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Battery behavior after the "normal" charge is used?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Ole Petter, Mar 20, 2014.

  1. Ole Petter

    Ole Petter Junior Member

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    Hi :)
    I don't understand the behavior of the battery! Maybe someone can explain?:unsure:
    When the car runs on the normal charge from the plug-in, the car runs strong with a lot of power.
    But when the charge is used-up and the last 1 km of charge is "moved" to the "normal hybrid" battery in the display, the performance of the car under battery-power is about the same as in a hybrid prius.

    The Toyota-dealer told me the Plug-in has two batteries? I can't find informations about this anywhere... But from the information in the brochure, there is no Ni-cad battery in the Plug-in?
     
  2. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I don't own a Plug in Prius, so I'll be careful in my response.

    But my understanding is the PiP only has two batteries in the form of a Lithium Ion hybrid battery and a standard auxiliary battery.

    The Lithium Ion Hybrid Battery is stronger than the Ni-Cad batteries in the regular Prius. You don't have a Ni-Cad hybrid battery. You only have one "Hybrid Battery" and that is your Lithium Ion one.
     
  3. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

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    There never was a "Ni-Cad" battery in the Prius or Plug In Prius. In the Prius it is Nickle-Metal-Hydride battery:cool:
     
  4. jfschultz

    jfschultz Active Member

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    I think the 2010 "Beta test" Plugin Prius had an added EV mode battery with less room in the back as a result. The 2012+ production Plugin Prius only has the one Li-ion traction battery. The appearance of two batteries in the SOC display is just a matter of software.
     
  5. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    The prototype had two separate packs. That's where these misinformation is from.

    The production version only has one 4.4 kWh Lithium battery pack.

    In EV mode, you have 38 kW from the battery. In normal hybrid mode, you only get 15 kW like a regular Prius with NiMh battery.
     
  6. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Sorry, I stand horribly corrected.
    You are correct. It is a Nickle Metal Hydride battery not a Ni-Cad.

    In my defense? It was 3:23 am when I posted.
    And the OP planted the idea that it was a Ni-Cad in my weakened consciousness....

    The important thing...is that the PiP doesn't have two Hybrid Batteries...just one stronger Lithium Ion battery.
     
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  7. Ole Petter

    Ole Petter Junior Member

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    Ok, so the battery goes from 38 kW to 15 when the battery shifts from the fully charged battery, to hybrid mode. It was very nice to have this explained. There is no mention in the instruction manual or in any other "media" I could find!
    Maybe I am a little "obsessed" with understanding as much as possible about this fascination car, but I find it this very interesting!
     
  8. CaliforniaBear

    CaliforniaBear Clearwater Blue Metallic

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    When it goes into the HV mode after the EV miles are used it operates just like a normal hybrid, electric power available and speed limit for EV operation. This keeps the battery operation within the desired HV range. Step on the accelerator to get the power you need just like the regular hybrid, the ICE is already running or hot. The traction battery is Li-ion and the 12 volt battery is a sealed somewhat smaller regular car battery.
     
  9. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    Right, the software creates the illusion of two batteries, whereas in reality the control software is just changing its management policy between hybrid and EV. How all this works doesn't seem to be publicly documented by Toyota anywhere. Pretty much all the information here has been extracted by owners, particularly those with their own diagnostic readout devices (OBD-II).

    And the 12v battery is a miniscule little thing, since pretty much all it has to do is boot up the EV controller computer. When the gasoline engine needs to be started, that is done by one of the two motor-generators (MG1), powered by the traction battery.
     
  10. gallde

    gallde Active Member

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    The ICE kicks in much sooner in terms of torque demand and speed when you in that last fraction of a mile after the system switches from EV to HV, just like the normal Prius. Fortunately, in my case, I'm usually off the highway on 30 m/h streets at that point, or even going down the long hill to my house. That's another thing I like about the PHEV's battery: It can take all the regen of a long hill without ever getting to the "spill" point my former Prius would do.
     
  11. CaliforniaBear

    CaliforniaBear Clearwater Blue Metallic

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    What is the amp-hour capacity of the stock battery and where do you find that specification?

    What a dummy.... I just had a look at my battery. 20 Hr 45 Ah CCA 325A. Also this battery appears to be an OEM Prius Battery at 35 Ah Yuassa HJ-S34B20R OEM JIS SPEC Prius Battery

    So why is 45 Ah or 35 Ah miniscule?
     
  12. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    I guess I was thinking of the physically small battery in my old Gen I Prius, compared to the relatively huge one in my wife's Honda Pilot (something like 64Ah). So I guess the 12V battery in the PiP is only "small", not "miniscule". :) At one point, someone was wondering if they could put 8 D cells together to start their Prius. I don't recall the resolution of that conjecture.
     
  13. CaliforniaBear

    CaliforniaBear Clearwater Blue Metallic

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    The Optima recommended battery for a 2004 Highlander (my previous car) is 8020-164 35 RedTop at 44 Ah or a YellowTop at 48 Ah so it isn't clear why 45 Ah is even close to "small". Lower capacities would depend on how you define "small". 15 Ah, 20 Ah......
     
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