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EV indicator mystery...

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by BobL, Aug 5, 2015.

  1. BobL

    BobL New Member

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    2015 Prius
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    One
    I think that the EV indicator works very strangely on my 2015 Prius. Consider this: I'm driving downhill at 40mph and the EV indicator is on. As my speed increases (coasting the whole way - using neither the accelerator nor the breaks) and crosses 46mph, the EV indicator goes out. Why? I saw somewhere in the forums that 47mph is too fast for the motor-generator, and so it switches off --- but my real-time mpg indicator still shows 100mpg, which wouldn't seem to be the case if the Internal Combustion Engine has just kicked in.


    Does anyone have any ideas as to why the EV indicator goes out? Should I even care?

    Thanks.

    Bob
     
    #1 BobL, Aug 5, 2015
  2. ReDave

    ReDave Junior Member

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    The ev light behaves differently on my 2015 than it did on my 2011, but, basically it tells you when the ICE is not running, when you go downhill, the engine will start to spin after 45 mph, the light goes out, but no gas is going thru the fuel lines,
     
    #2 ReDave, Aug 5, 2015
    CR94 likes this.
  3. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    IIRC, over a given speed the ICE is brought into standby mode. It's burning gas, but just enough to keep the parts moving. If there's any demand for acceleration over that speed, the ICE can kick in with no lag as compared to if you hit the accelerator from a dead stop or while running in EV mode.
     
    #3 qdllc, Aug 5, 2015
  4. BobL

    BobL New Member

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    Thank you. While it is entertaining (I lead a very boring life), I'm beginning to think that there's no point in even looking at the EV indicator light coming on and off. :) I'd probably be better off just watching the real-time fuel consumption.
     
    #4 BobL, Aug 12, 2015
  5. BobL

    BobL New Member

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    2015 Prius
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    One
    Thank you. Interestingly, when running in EV mode, the lag for the ICE starting seems barely noticeable. In fact, I wish there were a small "catch" in the accelerator between EV mode and the ICE coming on so that - on an open road - I could ride right on the edge of EV mode.
     
    #5 BobL, Aug 12, 2015
  6. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    It might seem that way, but at highway speeds, it could pose more of a safety issue. In standby mode, ICE response to pedal pressure is instant. From EV mode, there would remain that lag time.
     
    #6 qdllc, Aug 13, 2015
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