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

Battery range dropping

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by ppimd, Jan 14, 2017.

  1. ppimd

    ppimd Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2012
    122
    15
    0
    Location:
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    This winter never over 8.1 miles of range, overall reduction in range, never see more than 11 during summer. Will Toyota address this reduction in battery performance, it's still under warranty, I have an 8 year 100,000 mile warranty and only 27k miles.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    yes and no. if it's just the winter, no, that's normal. i'm down from 16 to 11. if it stays at 8 next summer, they'll probably replace your battery.
     
  3. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    2,730
    2,638
    0
    Location:
    Farmington Hills, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    bisco likes this.
  4. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    A Prime would definitely be cool!! But I think you're within normal range for winter driving. Cold weather takes a toll on battery range. Down here we don't actually have winter. After three weeks of ownership, my range runs from 10 to 11.7 on startup. If I turn on the vent fan an 11 mile range instantly becomes 10. And the a/c hits it harder, but I haven't needed it much yet. If you're using the heated seats, that'll drop it some more. So will driving styles and conditions. As Bisco said, I wouldn't get concerned unless it stays low in warm weather.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    see this thread, 'PIP EV range falloff' from member @gallde .
     
  6. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Verrry interesting! Now I wonder what mine will be like in a year if no one rear ends me at a traffic light first.
     
    bisco likes this.
  7. QuantumFireball

    QuantumFireball Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2016
    416
    267
    0
    Location:
    Ireland
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Mine's showing about 8.3 miles now, was more 9.1-9.5 in the summer. But it's very hard to tell how much range I'm really getting this time of the year as I usually need to run the AC+heat (i.e. ICE) at least once or twice during my commute (4.4 miles each way) to clear the windscreen. Generally the EV range estimation is not particularly accurate.

    I also have discovered I had at least one seized brake caliper slide pin causing the brakes to drag (possibly mis-aligned caliper piston too) - hopefully when that's all sorted out I might see a slight improvement in EV range and fuel consumption. Not sure what the climate is like in Maryland or how much they salt the roads, but it's probably worth checking out the rear brakes for uneven wear and make sure the slide pins are working and lubricated. They often cause trouble (in anywhere that isn't like California or a desert :) ) as they are used so infrequently compared to a normal ICE car.
     
    giora and bisco like this.
  8. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    So far, mine generally starts out saying about 11.1-11.7 and adjusts as traffic changes. But this time of year I rarely need either a/c or heat. I do notice that if I turn on the fan when I start out with it at low temp and only two bars for speed, the range instantly drops by one mile. I'm a little surprised that such a low fan speed would make such a big difference. And then, as I continue on, it seems like the distance traveled plus the estimated battery range tend to get back closer to the original range. Kind of like it's programmed to err on the side of safety.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    the fan drop is really only an indicator of potential a/c use. no one has ever been able to figure out why they hooked it to the fan, instead of the a/c button.
     
    jerrymildred likes this.
  10. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    That makes sense. So, as I continue to drive with fan but w/o a/c, the system gradually begins to adjust its prediction. Seems like a good idea, actually.
     
  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
    and you'll notice that switching the fan off returns the ev miles to where they were.
     
  12. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yes, I noticed. Pretty cool.