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Plug-In Prius: real winter driving

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by john1701a, Nov 12, 2012.

  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it's mpg, but it doesn't take into account any plug juice used. if you look at the spreadsheet, you will see the breakdown.
     
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  2. Jonas Studebaker

    Jonas Studebaker Junior Member

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    Now THAT could be an important tip! I'm guessing I haven't touched or even looked at the temp adjustment even a few times since November. Just the blower control.
     
  3. Jonas Studebaker

    Jonas Studebaker Junior Member

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    So my butt is toasty and my feet freeze. Uggs: the new driving shoes!
    Seriously, I had been aware that running the blower would make ICE more apt to run, but I had not been aware - as Bisco asserts - that even with the blower OFF, we need to also turn down the temperature?
     
  4. Jonas Studebaker

    Jonas Studebaker Junior Member

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  5. 3PriusMike

    3PriusMike Prius owner since 2000, Tesla M3 2018

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    For a first level of optimization, yes, you just want to try and use up all your EV miles inbetween charges.

    To optimized beyond that, yes there are times that are more optimum to use your EV miles. First off, if you want to use the engine heat to warm up the car, and you are going on a long enough trip, you'd want to use HV initially, get the cabin warm and then switch back to EV.

    Ignoring using the heater, for me I've found some of my typical trips means that I use EV for the first couple of miles, get on a freeway, switch to HV, drive at least 4-6 miles (or more if a longer trip), switch back to EV as I get off the freeway and on to my destination...repeat for return trip, but make sure to switch to EV in time to drop down to zero miles before getting home. The main point is that I'm not in HV warming up the engine while sitting at a stop light or coasting to a stop. Make the ICE do some constant driving at 40 - 60 mph while warming up.

    Mike
     
  6. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    That hasn't been my experience. I tested it tonight too. With the heater set at 72 but off (no fan), I drove to my association meeting... all in EV. The Prius sat there for 2 hours. When I left, the outside temp was 27 and the coolant 51. The 4-mile drive home was all in EV. The engine never fired up.

    Setting the temp to any number is how you prevent outside air from being allowed in. Nothing else will happen when the fan isn't running.

    Could your observation have been different due to the AUTO button being active or not being ECO?
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    thanks john, i'll have to test it again. i haven't had the temp above 'low' since it started getting cold last fall. i don't follow you on outside air, isn't that controlled by the recirc button?
     
  8. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    -2°F in EV speaks for itself. I wanted to know if the battery-pack could deliver the power needed for my daily commute in such extreme cold conditions. It did... and I'm quite thrilled how well the video turned out...



    The ride itself wasn't exactly warm, but I did it without wearing gloves for the first 24 minutes of driving. The heated seat on high does a remarkable job. The point was to find out how well the EV would perform, so I kept the heater off.

    9 miles of electric-only driving was what ended up being available. I fired up the engine shortly before the battery was fully depleted of EV, not wanting the upcoming hill climb at 55 mph consume lots of HV capacity (electricity is used to allow the engine to gracefully speed up).

    Watching the video to the end, you can see close-up display photos of the outcome. The total distance traveled was 17.2 miles. The result was 117 MPG. That took approximately 3.0 kWh of electricity (including charging losses) along with 0.15 gallon of gas.

    That would be impressive even if wasn't -2°F. I still miss summer though, since EV works better then.
     
  9. lensovet

    lensovet former BP Brigade 207

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    Yeah bisco I think your theory is off here
    Unfortunately yes. However…not just your butt but also your back, the back of the seat heats up as well.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i might be thinking that if you have the temp above 'low' and decide you need defrost and hit the fan, the ice will fire.
     
  11. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Think of it like the engine input. There are alternate air feeds, one for "cold" and one for "hot". LO uses the "cold". 65 and up uses the "high".

    You can hear the switch too, in really quiet conditions. 65 allows air to pass through the core and use the most internal source of air. That's why you get a hint of heat even when the fan isn't running. Remember, there is still some waste heat from the traction motor, not just the engine. LO bypasses all that, sucking in outside air exclusively.

    RECIRC is totally indepedent and you rarely ever want to use that in the winter, since that air gets moist from your own breathing rather quick. Outside air, either direct or indirect, is needed to keep the windows clear.
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    interesting. waste heat from the motor, i had no idea.
     
  13. lensovet

    lensovet former BP Brigade 207

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    That is correct.
    Well, yeah. Basically, if while your ICE is on, set your temp to 75 and turn it off. Next time you have ICE on again, you'll feel warm air.
     
  14. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    In reality, it probably doesn't equate to much. But at -2°F, even a remote trace of heat is still better than nothing.

    It hadn't occurred to me to actually try to quantify it. Perhaps I'll pop the hood before & after an EV drive sometime.

    Unfortunately, I just wrecked my laser-thermometer. Be extremely careful inserting a new 9-volt battery. I had it backwards and the device actually exploded. Nasty smell. Pretty upsetting of a preventable mistake. I guess it's time to go shopping.
     
  15. Andyprius1

    Andyprius1 Senior Member

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    Thanks John, I have one of those, I'll keep that in mind when changing batteries.
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    does the ice coolant circulate around the motors?
     
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    now you're confusing me.o_O is the heat from the electric motors or the ice? i thought we were talking about ev with stone cold ice?
     
  18. lensovet

    lensovet former BP Brigade 207

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    yeah i got confused. with stone cold ICE…not sure but there's coolant of some sort there too…
     
  19. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Winter is over. Yeah!

    Here's the last of the videos...



    ...and the real-world data from that particular drive:

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    john, it's spring! what with all the snow?:p