If the battery is not depleted, HV mode will keep the charge level around around where the car was at when the mode was selected. On that first hit of the gas, the charge was likely at the low end for that target, so the car kept the engine running to charge it up. Then the charge was high enough, so it stopped doing that. The only time HV mode will charge the battery beyond the set parameter, is when coasting down a mountain.
Even with HV mode its easy to lose charge over time, as the car will utilize it when needed and is often not able to get it back anymore unless you drive much longer and slower. And what you might call "driver error" others call convenience. Thats why at least we bought a car full with features in the firts place. Especially now in winter we use the charge mode very often to be able to eg preheat/thaw the car without having to go through the hassle to find a charger somewhere. Economically it doesnt make too much sense either.
Agreed, even in HV it seems to use EV allot so I can see wanting to try to save for a special time and purpose and it not being there or some of it not. .. Its in many areas and some in Canada so maybe its something simple. I was hoping some Toyota techs on here or people with connections might be able to find out what is stopping us from using it.. the button, connector, harness, can it be turned back on as an option at the dealer w/ some special Toyota device. Or is it completely lacking the code in the software build for this reign and there is no way undoing it... or is there.. ... This is killing me inside... because....
we don't have anyone like that. you can probably figure it out by comparing schematics before and after the change