive efficiently. Driving slow isn't the only technique. Sometimes what you think is the most efficient way to drive really isn't. :)

    My guess is the people who cannot get the higher numbers would also get low mpg numbers in a non-PIP.
     
    babybird and Den Hare like this.
  11. John H

    John H Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2012
    2,208
    557
    0
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Den,

    As others have posted, the "EV range" is a dynamic estimate of how far you might be able to travel using the battery. It is NOT a battery gauge. In my case, I get a wide swing in the "EV range" depending on the past few miles of travel. If I just drove downhill, getting 6 miles per kWh, my "EV range" goes up. When I turn around for the return trip and go uphill, I get about 3+ miles per kWh and the "EV range" estimates go down faster than the odometer.

    If your first 10-15 miles each day is uphill, your "EV range" estimate will decrease, but your battery is probably not faulty and the distance you actually travel on EV is probably the same today as it was 2 months ago (unless it has gotten significantly colder).

    If you are like many folks, your daily weekday drive is the same route. Are you running out of EV at about the same place today as you were two months ago?

    If you want to learn more about what to expect, try using this tool to understand how much EV your driving route can take, and see the effect of downhill versus uphill travel.

    jurassictest.ch/GR/

    In summary, the battery is not faulty, the estimating of EV range isn't perfect.
     
    babybird likes this.
  12. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,596
    3,770
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Den, as others have said the gauge estimates EV range based on your driving environment and style. For example, I did a hypermile, efficiency run in my Volt yesterday and was able to drive over 61 miles on battery! This morning I was "rewarded" with a 47 miles estimate on my battery gauge which typically is 42-44miles.

    Other than my Volt, it's been my experience that I need a very, very tenderfoot to even get close to EPA estimates in any other car I've owned. As they say, YMMV (your mileage may very).
     
    babybird likes this.
  13. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,994
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Den, please do report back if the explanation and the tips helped you.
     
  14. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2011
    2,286
    335
    0
    Location:
    Clawson, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base


    I put in theses variables for my route to work 35.48 mph
    2.7 kw usable 3.06 @ kill a watt with .9 miles before charging
    curb weight 1435
    range: ampera, 11.80 miles 13.67 miles
    leaf, 10.56 miles 12.4 miles
    imiev, 10.56 miles 11.80 miles
    tesla, 11.18 miles 12.4 miles
    think city, 9.941 miles 11.18 miles

    elevation.JPG
     
  15. Jimbo69ny

    Jimbo69ny Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2012
    712
    107
    0
    Location:
    Ithaca, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    God, another one of these threads?!

    Im surprised we havent seen a thread titled:
    "Help, my car keeps using fuel! I thought this was an electric car!!! Wth!"

    LMAO!!
     
  16. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2011
    2,286
    335
    0
    Location:
    Clawson, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    you forgot to put:ROFLMAO::LOL:in
     
  17. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2011
    2,286
    335
    0
    Location:
    Clawson, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    the leaf comes closest to my summertime EV range, so I use that. in my jurrasictest scenario.
     
  18. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,596
    3,770
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Yes, going by more recent thread submissions, I think this is a real sentiment amongst some new owners. :cautious:
     
  19. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    This will happen over and over and over again for the next year or so... since new owners make assumptions.

    The real-world data will help a lot. Shifting focus over to results... MPG ...simply takes awhile.

    It will settle down eventually.
     
  20. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,994
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I do not believe anyone has congratulated Den for getting a PiP. Congrats, Den. I hope this discussion enable you to enjoy your PiP better and tap its full potential.
     
    babybird and DadofHedgehog like this.