1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Hot weather and range?

Discussion in 'Prime Fuel Economy & EV Range' started by pawdugan, Jul 5, 2018.

  1. pawdugan

    pawdugan Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2018
    10
    20
    0
    Location:
    Charlotte NC
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Just curious, but I've noticed my range slipping maybe 5% or so during my commute now that the summer temps are here (been in the mid 90s here).

    I don't run the A/C, so wondering if the heat is having an effect on battery efficiency.
     
  2. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2008
    2,763
    2,250
    13
    Location:
    Chesterton, Indiana Another third world country.
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    The A/C doesn't seem to bother the MIPG like the heater does.

    Creature comfort options are meant to be used.
     
    Starship16 likes this.
  3. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    You may be experiencing a negative impact to the battery by not keeping it comfortable.

    Use the A/C to keep both yourself and the battery cooler. Then report back to use if there's an improvement.

    btw, If you had an aftermarket phone-app, like HybridAssistant, you could actually monitor the battery temperature.
     
    Starship16 and EyePrime like this.
  4. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2013
    2,327
    859
    1
    Location:
    Cool CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Since hot weather is here, and I must now park outside and I must charge every day around 1000, after returning home. I wonder if Maybe I should precondition before charging for Bat. longivity.
     
  5. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Do you hear the cooling fans come on when you plug in?
     
    Andyprius1 likes this.
  6. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2013
    2,327
    859
    1
    Location:
    Cool CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    No, I’m hard of hearing. Should they on a hot day while charging?
     
  7. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    I would imagine the fans would come on to keep the batteries cool while charging. When I get home from my commute on hot days and I plug the Volt in, after a few minutes, I can hear the A/C compressor come on to cool the batteries.
     
  8. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2018
    1,348
    1,452
    0
    Location:
    Beach Christmas
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----

    Finally, Video of Prime Battery Disassembly
    Discussion in 'Prime Technical Discussion' started by DavidA, Yesterday at 10:55 PM.

    Look for that post by DavidA. Very good videos by John Kelly, Professor at Weber St University.
    He warns how not using the AC can be detrimental to the life of a Prius battery. Also very good videos of the transaxle and regen brake system.

    I don't have a Prime. But I use my AC 90% of the year. Gas mileage is fine. The Professor explains that you are hurting your battery more, than you are saving fuel or increasing efficiency.
     
    #8 Starship16, Jul 8, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2018
  9. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    2,325
    1,811
    18
    Location:
    Chicago western burbs
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Following a full charge in the summer, even though the estimated range might indicate 37 miles, if it is driven in temps of the 90's F, the actual range might be only 2/3rds that, or less, especially if the A/C is used. High battery temps will absolutely reduce the EV mileage. The Prime seems to just love temps of 60-75.
     
    Mark57 and benagi like this.
  10. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2009
    2,945
    2,735
    0
    Location:
    OK
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    This was confirmed in real time if any of you watched the special on the Solar Impulse 2 flying around the world. They went into a very good description of the performance and range loss due to battery temps. After watching that show, I ALWAYS allow my A/C to run during charging if it want's it.
     
    Andyprius1 likes this.
  11. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2013
    2,327
    859
    1
    Location:
    Cool CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Good point, the annoying thing is, to quickly hit yes before it disappears. No adj. for that I suppose. The ideal would be to always keep the battery at its healthy temp.
     
    Mark57 likes this.
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,861
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    this thread should be a good read for @mr88cetregarding his thread, 'no, it's real: ev range down'.
     
  13. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    After a drive down the shore last night, I plugged the Volt in to charge it and even at 82F, the A/C came on to cool the battery.
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,861
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i wonder if volt relies more on cooling than battery/control software design, and prime relies more on battery/control software more than cooling? since one is liquid cooled and the other air cooled.
     
  15. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    6,972
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    From what I've read, the battery also heats up when discharging, so after my highway run, the system starting cooling the battery for charging. The system is doing what it's designed for, protecting the battery.
     
  16. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2008
    2,763
    2,250
    13
    Location:
    Chesterton, Indiana Another third world country.
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I think my new Prius handles the heat better than my Gen 2 did as far as the battery is concerned.
     
  17. Old Bear

    Old Bear Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2017
    712
    1,048
    20
    Location:
    Boston, Massachusetts USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    When the traction battery is hot, the Prime asks if it's OK to run the A/C while charging.

    See the PriusChat discussion thread here.

    Prime-AC-while-charging.jpg

    I've seen this pop-up message on several occasions when I have turned off the car, but I've never been fast enough able to respond to it before it disappears. (I think the default setting is Yes.)
     
    Glenn G and Andyprius1 like this.
  18. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    2,325
    1,811
    18
    Location:
    Chicago western burbs
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    If it is hot outside, or you think the battery temps will cause that screen to appear, just anticipate it and have your finger on the left button. There is about 4 seconds to respond.
     
    Mark57 and Andyprius1 like this.
  19. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2013
    2,327
    859
    1
    Location:
    Cool CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    If the default was Yes, there would be no problem hitting the button fast enough.