EV button Professionally done

What about liability on my part? I don't want something to go wrong down the road then point fingers at me. But other than that, I would be glad to lend a hand.

 

Just for the halibut, I took Evan's excellent instructions to a local stereo shop and asked. The answer: "Sure, we'll do it - $50 or so."

Well, mine took almost zero time with no instructions other than "you need a momentary ground on pin 27 on that connector" and a photo. I used a toothpick to make the connection, a Radio Shack pushbutton switch from my scrap box, etc. The longest item was waiting for the soldering iron to warm up. This ain't rocket science, and thanks to Evan's pictorial, it's child's play.

I'm re-doing mine to the headlight switch mod, and will recover that pushbutton for something else.

 

So, What is the EV button anyways?

 

The Asian and EU cars have it and it is built in to the programing of the car. It allows you to force the car under certain parameters into all electric operation under 41 mph. There are a number of ways to do this but you must provide a switch in one fashion or another to activate the feature. Coastal Tech has an fairly easily installed version and you can order and install a factory switch. Instructions are on the board. Oh BTW you did not post your location if you are near my location email me and I can tell you about a Toyota dealer who will install one for you.

 

Isn't 41 around the speed for hybrid mode all-battery constant-speed? I think EV kicks out at 34 MPH, earlier if you're accelerating, so it's often in the 20's. The difference between the two being the 40-something max is in hybrid mode, and the 30-something max is in EV mode.

Right?

 

I've done battery-only at speeds over 80 MPH (yes, not km/h) -- but not while maintaining speed, and not in forced mode. Mostly coasting.

 

I work at a vocational school. The instructor is a Master ASE. He will do the labor for free so the kids can see what one looks like. It might be worth it to ask at your local voc. ed. school.

 

Any of you who have already done this willing to come up with a parts list and walk a few of use owners thru this install/setup at a "SoCal Prius EV Button Love Fest"? We will schedule a day and location when we all get together and do a Mass EV Button Install!

 

Spinning but not buring fuel, correct?

 

Well, for gen 2, the MUST part is about 60 MPH, but the HV computer will still spin the ICE over 42 MPH, which was the MUST for the classic.

I believe there is some slight burn to be sure the ICE spins the right direction, though that's probably not a problem when driving forward.

 

I just recently bought an 06/#8 prius and I am excited about adding the EV capability to the vehicle. I've owned the car for about three weeks and the battery has never fully charged. Is this typical?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Javier @ May 8 2006, 12:33 PM) [snapback]251632[/snapback]</div>

I assume you mean that all the bars on the display have never lit up? The only way to achieve that (without external charging of your HV battery) is to find a long/fast downhill and gently apply the brakes. You'll eventually fill that battery. If you're never in a situation where you can reclaim lots of that regeneration, then you won't see a "full" battery - so yes, that is normal for most situations.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Javier @ May 8 2006, 03:33 PM) [snapback]251632[/snapback]</div>

Yes. The computer favors a state of charge (SOC) of 6 blue bars. Below that, it gives preference to charging the battery and above that, it gives preference to powering the drive train. I've only seen all eight bars (they're green when there's 7 or 8 of them) once. I often see 7 green bars, but now that I starting to have to use the air conditioning, I'm not likely to see that too often until fall.

Once I pull into my neighborhood, I have a fairly steep hill that I go up for about 300 yards or so. If I enter my neighborhood with 6 bars or less on the battery, then the engine turns on while I go up the hill, no matter how gingerly I press the gas pedal. If I enter the neighborhood with 7 bars on then I can usually drive up the hill doing 25 MPH on battery alone.

Likewise, if I'm doing a constant 55 MPH or so on the highway and I have 6 bars or less on the battery, the arrows on the Energy screen will usually be flowing into the battery. However, on the few occasions that I've been at those speeds on the highway with 7 bars on the battery, I've seen it using both the engine and the battery to maintain speed.

So basically, if there are less than 6 bars, the Prius tends to avoid using the battery and instead gives preference to charging it. At more than 6 bars, it tends to use power from the battery with reckless abandon. So the end result is that most of the time, you are sitting at 6 bars.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ May 8 2006, 11:43 AM) [snapback]251642[/snapback]</div>

Thanks for the quick reply. Yes, I was referring to the bars on the display. I'm not too familiar w/how the hybrid system works. Does the battery charge only when the brakes are applied i.e. foot brake or engine brake or will the battery charge just by removing your foot from the accelerator while the wheels are spinning? Also, are you aware of any tested modification where the batteries could be charged externally?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marlin @ May 8 2006, 12:13 PM) [snapback]251660[/snapback]</div>

Thanks for the feed back.