EV Mode in Normal Drive

Yes. Search you tube for video info.

 

The EV mode light comes on whenever the engine shuts down. If you don't have an RPM readout it's your only way of knowing the engine is not running. The engine will shut down when it's not needed and your speed is below a certain value. Above that speed it is turned by electricity to ensure MG1 doesn't overspeed.

Don't confuse the EV mode light with selecting EV mode with a button press. They are similar but different.

 

it is normal, is that your only question?

 

There are actually two "EV" modes.

The one invoked via the button offers more power, but has a slower maximum speed.

The one that's automatic has less power, but offers a faster maximum speed.

 

Do you have information to prove these two statements ????? From the information I've been able to find,
they don't have any "POWER" changing capability. Only EV functional characteristic changes.

 

The difference is obvious. Just watch the meter on the screen.


With EV (pushing the button), you can go into the WHITE zone and the top speed is 25 mph.

With STEALTH (automatic EV), you're limited the GREEN zone but the top speed is 46 mph.

 

It's a different design than my C. I see what you're talking about. Thanks!

 

The 25MPH "limit" in "EV" mode is a product of HV battery capacity. The pack can only supply so much "power" when accelerating. You need "more" power accelerating versus maintaining speed.

The 46MPH "limit" is a product of gearing interaction/relationship between MG1/MG2/Engine.

The ability to be in EV mode at say 40MPH would most likely be because the road has a slight downgrade and thus the power/energy requirement is less than what the power/energy requirement would be accelerating to 30MPH.

The plug-in Prius can go 62MPH in EV mode because it has a much larger HV battery that can provide a lot more current which translate into more usable horsepower to accelerate to higher speeds(62MPH).

Travis

 

The Prius plug-in's main reason for 62 MPH is the new power split devise with the motor speed reduction gear set design. It allows higher vehicle speed without forcing MG1 to over run like the old fixed design.

Watch this video for a better understanding.

 

The 2012+ Prius models have a slight design change that allows all of them to potentially be electric only. My 2013 II sometimes goes in EV mode at highway speeds. It doesn't do it often but it freaked me out when it first happened.

Travis

 

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. Great video! Thank You.

 

If you have a nuvi sitting around you can buy an accessory to make it display this info:

 

Interesting, never knew this. So if your accelerating to 46 mph and you just happen to go into the white at lets say 30 mph and then drop back to the green zone, does that cancel your EV run to 46 mph?

 

EV will end, as the engine joins in, then resume seconds later.

With the PSD (Power Split Device) being able to fire up the engine for just a moment of extra power and shut off immediately following that is simple matter, taken advantage of many many times as you drive. It's a fundamental part of the design. The system seeks out efficiency opportunities, even those quite brief.

You'll see the energy flow changing frequently. It's not just the engine going on & off. The battery gets recharged from both braking and engine running.

 

Got it. So if I do a run to 40 in the white, keep it under 46 and drop to green I should get into EV mode correct?

 

The speed threshold varies a bit. Sometimes, you have to get down to 42 mph for the system to shut the engine off. But then when it does, you can increase speed up to 46 without slipping out of EV.

The plug-in model isn't as picky. Since it has more battery capacity & power available, the 62 mph threshold is easier to hit. But then again, you typically don't want to use up EV that way. The ideal is suburb driving, just like the regular model Prius.

 

So bottom line, Green Zone + Under 46 mph + adequate battery capacity = EV mode