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

Long mountainous trip anything to be worried about?

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by Gen1guy, Sep 21, 2012.

  1. Gen1guy

    Gen1guy New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2012
    47
    4
    0
    Vehicle:
    2002 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Taking a trip through the allegheny mountains this weekend around 250 miles , anything I need to watch? I know when I run out of juice ill crawl along ,but otherwise what should I monitor?


    Have fun !

    Eric
     
  2. electrontechnik

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2012
    117
    31
    21
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    In my experience from mountainous driving, fromm the get go, lower your speeds, and keep the car in the mode where the RPM's are high enough to charge the battery instead of discharge it. Some will say use B mode on downhills to avoid heat pumping the battery.
     
  3. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,457
    15,561
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Going up hills, follow trucks in the climbing lane. Alternatively, use 55-60 mph on a long climb. In an ideal mode, you don't draw traction battery power on the climb.

    On the descent, use "B". When you stop, if the battery fan is running, try to park in the shade and let the car sit for a while to pass air through the battery. It makes a lot of sense to use a Scangauge to monitor battery temperature.

    Bob Wilson
     
  4. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2006
    2,369
    979
    70
    Location:
    Sunnyvale, California
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    I exhausted the HV battery (zero bars) on my Gen2 on a long uphill climb at 7000 feet in Idaho. First time I'd ever done that in 6 years of driving the car. I've slowed down on a shorter climb towing a 700 pound trailer up the grapevine (I5 north of Los Angeles). My advise is to watch the SOC display, and back off if you get down to one bar. I also second Bob's advise to leave the car in Ready for a while when you stop to keep the battery cooling fan running.
     
  5. Gen1guy

    Gen1guy New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2012
    47
    4
    0
    Vehicle:
    2002 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    All went well Except we ate another 12 volt aux battery ... But we only pulled 39mpg :( ...
     
  6. LEVE

    LEVE Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2010
    191
    97
    0
    Location:
    On the Willapa
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Beware of headwinds...