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

Wish the ICE wouldn't Start

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by ukr2, Aug 14, 2013.

  1. ukr2

    ukr2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2007
    1,009
    275
    31
    Location:
    Victor, NY
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    I've had the Plug-In since Feb. 2012 and the ONE item I wish I could change is to keep the ICE from Starting when I know it's not needed.

    I know when the ICE is needed, but if I press the Gas just a touch too much and the Power Range turns on the ICE, I wish it would Stop if I get back into ECO Range within a few seconds.

    If the ICE does start and I approach a Stop light or Stop Sign, I'll powerdown the PIP and Re-Start it to turn off the ICE and save the fuel for when I'll need it.

    I wish a PIP Engineer was reading our posts.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    don't we all.;)
     
  3. Bonefish Blues

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2013
    98
    31
    0
    Location:
    Oxford, UK
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    N/A
    Buy a Euro-spec one with EV City mode :)

    ...and lose EV Boost capability, and reduce your top speed in EV mode by 8mph :(
     
    lensovet likes this.
  4. Astolat

    Astolat Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2013
    229
    73
    0
    Location:
    Guildford UK
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    N/A
    I'm getting more sanguine about the 55mph or so top speed for EV in the Euro car. There's one stretch of my commute where I am close to it for a couple of miles, a 50mph stretch of the A3, and it seems to chomp EV mileage, as far as I can see from the notoriously unreliable range indicator. Admittedly getting home with a couple of miles EV to go is irritating, but I begin to wonder whether it makes much economic difference, since it reduces the cost of my charge. Depends whether the EV power at 54 compared to 30 is a percentage increase or a multiple.
     
  5. Bonefish Blues

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2013
    98
    31
    0
    Location:
    Oxford, UK
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    N/A
    Agree - I just drive around it too, now. Typically setting the cruise at 57 indicated to make sure I use as much charge as I can on my commutes in/out.
     
  6. CaliforniaBear

    CaliforniaBear Clearwater Blue Metallic

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2012
    1,179
    289
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    1) Turn on the ECO mode. You will then have to push the accelerator farther to reach the PWR level.
    2) Don't be in such a hurry, go easy on the accelerator. The design of the car isn't a problem.
     
    markabele likes this.
  7. chesleyn

    chesleyn Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2012
    596
    158
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I always drive with the HSI screen up so I avoid the pwr zone. If someone is in a hurry behind me they can go around.

    Speaking of that, this was finals week at the college where I teach. Some kid was in such a hurry on the way up to campus he flew up on my rear at such a high speed, tailgated me for 10 seconds then crossed the double yellow nearly taking out oncoming traffic and flew off into the distance at breakneck speeds.

    There will always be someone in a hurry until they kill someone or an officer is actually doing their job and stops them.


    iPad ? HD
     
    markabele, bisco and CaliforniaBear like this.
  8. rockerdan

    rockerdan PiP Rocks!

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2012
    427
    83
    0
    Location:
    Wheatfield NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base

    I have had that happen a few times where people fly up behind quickly....With this car I tend to be watching my rearview almost constantly (opposite of when i drive my truck at "normal" speeds) When I see someone coming up faster then they should or beginning to tailgate, I hit the HAZARDS and that almost always has them backing way off quick, i then will put my right tires just off the lane/across the lines onto shoulder just enough so they blow by usually. Works most all the time on the one lane roads.

    As for the ICE starting. I also always use the HSI screen (any other screen while driving makes no sense to use IMO) to keep an eye on the power bar, and how far up its creeping. I thought it was obvious to keep car in ECO mode but for those that may be in power mode that makes it alot tougher to keep ICE off. But in ECO you gotta press the peddle awful far to make ICE come on. Practically floor it to get ICE to start. LOL

    I have been experimenting more with EV range recently on this 25mile route ive been doing for about 3 weeks...and found that using the ICE to take off from a stoplight(especially on 40+mph roads) to get you up to speed quicker saves A LOT of battery. Then switch back to EV once you get to speed(obviously best with a warm engine)

    That technique seems to always yield me higher MPG on the same exact route then if I pull away from lights very slowly under EV power and slowly get up to speed. With the ICE i get up to speed quicker(still slower then most traffic) and then use the battery more wisely once at speed. This definitely shows using EV power to get the car moving is not as efficient as using ICE initially to get momentum.

    The same route varied as much as 30mpg higher using the ICE to get "off the line" and using battery for "cruising" speed and also the TIME of the trip was much faster due to quicker off the line starts with ICE.

    Just thought that was interesting....;)
     
    CaliforniaBear likes this.
  9. CaliforniaBear

    CaliforniaBear Clearwater Blue Metallic

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2012
    1,179
    289
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Yes, Yes, Yes!!
     
  10. uropip

    uropip Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2013
    138
    38
    0
    Location:
    S.E. MASS
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Does eco mode affect performance in EV mode?
    I know in HV mode it scales back throttle and AC. Was curious...

    cm_tenderloin ? 4
     
  11. rockerdan

    rockerdan PiP Rocks!

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2012
    427
    83
    0
    Location:
    Wheatfield NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Yes.....it effects the pedal and also cuts back on AC and Fan power I believe.
     
  12. 3PriusMike

    3PriusMike Prius owner since 2000, Tesla M3 2018

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2009
    2,933
    2,286
    0
    Location:
    Silicon Valley
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I know what you mean. However, if the PIP waited a couple seconds after entering the Power range before triggering the ICE to come on, then there would be the opposite complaint of when you want the extra boost of power it takes forever for the car to respond.


    But, yes, I think that they could design a slightly better algorithm that takes into account how quickly you approach the power range vs just casually crossing over it.

    Mike
     
  13. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2012
    5,084
    1,782
    1
    Location:
    Nebraska
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    Wow I'm glad I live in Nebraska. I rarely have to cross the midpoint of the HSI while accelerating, unless I need to accelerate up a hill.
     
  14. chesleyn

    chesleyn Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2012
    596
    158
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    On trips longer than EV range I do the same.
     
    CaliforniaBear likes this.
  15. uropip

    uropip Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2013
    138
    38
    0
    Location:
    S.E. MASS
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Same here.. as often as possible lol

    LG-MS870 ? 2
     
    CaliforniaBear likes this.
  16. rockerdan

    rockerdan PiP Rocks!

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2012
    427
    83
    0
    Location:
    Wheatfield NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I aim to keep it under 1/4 of HSI if possible!! haha

    midpoint is when im really in a hurry! lol
     
    markabele likes this.