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

Toyota Plans Press Conference For Today To Release Findings

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Danny, Mar 15, 2010.

  1. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    5,683
    952
    124
    Location:
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    On the contrary, if there's a public perception that it's a hoax, it significantly weakens the case of every other Toyota driver that has experienced real SUA.

    Even if Toyota didn't hold its press conference today, we already have this public perception, crystalized by articles like LA Times' "Tests cast doubt on Prius driver's account."
     
  2. web1b

    web1b Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2007
    817
    52
    0
    Stabbing at the brakes repeatedly at high speed.
     
  3. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,994
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I believe they provided the answer:
    The system features a sophisticated self- protection function which cuts engine power if moderate brake pedal pressure is applied and the accelerator pedal is depressed more than approximately 50 percent, in effect providing a form of “brake override.â€

    Before the 50%, friction pad has to be used.
     
  4. PriusSport

    PriusSport senior member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2008
    1,498
    88
    0
    Location:
    SE PA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    It's clear that while the media et al were criticizing Toyota for "not investigating reports", Toyota was busy doing very careful, time-consuming tests. That was my impression listening to the press conference.
     
  5. Prius 07

    Prius 07 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2007
    715
    20
    0
    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Why does this have to be a PR move?! Toyota just can't win with some people! Toyota quickly released their findings. They were quick because:
    1. they have the in-house expertise and knowledge of the Prius
    2. more importantly they acted quickly one of the reasons being to reassure current owners who may have been shaken by recent publicity of events.
    If they take too long they get critiqued ...they act quickly they get critiqued and there are some people who just can't be pleased!
     
  6. ronhowell

    ronhowell Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2007
    681
    32
    0
    Location:
    Cypress, CA.
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Patrick, even light braking pressure at high speeds will generate such high regeneration currents that the regen current/energy limitation (around 100 amps?) will come into play, and any additional braking effort will be via friction braking.

    I have a scangauge on my 2008 Prius, and am amazed at the level of regen current being sent back to the HV battery with even moderate braking from 40 - 50 mph. It is often in the 80-90 amps region.
     
    3 people like this.
  7. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    No. In reference to Hobbit's testing, brake pressure with accelerator pedal pressure bypasses regenerative braking and goes directly to friction braking. In other words, if you hold down the gas and press lightly on the brake, the ICE continues to provide power while the friction brakes drag. Press harder on the brakes and brake override kills the power from the ICE.

    Tom
     
    3 people like this.
  8. justlurkin

    justlurkin Señor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2007
    499
    63
    0
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Heck, your Gen3 has an override system that will ensure your car stops, even if the hybrid computer fails.

    The gasoline engine, if it is allowed to over-rev (due to a hybrid computer failure) while your Prius is being heavily braked hydraulically, will also over-rev the MG1 motor in the transaxle, causing it to burn out and die. A destroyed transaxle will ensure that you will come to a stop. PERMANENTLY. i.e. Your Prius won't ever move again unless you get the transaxle replaced.
     
  9. a1a1a1

    a1a1a1 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2010
    144
    3
    0
    Location:
    So Cal
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Agreed. It would have been much better for Toyota to send their findings to NHTSA and let them present the results, including the results of their own findings. (Whether they are credible or not!)

    The irony is that Toyota is approaching this from the angle that there is no problem, so a two-day investigation with a brief practice test would confirm their beliefs. Or, the fix is in.

    Reports of Prius SUA have been documented anecdotally for years, and one press conference is going to be hard to put the genie back in the bottle. It does, however, make Toyota look like a company that rushes to judgment, blames everyone else for its problems and does not accept complaints easily.

    Those are not traits I was looking for in a company that makes a 2,000+ pound vehicle that hurtles me down the road everyday, notwithstanding whether Bozo's claims are true or not.

    What are they doing now about the many other claims?
     
  10. Soylent

    Soylent The v isn't a station wagon! It's just big boned

    Joined:
    May 2, 2006
    442
    11
    3
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    One thing that stands out here, is that he claims he has no intention of suing Toyota. If that's true, then I don't see any reason for him to make up such an extravagant story.
     
  11. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,068
    15,372
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    SPECULATION:

    1. Floor the accelerator and hold it there.
    2. Lightly apply brakes until engine cut occurs.
    3. Oscillate between the two with brake pedal.
    4. Do this for 20 minutes and make cell phone call.
    Depending upon the brake light position setting, one might see the brake lights going ON and OFF as it goes down the highway. I don't remember if the CHP reported seeing the brake lights flash on and off or if they were steady. The requested regen signal value should come from the brake position encoder.

    The 911 call background may include the engine noise which should be pulsing.

    Hummmmmm ....

    Bob Wilson
     
  12. Prius 07

    Prius 07 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2007
    715
    20
    0
    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    ...and he hired a lawyer because???
     
  13. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,191
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Bravo Toyota...I'm glad they're taking the offensive here. You screw with us and we'll call you on it. They've taken a hell of a lot of heat lately and they've apologized, recalled, repaired and addressed everything in a very open manner where they felt the company had fallen down or not upheld they're core beliefs. But now, one goof-ball tries to take advantage of the situation by sucker punching them and Toyota's coming on with some serious counter-attacks/Jujitsu of their own.

    I respect them for not just laying down and apologizing if they know they have nothing to apologize for.
     
    6 people like this.
  14. a1a1a1

    a1a1a1 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2010
    144
    3
    0
    Location:
    So Cal
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Maybe, just maybe, they should think before pissing him off! :) The guy probably has a good chance of changing his mind.
     
  15. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    4,281
    59
    0
    Location:
    "Somewhere in Flyover Country"
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    I think it is probably a hoax too, but you seem to be very aggressively applauding a company that has worked for at least a couple years to hide and minimize some very serious problems. What if it was you? Maybe it is impossible, but I have found over the years that usually where there is this much smoke(years of reports of Toyotas sua) there is some fire. The dealers i know have had customers report it to them over the last 2-3 years.
     
  16. Jolly Paul

    Jolly Paul Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2010
    162
    28
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Maybe he was waiting to see how well the story held up before suing, and now that it is coming unraveled he uses his statement of not suing as moral cover.

    Or maybe he was hoping for some relatively minor compensation from Toyota such as a free car or to get out of the existing lease.

    Or maybe he is one of those people with an obsessive and irrational hatred of Toyota (*cough* malorn * cough) and did it purely for the bad publicity it would cause.

    I could speculate endlessly about possible motives, but it is more useful to stay focused on the facts, which are not in Sike's favor.
     
  17. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,191
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Because you can't just lay down and take a beating for both the things you did wrong and the things you DIDN'T do wrong. They're talking about, apologizing for and openly making corrections of past mistakes and problems. I don't know if they have covered anything up so much as they failed to openly and aggressively address problems. But that they made mistakes that they need to apologize for is unquestioned.

    But when a fraud has been committed against them you stand up for yourself. That is what is honorable on both sides.
     
    1 person likes this.
  18. longjohn931

    longjohn931 New Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2005
    116
    1
    0
    Location:
    Orlando, FL.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Thats what he orginally said, doesn't mean that wasn't what he had in mind to begin with. Why not see how it plays out before you commit to a law suit. If he wasn't intent on suing why does he have a lawyer as a mouth piece? He wasn't charged with anything by CHP.
     
  19. ShaneSchofield

    ShaneSchofield New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    4
    0
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The brake override kicking in at 50% pedal pressure is interesting. I had been wondering how he was able to keep brake lights on for the pursuing officer because I had assumed the throttle would've been cut immediately when brakes were applied. In the other thread, I was exploring the possibility of him exploiting the "hill holding" feature of the throttle override system, but that just seemed to be giving Sikes a little too much credit.

    This little bit of info explains nicely how he managed to keep the brake lights on, burn up the front pads, and keep the car at 90mph instead of top speed.
     
  20. web1b

    web1b Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2007
    817
    52
    0
    The hiring a lawyer part isn't that unexpected. A lawyer probably solicited Sikes when he saw him on the news.