Electric Only?

1.2 miles
Don't forget to add at least 3 gallons of gas or the computer may still think the tank is empty.

 

My 2005 Prius has a 12 gallon tank and my last bar on the fuel guage begins to flash when I have used ~9.1 gallons of fuel. I usually fill up at 500 miles of travel and usually put in 9.5 gallons.

Coming to florida from Massachusetts this past month I wanted to see how far I could go after the last bar began to flash. I knew from past experience that the bar begins to flash when I have used ~9.1 gallons so I was going to go another 80 miles before I gassed up. Suprise, surprise; with the cruise control set at 75 mph I had gone about another 60 miles and all of a sudden I started to drop in speed and what do you know I was out of gas. I pulled into the breakdown lane and keep the car movig at approximately 40mph. I thought I would travel at most 1 mile before I pull over and start walking. fortunately an exit came up within 1 mile and I was able to get gas. I know in the past driving around town that I have seen the batter Icon in the pink indicating the battery was at the low point of it's charge cycle. After I had gassed up I checked the battery icon and was happy to see it still had 4 or 5 blue bars and not any pink.

I was only able to put in 10.75 gallons of gas and I am not sure why. I guess the bladder has somethin to do with this. From now on I wll gass up as soon as I see the last bar icon begin to flash.

 

Toyota FAQ

Q: Can Prius run on electricity when it runs out of gas?

A: No. Though Prius can operate in electric-only mode when gasoline is in the tank, it is not designed to run without gasoline. Doing so could cause severe damage to the hybrid system, so drivers should be sure to keep gas in the tank at all times.

Ken@Japan

 

A CocaCola glass bottle does a temporary job for storage. O better yet, get a six pack!!!

 

I have not seen 1/4 gallon cans. But this is what I use in 1 1/4 size when I want to test my tank capacity. Only small can I could find that doesn't leak badly. It may vent if really hot, but I don't leave it in the car in really hot weather.



http://www.no-spill.com/CARBcans.htm

 

If I were you, I'll carry a 3 gallons can instead of twelve 1/4 gallon cans.

Ken@Japan

 

from our experience, the answer is no, our prius ran out of fuel once, battery is 3/4 full, the car just stalled...

 

Ken's point is that the computers might not realize that you have added *any* gas, and thus not let the car start, until you have added 3 gallons.

 

Greetings, I ran out of gas Sunday afternoon and powered most of the way to the gas station on the HV battery. The car stopped and I restarted 4 times and chugged along on a rural road with heavy truck traffic and no shoulder, each time at 20 mph until it would not re-start.

I pushed the Prius the last 100 feet to the gas station. I then filled up the tank which would only take 10 gallons. The car wouldn't start and after considerable consultation I was towed (by flatbed) to the Toyota Dealer.

Early the next day the Service manager called and said the HV battery was drained and that there was one $15,000 HV battery charger in the entire Pacific Northwest and it was in Portland, Oregon and my Prius was in Tacoma, Washington. The HV battery was charged late Tuesday and I was off and running by Wednesday.

Several empirical observations.
1. it is possible to drain an HV battery when you run out of gas
2. the gas tank is inconsistent in the amount of gas it holds.
3. 3 full days for a battery charge is a long time.

2006 Grey Metallic 47 mpg

 

This info here might or might not be relevent. I test drove a Ford Escape Hybrid a few days ago, and am totally unfamiliar with the vehical.

For this car you have to start the ICE first by turning the key all the way, just like the way you would a non hybrid. After starting, low fuel warning is on. Me and the salesman thinks this is a short distance test drive and we should have enough fuel.

As luck would have it, in the middle lane going 70 mph on the freeway in medium traffic the engine quits. I turned on the emergency flasher, pull over to the shoulder, we discuss as we should get a tow truck or not. We are near an exit and know there is a gas station about 1-1.5 mile away. So we decided to try for the gas station.

Without the ICE, the Ford limps along at about 25 mph. To both of our surprises, it made it to the gas station. We put in 1 gallon of gas, turn the key and the ICE starts right up. The salesman apologizes for the trouble. Nevertheless, we were very impress with the car's ability to go that much distance with only electric power. On the way back to the dealership, the battery charge indicator shows normal charge and seems like there is no damage to the battery.

As for the Prius, looks like the best way is to read the owner's manual, and observe the do's and don'ts. (Or may be an exemption in emergency situation, as long as one doesn't do it in purpose)

 

The Rav4EV is a true electric vehicle. EVs use a deep-discharge battery designed to drain all the way down and still be re-charged. Furthermore, an EV does not have to be shipped off by flatbed to the nearest charger: it has its own charger onboard.

The Prius is not an EV. Its battery is designed to be held within a narrow range of SOC. And it does not (sigh!) have a charger onboard. Clearly, it will run on battery power alone, but based on the above, you're taking your chances if you try.

That business about needing some gas in the tank to cool the pump may explain why there is still so much fuel remaining when the last bar begins to blink and the Add Fuel warning comes on. I've driven as much as maybe 10 miles beyond the blink, but usually add fuel sooner.

 

For those who like to drive around with an incendiary bomb in the back of their car, you might want to consider what happens when you get rear-ended by that Hummer... (visions of vintage Pintos going up in flames).

Disclaimer: When I was young and foolish, I did the same thing (my excuse was a broken gas gauge and an OPEC embargo bringing siphons out of the woodwork). Of course, back then you never expected to live through a significant accident, so the incremental risk was much lower. (Think single master cylinder brakes and solid steering columns, and features like backup lights and outside mirrors were extra cost options!)

Vince
(edited to clean up quoting)

 

.
This theory is why, in http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=17214
I was asking since it's the same NiMH battery chemistry in both
vehicles, what exactly is the difference that makes one type more
sensitive to SoC-related lifetime degradation than the other? I'm
still looking for a well-founded answer to this question.
.
_H*

 

Not to rub it in or anything but what were you thinking when you saw the last pip on the gas gauge start flashing? That was probably 20 miles or more before you ran out...

 

My bet is warranty and cycle life.

- Toyota had to abandon to sell RAV4 EV because they had no confidence to meet the CARB warranty.
- Prius have to meet the CARB warranty.
- The RAV4 EV battery is used less than a few thousands cycles.
- The Prius battery may be used more than 100 thousands cycles in 10 years.

I believe Darell agree this.

Ken@Japan

 

I dont know how right i am but i believe i read this in the manual, there has to be some gas in the tank or else the electric engine wont run by itself even though it can nomrally if theres gas in the tank. This is to prevent damage and im sure it would void your woarranty if u did.

 

in addition, it costs toyota more to charge a battery than to replace one- costs of flying the rep to wherever you are, hotel and etc, plus setting up that huge charger, etc.

also takes a huge chunk of usable space for a day because there is no going within ~100 feet of that charger when it's running.