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EV Switch ?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by tntna, Nov 30, 2004.

  1. tntna

    tntna New Member

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    Is the OEM EV switch the type that will stay on all the time or is it the type that once the ICE has kicked on and you want to go back to EV mode, the EV switch needs to be hit again? Would be nice if its a one hit and the functionality remains on.
     
  2. finman

    finman Senior Member

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    I believe the EV function works the same on all Prius, whether you install it yourself (US) or the factory does it (Japan, Europe).

    When I engage mine (flash the headlite lever), it beeps once and MFD switches to the Energy screen (where the battery level is shown). It then will stay in EV mode up to 34 MPH OR until you're down to 3 bars on the hybrid battery, at which point the gas engine kicks on automatically. Also, if I am accelerating too fast or trying to pull a pretty good hill, the gas engine automatically kicks on.

    I can also turn off the EV mode manually by flashing the headlite switch again. The engine then fires up.

    The whole system of protecting the battery pack and ensuring the engine is warmed (for emissions) is cool! If I try to engage EV mode with lower than 3 bars or with a cool engine or for other reasons that I'm not privy to, then it beeps 3 times at me and will not engage EV.

    Love the extra geek feature of EV mode! I mainly use it in the morning to delay the engine start until I'm on a 35 MPH roadway. Then I use it at the end of my commute in my work parking lot. Plus at the grocery store it's awesome to cruise in EV mode and watch the heads turn to see how that car is moving with no sound.
     
  3. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    OEM functions just like described in the EU/Japaneese owner's manual.

    If under the right conditions, it will stay in EV until extra power is required based on accelerator pedal position, battery level is too low, or say heat is required from the ICE. Pushing it will toggle the mode provided the car has warmed up and the above conditions have been met. If you've pushed the button to circumvent warmup, then you cannot toggle back to EV until the car has warmed up completely and the battery level is sufficent (usually above 2 or 3 bars on the Energy screen).
     
  4. bruceha_2000

    bruceha_2000 Senior Member

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    I think the original question is still unanswered:
    You are humming along at 30 in EV button mode. The ICE kicks in when you go 40 MPH for a while then you go back on a 30 MPH street.

    Would you have to reengage EV mode, or has it remembered that you started out in EV and will ALWAYS use EV when possible?
     
  5. ozt

    ozt Junior Member

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    When the EV mode has been automatically canceled with three beeps, it won't go back to the EV mode again if the condition (speed, batt level, heat etc.) is cleared.

    Tosh
    04 Salsa BC
    San Diego, CA
     
  6. tntna

    tntna New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bruceha_2000\";p=\"53911)</div>
    Yep that's what I was asking. Thanks for clarifying.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ozt\";p=\"54036)</div>
    Ok bummer. The 34 miles per hour is cool though. Still going to do it.

    Let me see if I understand the process though. From what I've read in this thread, there's an EV switch which goes next to the dimmer for the dash/MFD. Sounds like this is a master switch to turn EV mode on, just like there's a master switch for cruise control? To actually engage the EV function, you have to use the headlight lever? Pull it forward? That makes some sense to have a fail safe switch to turn the system off.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(finman\";p=\"53901)</div>
    Yes the first gen Prius runs off the battery longer then the second gen which is why I want the EV switch. I love cruising the grocery store or driving away on battery power in the 2001 and have people stare.
     
  7. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Nope, that button engages and disengages EV mode. There are a number of means of installing an "EV Button"--some use the cruise control stalk, some use the Flasher, some use the OEM button, some use a Radio Shack button. If you get an OEM EV button that's all you need.
     
  8. tntna

    tntna New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco\";p=\"54092)</div>
    Oh good. I think. I'll have to search the threads to see what comes with the OEM button. Would be nice if it came with a wiring harness so there isn't any splicing.
     
  9. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tntna\";p=\"54108)</div>

    Oh good. I think. I'll have to search the threads to see what comes with the OEM button. Would be nice if it came with a wiring harness so there isn't any splicing.
    [/b][/quote]Have you looked in the Knowledge Base yet?? There are 2 write ups there that will tell you all you need.
     
  10. tntna

    tntna New Member

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    I took a quick look earlier this morning after seeing your msg about the writeups. Sounds like a wiring harness doesn't come with the OEM EV button. :( I'll have to read the writeups in more depth and read some of the msg threads.
     
  11. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    As commented earlier, the EV button (or any other form of EV switch) toggles in and out of EV mode, but the computer may refuse to go into EV mode, depending on conditions, and also may take you out of EV mode depending on conditions.

    Your wish for the car to always go back into EV mode, once selected, flies against the characteristics of the car and the reasonable use of EV mode:

    You will only have a mile or so of range in EV mode, under the best of conditions, and MG2 by itself does not have much power. It is a very bad idea to try to maximize the time spent in EV mode. Under normal conditions the car functions best in hybrid mode, with the ICE running as the computer decides, and the electrical system charging and discharging according to conditions.

    EV mode is desirable only under very limited circumstances, and only for relatively brief times. It is therefore really much more convenient to have it remain out of EV mode once it leaves that mode, until the next time you choose to engage it.
     
  12. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tntna\";p=\"54222)</div>
    The button is definately NOT "Plug and Play". You have to pull off panels, stick pins into expensive ECUs, tap wires, find grounds, etc. Please do, thoroughly, read both articles in the Knowledge Base about what the EV button is/does, how it works, how to install and esp. the dangers to your vehicle and it's warranty before you proceed.
     
  13. Eisenson

    Eisenson New Member

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    Daniel nailed it. The battery capacity is equivalent to a few (2 I think) ounces of gasoline. EV is a novelty and useful in only a few instances. For example:
    I live and work only 1.3 miles apart, but every workday I drive to one meeting or another, and most evenings we go somewhere. So, in the morning I ghost out of the garage in EV mode and drive to work. The ICE never comes on. During the day my drive charges the car. That afternoon I ghost home, backing into the garage in EV. Neat-o.
     
  14. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tntna\";p=\"54090)</div>
    You'll change that comment once your 2005 is broken-in.

    My 2004 clearly out-stealths my 2001.

    After 85,000 miles of Prius driving, I've found there are only a handful of circumstances where you'd benefit from EV and a whole bunch of them where EV could actually cause MPG to be lower. So I don't recommend the EV button.
     
  15. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a\";p=\"54256)</div>
    While I concur that there are few circumstances where an EV button is truely benefitial for mileage it is fun, and there are times where it is useful for reducing emissions (moving in a parking lot, moving out of the garage to wash and back in again, waiting in line to drop off a kid at school, etc.).

    There are no circumstances where the mere presence of the EV button will reduce mileage. Inappropriate use of the button could, in some situations, reduce mileage, but that even would be difficult. I do recommend spending time learning when it is and isn't likely to be of benefit and to limit the use of the EV button to those situations where mileage (rare) or emissions (more common) could be improved.

    I don't recommend, nor do I strongly discourage the EV button. It is an available mod/feature, there are up sides and down sides and the informed owner can make his or her own decisions. John decided against it and has no experience with it's use of or functionality in day to day living. I have had mine installed for nearly a year now. I find I use it, on average, twice per day for less than 1/2 mile total travel, and usually only in the morning when exiting my house b/c I stop to grab the news paper and see no point in the ICE running during that very inefficient slow driveway travel and the stop to grab the paper. I immediately disable it to allow the ICE to start up when I pull out of the driveway. I use it as I'm pulling into the parking garage at work, I use it on my little road as I approach home b/c I can do that entire trip in 'glide' and 'stealth', but if I don't use the EV button occasionally the ICE will start up as I pull into my drive which has a slight upslope at the start but then downslopes into the garage--net ZERO energy use and thus, wasteful for the ICE to run.

    Make your own informed decision.
     
  16. tntna

    tntna New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a\";p=\"54256)</div>
    Can you define broken-in? I just read here that the 2005 automatically kicks on the ICE 7 seconds or so after starting where as the 2001 runs the ICE at the start. I didn't realize that the 05 was starting the ICE no matter what after those 7 seconds.

    Yeah I don't expect to use the EV button a lot, it's just the neat factor.
     
  17. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    To be "broken-in", you really need at least 10,000 miles.

    Lack of education is the detriment of EV. That will be overcome, later. Right now, we still have a bunch of owners that still don't understand "brisk" acceleration. So eliminating that misconception is clearly a higher priority. Skipping steps is rarely helpful.

    And no Evan, I haven't decided against. I simply don't recommend it. My confidential sources have educated me about the current market. And that is what I wish to help. Later, I still could add it. But right now, that would taint my real-world data. That is an obvious negative. So I have refrained.
     
  18. toyoprius

    toyoprius New Member

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    To digress a bit, wouldn't it be safe to say that there is still considerable controversy over the notion that brisk acceleration will increase gas mileage? For starters, Toyota recommends moderate acceleration for the Prius as a fuel conservation measure.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a\";p=\"54319)</div>
     
  19. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    What does "moderate" mean?

    We have identified "brisk" as roughly 70% of engine potential, which is about the optimal speed it can run at under an acceleration load.

    Is that the same?
     
  20. toyoprius

    toyoprius New Member

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    I guess I am going to have to be more precise in my language! On page 235 of the owner's manual, Toyota advises to "Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Avoid jackrabbit starts" to improve fuel economy.

    My only point is that I've followed the "accelerate briskly" debate for a few years now, and I still have yet to see anything that really convinces me one way or another (though I do concede your mileage is a couple of mpg better than mine...). For me, the jury is still out.

    This, of course, has absolutely nothing to do with EV switches!

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a\";p=\"54359)</div>