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Sneak Peek of the New Prius #9

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Danny, Dec 1, 2008.

  1. bestmapman

    bestmapman 04, 07 ,08, 09, 10, 16, 21 Prime

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    WOW, you Europeans get all the good stuff. EV button, auto park and headlight adjustment. I am jealous.
     
  2. Mormegil

    Mormegil Member

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    I would assume "Eco mode" is the default, and basically what we have now.


    I agree EV is great for moving the car around the garage, which is I why I got that EV modification. I have tandem parking, and don't want to turn on the ICE for 15 seconds each morning, while my wie pulls her car out.
     
  3. jprates

    jprates https://ecomove.pt

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    Ahhh... many thanks for the insight! :cool:

    If that's the case on the Crown, I'm betting they'll do the same on the Prius.
     
  4. jprates

    jprates https://ecomove.pt

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    Don't be, we have to pay a lot for it.

    My 2006 Prius cost me 35540 EUR, that's about 45500 USD at current exchange rates. You guys can get it at less than half the price, and you don't loose half the equipment... so guess who's jealous... :(
     
  5. zenMachine

    zenMachine Just another Onionhead

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    I wonder how many PC'ers will forgo the new Eco mode because the button is put in that center console location... :D
     
  6. GeekEV

    GeekEV Member

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    My guess is that ECO mode could alter the acceleration characteristics to maximize MPG, but with the downside of being rather pokey. In POWER mode it could be more brisk (as it is now) but get much worse mileage. I notice under heavy acceleration now the readout says between 6 - 10 MPG (icky!). If that's what this is, I like the sound of it. But I would have to believe that no matter what your mode, flooring it would provide full acceleration for emergency maneuvers. You wouldn't want to have to hit a switch first before trying to avoid an accident. :)
     
  7. jprates

    jprates https://ecomove.pt

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    That would be the dumbest thing to do IMHO... :eek:
     
  8. DeadPhish

    DeadPhish Senior Member

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    Again if you use the HH as the guide it has both the an ECON and an EV button.
    • The ECON mode can be engaged at any time at any speed. Essentially it tunes down the ICE to spin only at a very efficient 'cruising' rate...but it has no guts whatsoever. It probably saves ~5% overall.
    • When you disengage the ECON button then the normal HSD system is put into use with plenty of power for passing and accelerating.
    • The EV button on the HH can be used for pure EV driving at speeds up to about 20 mph at which speed it kicks off automatically reverting to normal HSD driving. The limitation is that the EV button cannot be used until the battery is near or fully charged. It can't be used on a cold morning at first start up.
     
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    LS600h L

    [​IMG]


    This basically takes the Highlander Hybrid's "Eco Mode" and the LSh's PWR mode and combine them. Nice to know that I can drive it like a sports car on days that I feel like it and drive it in Eco Mode on all other days!


    One thing I do hope is that Toyota hasn't taken away their attention to detail such as the damped overhead assist grips or the switch on the cargo light or the damped cupholder lid.
     
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It'll be similar to the PWR button on automatic transmissions back in the mid 90s. They changed the gear ratios so that the automatic transmission would hold the gear longer and shift later.

    With the Prius, I suspect the engine will rev up higher and provide more power, quicker than normal. In Eco Mode, it could retard the engine and make it less responsive and focus on saving fuel.

    Now we probably won't leave it in Eco Mode all the time since there will be times when you want it to drive "normally". I also presume they'll be a cancel feature if you're in Eco Mode and need to accelerate quickly to get out of a situation.


    Lastly, we're assuming it's the engine. It could also be the climate control too (even though the TCH uses ECO HEAT/COOL instead)
     
  11. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

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    its engine, AC and battery power - basically now we will have 3 settings, ECO, Normal/Default, Power.

    My GS350 downshifts quicker and opens throttle valve faster in PWR mode - it is quite noticable, especially throttle valve, makes car feel like it is opened up instead of restrained in normal driving, in Prius case I am pretty sure they will add more power from the battery as well and regenerate more from ICE just like in Crown Hybrid...

    Most cars these days have slight delay when press gad pedal, to maximize fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions (especially for govt MPG testing)... And Sport sounds really good, it will basically make car feel a lot sportier.

    Very smart move, and one that moves Prius even more upmarket IMHO.
     
  12. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Hopefully w/the PWR switch we won't have anymore people complaining about shifting back and forth between drive and "boost". ;)
     
  13. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    99% of the time I can cruise the street and into the garage on battery.

    I'm not sure I'd like to tell my car to run in EV mode. I'd rather have the computer decide what is best.
     
  14. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    me like ECO mode haha
    nice
     
  15. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    I am getting excited over these two modes. It is like having two cars in one. This is exactly what I envisioned 4 years ago.
     
  16. Mike Dimmick

    Mike Dimmick Active Member

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    2007 UK Prius T3 owner here:

    I use EV mode in a morning traffic jam at the end of my street, where it's warm outside and I know that I'm not going to get up to 20mph for at least the first ten minutes. I delay engine switch-on/warm-up until I actually need it.

    In cold weather I switch EV mode on about half a mile from home to run down the battery, so there's some capacity for the power generated by engine warm-up to go into. Basically, warm weather, park it charged; cold weather, park it discharged.

    The EV mode cuts out automatically if you go over 29mph and if you accelerate hard. However, if you want to accelerate under electric power only, you can do so harder in EV mode, where 'normal' mode would fire up the engine.
     
  17. etyler88

    etyler88 etyler88

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    My 93 Camry has eco and pwr buttons.
     
  18. bruceha_2000

    bruceha_2000 Senior Member

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    I would hope 'power' is the car as is. It has plenty of power and Toyota has already increased the engine size anyway, no need to waste gas for even more acceleration. Econ would be good IF it keeps the ICE in the 'high MPG' RPM range people that Wayne and Hobbit have documented. That would make hypermiling a bit easier since the car could watch the RPMs instead of the driver. It would also be good it if it pops into 'power' when you stomp on it in Econ, realizing there is some reason you all of a sudden want to drive like an idiot (other than actually BEING an idiot :) ).
     
  19. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    I predict and would expect the new Prius to have 2.5L equivalent power assuming it has 1.8L ICE. Remember, the current Prius has 2.0L equivalent power. Driving it in the power mode should feel like a small V6!
     
  20. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

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    any car will always give you full power when you floor it - eventually, but it is not magic, it does not know what you are trying to do without you doing it first.

    so in econ mode, expect for prius to go into full power mode slower than in pwr mode... and default mode is in between.