Who has installed the EV Mode Switch?

I got the Coastal switch. No problem installing it -- half an hour as stated above sounds about right.

My uses, in terms of decreasing utility/efficiency:

I use it to get noiselessly out of my driveway in early AM/late PM. (And thereby endanger any blind pedestrians nearby).

I use it as an engine veto switch (somebody else's term here), to shut the engine down while coasting/idling at stop before the engine is fully warmed. Under the theory that idling without load is probably wasteful, as long as I don't have to use the battery to move the car.

I will sometimes use it to delay startup/warmup until I'm on the main road. It's less clear that this will or will not save gas, because I have to use the battery to move the car. (It's not clear that wasting the gas at a combination of idle/low load is more efficient than the losses due to the round-trip through the battery, but once you start the warmup cycle, the car will keep running until it completes the first part of it -- so I trade the ride up to the stoplight (on battery) against the idle time at the stoplight.)

Don't use it to drive around in EV mode routinely, because, as noted above, that wastes gasoline. Unless you find that fun to do.

 

Actually, no, it's best to get your engine warmed up as fast as possible, and the best way for this to happen is when the engine is being used (acceleration, maintaining speed, etc). When you're coasting downhill, you're essentially using fuel when you really don't have to, and it's taking longer to warm up. The EV mode would be perfect for optimal fuel efficiency.

Can you get a no-arrow glide in EV mode?

 

It's installed as standard on my car. I tend to use to EV mode in certain sections only of my daily commute; where I know I will be travelling at less than 30mph and when I am in queued traffic that is moving slowly, like 5 to 15 mph. I put the EV on in this instance so that the ICE doesn't kick in if I press the accelarator too hard.
I think it helps a little with fuel economy, maybe 1 or 2 mpg, but I just enjoy riding "electric" (and silent) when I can.

 

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I've installed the CT mod (cruise control stalk version).

Use it for neighborhood street, parking lot, short, low mph uphill inclines, and around my driveway for washing, etc.

For the price I say it's worth it! And, yes, I believe when used correctly the EV can save a little gas!
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I wanted to inquire about getting the EV switch for my Prius. I realize the best experience I have driving the car is safely driving in electric mode. I am an avid reader of Prius Chat but there are some technical and semi-technical aspects of the car I do not understand. This website must be visited by some of the most knowledgeable consumers of any car site because I have learned more about cars in the past few months than any reading material or advice I have received in the past 10 years.
I like driving in electric mode so much I thought of installing (or having) an EV switch installed. I see some of the hypermilers getting 60 + MPG's and every tankful I find average 47.+, which I realize is great. Will I get this type of mileage if I have an EV switch?
Then I read about ICE and I don't really understand what ICE means, the EV mode implications completely and whether instalilng an EV is even necessary. I 'THINK' I am pretty good at hypermililing. I get this mileage city/interstate driving and
I cannot wait until Toyota builds a hybrid that can run EV exclusively
@ 40 MPH.
My questions:
Is the EV switch worth it?
Will the EV switch cancel the 'American sold' Prius warranty?
If I install the EV switch will it prematurely drain the battery or mess up the other electrical features running in concert with the electrical system?
I really hope Toyota can address some of these issues in 2010 Prius.

 

1) I think so, for the right situation. See this for more.
2) Possibly. See this for more.
3) It doesn't interfere with other devices. It won't completely "drain" the battery. If used for propulsion, the switch will result in a much faster battery discharge than normal. That is, until the the charge gets low enough for the car to automatically deactivate the switch -- one of the car's many mechanisms to protect the battery.

The switch won't magically boost your overall fuel economy from 47 to 60. If used to force electric-only propulsion, it actually will hurt mileage. Please research the many available threads to fully understand its pros and cons before installing.

 

It may almost seem counterintuitive but, I rarely ever use the EV-only mode. The only time I use it is for very short periods of time in parking lots. There is one part of my commute where I have a stop sign, a turn, then another stop sign about 30 yards or less away where I'll use EV. I also use it to shut down the ICE(internal combustion engine) so I can glide before I get into S4.

 

I have the factory switch installed. I also use it primarily as an "engine veto" switch. The best example of this is when I go to lunch. I have to drive about 1/2 mile to pick up my wife, then 1.5 miles to lunch, then reverse it all to get back to work after lunch. Before I got the switch the ICE would run for almost all of that trip. Great, it would be just about warm when I got to lunch, then just about warm when I got back to work, but what do I get for that? Nothing, since I'm shutting it off right when it gets warm. Since the trip is mostly flat and entirely 30 MPH there are lots of places where I use the ICE to pulse, then push the EV button to shut off the engine and glide.

My MPG is DEFINITELY improved using the above method.

Jack

 

The cheapest way to add an EV is running a wire from #27 to your headlight switch(this is also where you get your pins there is like 10 pins not used). No need to pay for an EV switch..

 

I'm a self-proclamed hypermiler that has achieved 60+mpg WITHOUT an EV switch.

Trust me, your not saving much if you get an EV switch. Even IF I got one installed, I wouldn't use it 99.98% of the time.

 

I have almost 3 K on my Prius, all warm weather driving. I live in Chicago and I drive in a relaxed manner to max MPG's. For the life of me, I don't know how anyone can achieve or sustain 50 + miles per tankful. I see these postings but it is difficult for me to achieve these kind of MPG's without some other kind of help beside hypermiing.

 

Here's a challenge to you. If you're really serious about wanting significantly better fuel economy, check in at CleanMPG and ask Xcel (aka Wayne Gerdes) for a hands-on clinic. He lives north of Chicago. No doubt in my mind you'll see substantial improvement after he's done with you. And he'll do it without an EV switch.

 

Maybe I didn't read everything but does Wayne have a 'hands on' model for his techniques. Maybe when he presents next I can attend his session. The CleanMPG site was somewhat informative about his presentation but not about the question I had. Perhaps I am missing your point on the site..do not know.Terry

 

My friend, I have had my car 2 weeks and 3 days and my MFD reads an average of 65.9 mpg. It takes commitment: to P&G and the speed limit (or under).

Anyway, back to the EV question. From the Toyota site FAQs:
I would like to add an aftermarket accessory or part to my vehicle. Will this impact my warranty?

Warranty coverage is not dependent upon the use of any particular brand of replacement parts. However, Toyota recommends using only Genuine Toyota Parts when you need to replace a part on your vehicle. Non-Genuine Toyota Parts, or any damage or failures resulting from their use, are not covered by any Toyota warranty".

There is nothing currently on the site about the EV button in particular.
Basically I read the this as 'we won't replace your non Toyota part, and if something bad happens b/c of the non Toyota part we won't replace the bad thing if it was caused by the non Toyota part. Prior Toyota FAQs addressed the EV button in particular, if I recall from other posts, so I wonder if this means they've lightened up a bit...

 

I personally doubt the EV switch would save enough fuel to pay for itself over a couple of years for the average driver.
I have the EV switch as standard fitment on my Australian Prius but I only use it to back out of my garage at 6:00AM or to show off in car parks.

The biggest gains can be had from looking further up the road and being aware of what traffic is doing around you. Drive like your brakes don't work and avoid any road with a speed limit higher than 60mph. Don't exceed the speed limit.

I took a 10% hit on fuel consumption for a tank from just a 1.5 hour fun driving session through the hills where I had 3 passengers and taking corners near but below the limit. Braking hard kills mileage. That is going to cost me an extra $6.00 for the fortnight. I guess part of that additional consumption may be the new tyres.

 

I installed the coastal and its cool from 0-33mph, it lasts longer if the a/c is off and it stays on as long as you have 3 bars showing then the engine has to run to replenish the power SOOOOOOOOOOOO It Has its pluses if we had a few more batteries it would be FANTASTIC!

 

get out of the habit of measuring your mileage on road trips. You did that when you had a conventional car to convince yourself you had an economical car. Around town the Prius will shine. Isn't that where you do most of your driving? Keep off the freeways and plan to drive to the traffic. You know the tiny space in front of your car? Open it up to a 2 or 3 second gap, who cares if someone pushes in, Open the gap back up, they will go back out soon enough. Minimise speed variations, remember the brakes are stuffed.

 

I've had my car for about 6 weeks, and for the first 4 weeks I drove carefully to see what MPG I could get. I was able to average about 44 MPG for the first 300 miles, almost all in town and many short trips of less than 5 miles. I just returned from an 1100 mile trip with three adults on board 2/3 highway and 1/3 city miles and my overall mileage is now at 52MPG. My conclusion is that short trips less than 5 miles are the real mileage killers. As has been stated elsewhere, the warm up cycle uses much more gas and in fact I do observe that on the consumption screen. The first 5 minute segment is almost always lower MPG as compared to the rest of the trip.

I believe that EV mode would save gas if used to keep the ICE from running when moving the car around in the driveway, especially if only driving it out of the garage and then back in. Each time you make a run of say less than a minute or two you endure a high gas consumption warm up and virtually no miles traveled.