Is EV button/mode a novelty??

For short hops like moving out of the driveway or switching parking spots the EV mode button is a good deal. This is particularly true if the HV battery is already running at its normal maximum charge from the ICE (6 bars), no reason to run the ICE through a warm up cycle if you aren't able to covert any of the excess power to the battery.

Never attempted to use it at the end of a trip as some people have mentioned, at that point I just let the car decide whether it wants to run off the battery or not.

 

True. I was lumping them both under the umbrella of "driving with the ICE off"; "EV mode" is confusing because there's the "EV mode" button, and there's the "EV" icon that shows up any time the car is on and the ICE is off (which also happens when in EV mode).

As for my strategy, I generally avoid using more than 1/2 of the electric part of the eco meter. When I was a noob, I used max throttle in the EV range. Then, I realized that I was quickly draining the battery for very little additional benefit from using the upper half of the EV part of the eco meter.

I now try to use 1/3 when gliding. The only time I'll push it above that is on the end of my commute to/from work, to accelerate very slowly on a slight uphill incline to an intersection where I turn right on red, and to accelerate on a slight downhill road to 15-30 mph to the parking lot or my house. This is because I know that warm-up, stop signs and red lights at the beginning of my commute will charge the battery 2-3 bars, back up to 5 or 6 bars on the battery display. And partially because I don't think it's worth it to turn the ICE on for a second or two (because of wear and because some of the traction battery is wasted to smoothly turn off the ICE).

 

Thank you for this thread. I have a new C2 and have not used the EV mode button at all yet, but I think I may be in a good situation to try. I have been very frustrated in my town (city part of my normal commute) because all the traffic lights are at the bottoms of hills and I ALWAYS hit reds. So, basically, I always lose my momentum and nearly always have a full battery because of the constant breaking down said hills. Because my battery is almost always full, I should be able to use the EV button (when possible) without mpg detriment?
Despite these issues, I am still averaging 53 mpg (over 1000 miles) so I am super happy with the car. Any additional advise on efficient driving in this sort of environment is welcome

 

The EV button has a max speed of 25 mph when warmed up. But you can go 46 mph on EV mode.

 

It's early in the game for me, so it might all change with time.
But for me right now?

I mostly drive in "normal" mode.
If it's a hot day and I'm going to be using air conditioning? I will use ECO mode so that I can use the air conditioning but with the ECO mode of more frugal use automatically applied.
I use the power mode almost specifically for merges on to high speed freeways. As soon as I'm up to speed and safely merged I switch back to "normal" or ECO depending....

Is EV mode a novelty? Depends on how you want to define novelty. Toyota doesn't misrepresent it, it is what it is. I have found that even in my short time of driving my Prius I can usually "cause" EV to happen and rarely have a situation where I feel the need to press EV.
The most direct application I have simply found in operating the Prius and EV mode, is if you are circling around a crowded parking lot. Even though The Prius will usually normally default to a lot of EV driving in that situation, I have found some benefit in "telling" The Prius you would really like to be in EV mode as much as possible, while you slowly circle a parking lot looking for a space.

EV mode, unlike Power, Eco or Normal is not a directive, it's more like a request. The vehicle itself can veto that request.

 

My main use of EV mode is to avoid a cold engine start-up, typically when I need to back the car about 20 feet out of garage and into driveway. And if it tells me EV is not available, I try to hussle, accomplish the move in the 20 or seconds of grace you have before the engine will start, regardless of mode. Sometimes I get lucky.

(would help if you could shift it into Neutral with engine off, and move via Flintstone Mode...)

 

I now have a new phrase for the "stick your foot out the door" method

 

Yep, I hear you on that one! Especially at work... I might drive around for ages, however when I leave I'm straight onto the main road, so my battery gets hit hard.

 

GRich, a situation like that is a perfect time to pulse and glide. Accelerate up to a speed a little over 25 by putting the Eco bar just over the middle line, then, when you hit that speed, let off until the power bar goes down to no power, but also no regeneration to get into EV mode. Now you're gliding, gaining distance without burning gas, and should be able to do so for more than a few seconds.

 

Except that apartment complexes usually have a lot of stop signs.

 

In Australia it's suspension-killing speed bumps... both work and home (and shopping centres) are full of the damn things. In fact in local streets everywhere there is an obsession with installing all manner of "traffic calming devices" - bumps, slow points (road narrowings), chicanes, unnecessary roundabouts, you name it, we have it on every corner. They are Pulse and Glide killers.

 

I usually just go at a constant slow speed, start looking for pedestrians well before the sign, and roll through it slowly.

 

You rebel you... I like it.

 

I find EV mode (the button) to be stupid and retarded, most of the time the com won't even let me switch over and the few times that it does, the car com could probably have just handled it itself

just remove the button and give me something more useful

 

I wish the EV button would act as a true EV button. Let you floor the throttle pedal and only allow the EV, not disengage when you hit a certain unknown point. If ECO could remap the pedal, why can't the EV remap so that your entire range is electric?

 

Since I used the button routinely, that's quite an attitude to respond to... and hardly constructive.

Please tell us how the parameters should be changed.

Keep in mind the importance of battery longevity and the fact that not having a plug available could result in more EV use lowering overall MPG.

 

In your situation, yes. In his, maybe it won't. Don't say someone isn't being open minded and then be close minded in the same post.

 

The threshold is based on kW draw from the battery-pack and overall capacity available.

A burst of full EV would consume all you have quickly and shorten the life of the pack.

How is asking for his input close minded ?

 

Not a full burst. I want it to do exactly the limitations it currently has. I wouldn't need to full throttle it forever...

Wasn't directed entirely at you, sorry. Just kinda tired of everyone saying that running on EV will get worse gas mileage... like it's an end all be all for every situation. Should be saying... careful, in some situations, running EV will warrant worse mileage than other situations. YMMV.