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I have had the Coastal EV Mod...

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Catskillguy, Jun 11, 2006.

  1. Catskillguy

    Catskillguy New Member

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    (originally spelled it "mob"... maybe Sopranos withdrawal)

    but I have never installed it. One is that I am a bit anxious about fiddling with the electronics..

    The other is that I am not sure I will ever get productive use out of it. I almost never take real short trips, but if I did, I think I would not get any gains from using it.

    I don't have any downhills on the first 4-5 miles of my cummute, so I think I would just wind up losing the gains from the EV switch usuage by having the ICE run to recharge the batteries.

    Am I wromg here??
     
    #1 Catskillguy, Jun 11, 2006
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

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    You're probably not "wrong". You don't "need" an EV button.

    But you are probably overlooking some potential uses. It's nice to go into EV when pulling out of a parking lot space before you merge into traffic. Otherwise you sit and idle while going no-where. I like to hit my button, pull out of the garage. I stop at a stop sign, pull into traffic and go to the stop light. Once the light changes I'm onto the main drag where I can usually drive for about 2-4 miles without further stops and allow the battery to recharge the small drain I put on it and go through it's warm-up while I'm 'on the move'.

    I also hit the button as I approach stops when the ECU doesn't tell the ICE to stop spinning on it's own (this is pretty common if you are under 34mph when you start slowing for your stop).

    I use it to pull the car out of the garage to wash it. I use it when going through drive-thrus at fast-food joints. And about a dozen other creative times when I can know things the ECU can't predict and take advantage of turning off the ICE until it is needed.

    But, you don't need it and the gains are small, esp. for the type of driving you described.
     
    #2 efusco, Jun 11, 2006
  3. TheForce

    TheForce Stop War! Lets Rave! Make Love!

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    I agree with efusco on everything. I have had my EV button installed for almost a week now and I only use it when I know the car would normally kick it in its self or for those quick stops in the middle of the highway when you know your going to be going back over 34mph. but with the button you can give it a little more gas or ummm electrons or ummm....... you can press the pedal harder with out having the ICE turn on. :D So far I have not seen an increase in mpg but I really don't care about that. EV is mostly a fun toy but can be used to move the car around short distances without hurting your mpg much if you use it correctly.
     
    #3 TheForce, Jun 11, 2006
  4. Drift Motion

    Drift Motion RMS13

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    dayum, all the stuff Catskillguy said, apply to me...
    morning i make short trip to school, afternoon, goin to somewhere else, goin down a big hill after like 3 min after the car starts? and its kinda annoyin when u start the car, and u still need to "get ready" but the ICE is already running, burning fuel, for no use...
    i guess we should install one...
     
    #4 Drift Motion, Jun 11, 2006
  5. kinjachris

    kinjachris New Member

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    Three cheers for coastal technologies!

    Just installed my EV mod and nav override. Both were much easier that I anticipated to install. If you can follow directions, you can install both of these. It looks way more difficult than it really is. So if you are thinking about doing these, just try. It really isn't any big deal and the car goes back together really easy. I'm using the phone dial override daily and love it. Even works with my blackberry with no delays in call connections.

    Good luck.

    P.S. There was a problem with my shipping from Costal Tech and one of my boxes was sent back to them. I sent an email and they immediately re-shipped me a new one. Thanks for the quick turn around on the support for an issue. The bad rap on no contact from Costal is not true...

    p.p.s. No, I won't come install yours.
     
    #5 kinjachris, Jul 10, 2006
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