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

EV Mode Cold Weather

Discussion in 'Prime Fuel Economy & EV Range' started by TRHaley, Dec 21, 2017.

  1. TRHaley

    TRHaley New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2017
    3
    1
    0
    Location:
    Vail Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    I am brand new to the site, so please excuse this thread if I missed one that was similar.

    I have a 2017 Prime Premium (Hypersonic Red) which I have put about 1800 miles on. I live in the mountains of Colorado and drive a lot for work. Starting this week the EV mode will not turn on when I am leaving in the mornings. Temps are about the same for the past three weeks or so. However I can't seem to get the EV to work on my morning commute.

    I know EV can be temp sensitive, but does anyone have any recommendation? I have about a 20 mile commute, and have the ability to charge at work. Thus not running EV in the AM, I am losing half of my efficiency.

    As well, any other tips on charging and caring for the battery, charger etc is much appreciated. I ordered the car from Mass and had it delivered to me so I never got much info from the dealer on Do and Don'ts.
     
  2. bill188

    bill188 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2017
    41
    21
    0
    Location:
    Aurora, Colorado. USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I have a Prime and I live in Aurora! When the Prime starts up it's automatically in EV mode, so I don't understand what you mean by," it doesn't turn on". It already is in


    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  3. prius4-me

    prius4-me Member

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2013
    54
    28
    0
    Location:
    Denver, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    If you have the heater on and the outside temp is below around 14 degrees F, EV mode may not be available. Or when the windshield defogger is running. p.87 Owners Manual
     
    Arctic_White and bruceha_2000 like this.
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    does it have a full charge?
     
  5. TRHaley

    TRHaley New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2017
    3
    1
    0
    Location:
    Vail Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    Yes fully charged. I plu it in at my house and set the charge for my departure. I only get about 17 miles max on cold mornings. However the last several days it won't kick over to EV when I leave.
     
    bisco likes this.
  6. TRHaley

    TRHaley New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2017
    3
    1
    0
    Location:
    Vail Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    This makes sense, as some days both of these could be on. I will test this out tomorrow.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    what have the morning temps been? don't use the front defrost button unless you have to, that's an automatic ice starter.
     
    Arctic_White likes this.
  8. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2015
    1,014
    485
    0
    Location:
    Nh
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    All summer I started with 37-39 miles, now I’m at 22 miles, I automatically switch out of EV to save the traction battery for going back up the hills I live on(not to mention hotter air inside for me), but to the OP’s point, wow, the small print always bites ya when least expected.
     
  9. Oniki

    Oniki Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2017
    652
    499
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Another Coloradan here.
    Pre-condition/heat your car on the EVSE so that you can avoid using the battery for cabin heating/window defrosting during the drive. I do tend to use some seat heating during driving but that is a small energy draw.

    I can see the car jump into ICE warm-up mode sometimes during my highway drive but that is a separate issue that is still not entirely worked out and has multiple causes*. I haven't really focused on it too much since my drive is too long to be EV only anyway, so if the car wants to pick when to turn on the ICE for a while it does not affect my final fuel economies much, if at all.

    *
    Entering Cruise Control is one trigger -- although not mine.
     
    #9 Oniki, Dec 25, 2017
    Last edited: Dec 25, 2017
  10. ems2158

    ems2158 Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2012
    221
    162
    0
    Location:
    Bucks County, PA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    After experiencing a 25% EV range drop this winter, similar to most Prime owners in the North, it makes me wonder about the feasibility of 100% electric drive. I was thinking the 225 mile range of a Bolt or Tesla would be more than adequate for most needs but if that drops to 170 or less, full EV may not work for me at this point in its' development.
    Looks like the Prime was my best option. Really glad I have that 500 mile range on gas.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    correct, you have to look at worst case scenario with bev, and even add a fudge factor.
    that being said, they work for plenty of people and will continue to improve.
     
    Arctic_White and barbaram like this.
  12. Oniki

    Oniki Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2017
    652
    499
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Bolt no, Tesla yes due to the SuperCharger network. YMMV
     
  13. lynn3925

    lynn3925 New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2017
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Orono, MN
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    welcome!(y)
     
  15. CraigM

    CraigM Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2017
    208
    208
    0
    Location:
    Portland, Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
  16. MNdriver

    MNdriver Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2016
    549
    577
    0
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Uh... definitely not. Maybe Lynn’s one of our many snow birds.

    Whatever, nice to know there’s another Prime in my state.
     
  17. wb9tyj

    wb9tyj 2017 Prius Prime Advanced

    Joined:
    May 20, 2004
    389
    94
    0
    Location:
    Indiana and Nevada
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    a few observations of EV during cold weather...
    Temperature: -7F(-22C)...EV mode showing active, however, ICE is running to warm cabin...in essence, we are in HV mode with ICE running...EV heating is very slow if non existent. the heat pump is running but it will not keep up...car did ultimately get to EV mode solely after about 30 minutes of driving with temperature rising to above 0F((-17C)...and temperature set to 68F inside...but the HV did kick in /out to maintain temperature...Mileage was in the area of 38-47mpg during this trip...whereas my old prius would have been 28-33mpg in these temperatures...
     
  18. jungleland1972

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2017
    73
    65
    0
    Location:
    Chesapeake Beach, MD
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    658118.png

    Between not being allowed to plug-in at work anymore and the cold weather (on a 30 mile 1 way commute), my MPG has really taken a hit. From almost 188 down to 85mpg. 85mpg is still great and this was only my 4th fill-up so not a lot of data to go by.
     
    Arctic_White likes this.
  19. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    2,325
    1,811
    18
    Location:
    Chicago western burbs
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Sad looking trend, but not unexpected. What happens if it keeps going down? If it goes south of 0 MPG, does the car make gasoline, rather than use it?
     
  20. jungleland1972

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2017
    73
    65
    0
    Location:
    Chesapeake Beach, MD
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    I think Toyota installed what is called a Flintstones floor trap where the floor drops out by the feed and you use your feet to power the vehicle if the MPG gets to zero. That way, you can still go places AND your MPG shoots up to 199.99 again.