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EV Doesn't kick in with a full charge

Discussion in 'Prime Fuel Economy & EV Range' started by LAP, Nov 7, 2017.

  1. LAP

    LAP Junior Member

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    We have a 2017 Prime. We've noticed in NY as the weather has gotten colder and despite our car having a full charge, the EV doesn't kick in right away. We sometimes have to drive it for a couple of minutes, shut it off and restart. Does it need to be warm for the EV charge to be used? Any tricks to warming the car before we start driving? Love the car though...
     
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  2. Are you using the windshield defroster? The engine has to be on for that to work.

    Also if you have Advanced, you can preheat the car via the Entune app.
     
  3. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

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    lol, take a number:p, See "ICE comes on anyway" thread
     
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  4. ICE comes on anyway | PriusChat

    And you would think that it would appear at the bottom of this page under "Similar Threads" but it doesn't
     
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  5. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if you don't shut it down and restart, it never lets you run ev mode?(n)
     
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    A cold battery will be less willing to discharge.

    Keeping the Prime plugged in will allow the car to use wall power for the "traction battery heater" (see manual using those exact words for more info). You could also pre-condition the cabin prior to setting off so that the interior is warm, requiring less energy to maintain the temperature (rather than starting from scratch).

    Except for safety reasons, avoiding using the windshield defroster. As soon as the windshield is clear, take it off the defroster. Again, if you pre-condition the cabin, hopefully that'll reduce the need or the length required of the defroster.
     
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  8. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    So during cold weather, it would be better to leave it plugged in all the time when not driving it, irregardless of the charge schedule. (less than 3 days)
     
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  9. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

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    true, but ICE will still kick in when it's below 50 F. Traction battery heater or no traction battery heater.
     
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  10. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    I meant while parked in a garage situation.
     
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  11. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

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    works for me. (not that I have a garage to put my Prime in):D
     
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  12. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

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    It could be the morning sun warming up my car but it was covered in frost this morning and a couple of hours later it was frost free. Started out on my usual trip where ICE usually kicks in. It didn't this time.:D
     
  13. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    That's my understanding. However, you guys are the ones with the Prime (still waiting for it be launched here) so you guys can confirm that for me :D

    Problem solved then? Park such that the front of the car is facing the morning sun :D
     
  14. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    It would be nice to know what the ambient temperature parameters are that the battery thinks is too hot and too cold.
     
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  15. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    The only the manual states is that if the battery temperature is below freezing, the traction battery heater will bring it back up to freezing. Note that it's battery temperature... so the car will probably have to sit outside for almost a day (assuming you used the car earlier) before the battery temperature drops below freezing. (I think for the Gen 4 had something similar where Toyota suggests that it might take a few days of sitting outside below -30°C before the battery temperature drops below -30°C and the Li-Ion models will require that the battery warm up above -30°C before the car can be driven).
     
  16. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    Thanks. Mine is always garaged and it never goes below freezing inside the garage so leaving plugged in all day inside the garage won't help my situation. Now, the garage does get pretty hot in the summer so I do need to watch that side.
     
  17. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

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    and when it's cloudy?:rolleyes:
     
  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Dang it, PCPG, we're trying to help you out here!
     
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  19. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

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    Maybe I should move to Nevada:cool:
     
  20. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    Drove to my flight meeting last night after dark. 22F and snowing. Ev the whole way. The car then sat outside getting snowed on and cold soaking for 3 hours. Drove home all Ev.
     
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