I think you can waste energy with the Prius

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Jun 1 2007, 02:23 PM) [snapback]453493[/snapback]</div>

:lol: :lol: My Dad does the same thing after he found out about that. I think it's a Dad thing!

 

I remember reading in the manual that they are designed to creep, and you must keep a foot on the brake during a stop. I wonder if you are really using battery power if the car isn't moving? Pressing harder on the brake, of course, causes the MFD to stop indicating. Does that mean as long as there is flow from the battery indicated on the MFD, you are using power even though the car isn't moving?

 

YES... You *ARE* using battery energy to allow the 'creep' to remain active while stopped. That energy can only come from gasoline. Every little bit helps.

 

I have noticed the same thing here. Since the break is "holding back" the electric accel at start is it best to just pop it over into "N" while at a stop light? or say going through a drive through, etc...?? This seems that it may be a "better" option since it will eliminate the car's want to creep forward and have it be content with simply just sitting.

Anyone ever looked into this further?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kdk84 @ Jun 1 2007, 03:59 PM) [snapback]453567[/snapback]</div>

Nah--if you just press the brake a little harder it'll turn off the electric creep...until you let up on the brake.

I think N will cause the ICE to run, so that would use more gas than D.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kdk84 @ Jun 1 2007, 01:59 PM) [snapback]453567[/snapback]</div>

Hmm, no. But I would imagine that once you have stopped and depressed the brake enough to cease all arrows from showing on the MFD, I bet the Prius is smart enough to know you want to be stopped and wont keep trying to move forward until the brake pedal is released enough to trigger creep.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jbullard @ Jun 1 2007, 06:13 PM) [snapback]453581[/snapback]</div>

I always have assumed that it disengages the power train while the friction brakes are engaged, but I'm probably wrong.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tanglefoot @ Jun 1 2007, 06:07 PM) [snapback]453572[/snapback]</div>

Putting it in N will not cause the ICE to run. The ICE will continue to run if N is engaged while it is running, and the ICE will not run if N is engaged while it isn't running.

I also noticed that it will use energy to creep even while I'm wanting to continue to decelerate by coasting.

Also, if you put the parking brake on while the car is in D, instead of N, the battery will continue to supply power for creeping. But don't ask how I found that out.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(David Beale @ Jun 1 2007, 12:35 PM) [snapback]453442[/snapback]</div>

The Prius emulates an automatic transmission: It creeps forward when you let off the brake. It's supposed to do this. I'm sure it's in the owners manual somewhere, but if not, it's implicit when Toyota markets the car as an "automatic" even though it has no actual transmission.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusincc @ Jun 1 2007, 02:48 PM) [snapback]453557[/snapback]</div>

Any time the Prius is in READY mode, there is a small drain on the electrical system. If the ICE is off, that draw will come from the battery, and it's in the general area of an amp or so. It's needed to run the system. It draws more if electrical devices are being used: fan, A/C, lights, stereo, etc.

The amount of energy being "wasted" is miniscule.

Of course, you are "wasting" energy any time you drive a car. You could have walked, or ridden a bike, or stayed at home. You could have designed your lifestyle to require minimal transportation. You could be driving a Xebra instead of a Prius. Even in our Priuses, we are part of the problem. All of us.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Jun 1 2007, 09:05 PM) [snapback]453676[/snapback]</div>

Problem? What problem?

Oh - you mean CIVILIZATION?? Yes - big problem.


Lets ride camels and live in mud huts - that's more fun.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Jun 1 2007, 09:05 PM) [snapback]453676[/snapback]</div>

Well said.

I'm going to start saving up for my Tesla Motors Roadster and Solar Panels to use to charge it!

 

Use N to get rid of the creep and float the last couple of MPH down
to a light; it's fine and doesn't hurt anything in the slightest.
The battery drain to handle low-speed creep is very miniscule,
regardless, so it's not like you're sending huge amounts of energy
into the motors.
.
If you let your foot off from firm braking very slowly and watch the
arrows and pay attention to your butt, you'll feel when creep torque
turns on even though the brakes are still somewhat applied.
.
There's rationale for the creep thing; go find my linkfarm for the
pointer..
.
_H*

 

When switching from D to N during a stop the Can-View shows a drop of about .5Amps. I've been experimenting with dropping the car to N when I reach about 6mph when slowing down. At this speed regen is cut and friction brakes kick in. Putting it in N at this time saves very little energy if any and I don't expect to see any mpg increase.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bigmahma @ Jun 1 2007, 09:13 PM) [snapback]453682[/snapback]</div>

LOL
We are part of the problem of people who work hard, and are a burden to society because we have to drive to our jobs. I'm not about to walk or bike the 20 miles each way that's for sure.
What a negative outlook.

 

Well being a hard, dedicated worker you should be sleeping at work, not driving home anyway.

It took me about 3 miles driving the one I bought to notice this phenomenon. I haven't really experimented yet but it seems to me on first impressions that the gas peddle doesn't do anything if you have the foot on the brake.

I was hoping that the car wouldn't roll backwards while stationary, in drive on a hill but it seems not to be the case. In a standard automatic this is done with a sprag clutch of which there are 0 in the Prius so it will only hold itself on the slightest incline unfortunately.

This, coupled with the crappiest handbrake design I have ever seen make the car less than ideal for hill starts.

 

Took the words out of my mouth. I wouldn't use N before a stop because you also loose the ability to regen. While stopped, there is some energy drawn to emulate an auto transmission, but the amount is quite small compared to what is used to drive. But, if you're really that anal about power draw during a stop, then put it in N after you come to a complete stop.

 

Are we talking about the current generation of Prius? The current Prius features a "hill holder". When you take your foot off of the brake, the Prius control system works to keep the car from rolling backward down the hill. When it does roll, it does so slowly. Furthermore, the Prius has no hand brake.

Tom