SO how do I drive this thing?

It auto defaults to EV mode when you start. You can select EV or HV. To make it easy, you can just select the Auto button after starting which is supposed auto switch between the two modes. I have not tried it at length to see what if any advantage it would be. If you drive in EV mode, it will drive on electric until the battery gets to about 30% and then the HV mode kicks in.

I would read the manual, especially the section on customizing the settings.

 

Yes, I would suggest you read the manual. All 655 pages, or whatever it is. Just kidding. I also am a newbie Prius Prime driver so can sympathize. The specific answer to your question is it will start in EV mode and then when the battery is depleted will automatically switch to HV. Or, you can push buttons in the seat console to make it go to HV, which you may want to do when driving on the highway if you want to preserve some full electric capacity for when you get off the highway.

My real suggestion is that you spend some time reading through this forum, lots of really knowledgeable people with good information. And then also get to know the car through the manual, best you can.

I love the car. But the reality is, it is WAY TOO COMPLICATED. That said, you can just pretty much drive it. Good luck with the various driver assist features

And, congrats on the car, it is beautiful in red!!

 

You should start off with the understanding that the Prime automatically works very hard to protect you from negative consequences of however you are driving. So do what you want- do what you can. Learn how to do better- it will keep helping you.

You won't hurt it at any point, it will protect itself. Have fun and enjoy the car!

 

i am amazed at all the time, money and effort you put into buying a car you seem so disinterested in.

 

since ordering a new bolt, i have done nothing but research, it's so exciting!

 

There is a quick reference guide that is good to start with before digging into the full manual.

To make it easier - download each manual at:

2023 Toyota Prius Prime Manuals & Warranties | Toyota Owners

 

im not sure how to explain it. if you purchased a new car with unfamiliar technology, a car that is very hard to come by, usually requires ordering months in advance, and is not cheap, wouldn't you spend sometime learning about it before going to pick it up?

 

i agree on the manuals. don't worry about charging your car, there are more gas engine fires than ev's, it is a very rare occurrence

 

now that feeling, i completely understand. it always takes until my first scratch before it goes away.
all the best!

 

Yes.
AND.....you need to understand that just starting it up and driving it in whatever mode
it comes up in.......will NOT cause any problems until you figure it out.

CHILL.

 

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Some ways people drive a Prime:
- It's a car. Fill up the gas when needed. Fill up the battery when convenient. Drive the car and don't over-think it.
- It's one foot in the past and one foot in the future. Drive in EV mode when you can, in HV mode when you must.
- It's a rolling technology game. Pulse and glide, find your average daily consumption (mi/kWh) and try to beat it.
- It's a 0-60 in 6.7s surpriser with a Prius badge (and still gets over 40MPG and over 3.5 mi/kWh)
- It's the most beautiful Prius ever, but there are no spare parts yet so find a free charger and practice meditation while charging
- EV range anxiety, so have to charge every night regardless of the state of charge
- It has more modes than a schizophrenic with dissociative identity disorder. Experience them all.
- It has more driver information and user interface choices than the 600 page manual can explain, so try something new every day
- Drive it for 10 minutes and discuss it for 10 hours
- Schedule to start charging at 2am and wake up at 7am so when your phone bings "Charge Complete" you can go out to the garage to read the watt-meter and record how much yesterday cost in electricity (This one happens to be one of my obsessions)
...