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EV Not on Below ICE Line

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by scientifics, Aug 12, 2013.

  1. scientifics

    scientifics New Member

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    I've recently noticed that sometimes the EV light doesn't come on, even when I'm below the ICE line and I've released the gas pedal and pressed it down slightly again. What causes this?
     
  2. Feri

    Feri Active Member

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    Do you mean EV or ECO?
     
  3. scientifics

    scientifics New Member

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    EV, the light above the bar that shows the ICE line.
     
  4. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    There are a lot of things that can factor in here.

    It's not automatic that every time you are below the ICE line, the vehicle will automatically go to EV.

    It can be dependent on how warmed up or cold your engine is...if it's cold it will run to warm it up to temp. It can be dependent as to how much charge you have at the moment with your battery. And often it can be dependent on what demands you are making of your vehicle. If you are accelerating quickly, to go up an incline, or simply to gain speed, it will keep you out of EV.

    In anycase, my Prius demonstrates the same behavior. It is simply not automatic that the vehicle chooses EV just because you keep the line below the ICE line.

    Remember the "S" in HSD....is for synergy. The standard Prius is designed to mix engine and battery. It's not a full electric vehicle, even if designed to run on EV if conditions are correct.

    Bottom line, as long as it's returning good Hybrid MPG numbers? I wouldn't worry too much about it.

    If you've just purchased? Be careful, you can become too distracted looking at all the gauges and trying to make certain behaviors manifest.

    My first week or so, I had to kind of learn to just trust the system and drive it. Then once I became more comfortable as a whole, I've tried to hone my modest and meager hypermiling skills. But I've been very impressed with how great The Prius works...if you just sit in it and drive.
     
    xpcman likes this.
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    two words: pip.:cool:
     
  6. drysider

    drysider Active Member

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    Your speed is also a factor- it won't go into EV over 45mph (or so).