Turn on the ICE while driving

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by frockey99, Aug 19, 2025 at 9:03 PM.

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  1. frockey99

    frockey99 Junior Member

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    I've got the 2019 Prius. I want to install a switch to run the ICE when I want to. Nissan just came out with this option on one of their new hybrids and I want to do it on mine. example: I go to the airport and I'm going to have to wait in line for a while before I pick someone up and before I get there I'm driving on a city road at 40mph on battery. I want to run the ICE so the battery charges instead of sitting in the arrival line and the engine keeps turning on and off to charge the battery just enough to turn off. With my switch I can run the engine while driving so I can sit still on battery and not turn off and turn on the battery every 5 minutes. Telling me to change driving habits doesn't help. Also, I know the Prius has a maintenance mode but that's not what I need. I need an actual capability to turn on the ICE and then a way to switch the car back into normal mode.
     
    #1 frockey99, Aug 19, 2025 at 9:03 PM
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I've seen a definition of 'engineering' as "the art of making what you want out of what you can get".

    In a Prius, what you can get are things like the "engine runs in P when you hold the go pedal depressed" feature, or the "charging is forced when you hold the brake and go pedal together in gear" feature.

    Can you make what you want using any of those things you can get?
     
    #2 ChapmanF, Aug 19, 2025 at 10:23 PM
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    when i needed to keep the battery charged, i would accelerate generously and then take my foot off for full regen. this would keep the battery topped up until i was stuck in traffic.
    i only offer this example because i know that no one here will know how to add a switch to start the engine.
    i would love to read the reason nissan offers for implementing it.
     
    #3 bisco, Aug 20, 2025 at 2:26 PM
  4. ColoradoBoo

    ColoradoBoo Senior Member

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    Can't do it....BUT you can tell the car to start up the ICE by just pressing down on the gas peddle a little. (I will do this in the morning when starting the car just to help get the oil flowing around in there, especially on cold days.)
    This works in our 2017 Prius and 2024 Corolla Hybrids.
     
    #4 ColoradoBoo, Aug 20, 2025 at 4:53 PM
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