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Can you run AC overnight on battery alone? '21 PP LE

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by nathandavidhall, Aug 24, 2021.

  1. nathandavidhall

    nathandavidhall Junior Member

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    Recently got a '21 PP LE on a rebate deal from New England, and decided to take it on a car camping trip to the beach in South Carolina a couple weekends ago. I was hoping that I could just leave the car fully on overnight, and with a charged EV battery would be able to keep the car at a much less muggy 75 deg while I slept through the super humid 80ish deg SC night. It only sort of worked; every 2ish hours the car would shut off and the dome lights would come on, which of course was annoying as I had to scooch to where I could reach the power button with one hand and brake pedal with the other and turn it on again. Still, only used about 25% of the battery.

    Does anyone know of a way to make the car stay on with AC running without periodically shutting off? Apologies if this has been discussed, couldn't find anything with a quick search
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i think newer prius have 'camper mode'. check the o/m or google.

    as to your title, no. it will run on a fully charged battery from about 2-6 hours, depending on hvac setting and ambient temps/humidity.
    then the engine will cycle on/off every few minutes to keep the battery at a minimum state of charge.
     
    #2 bisco, Aug 24, 2021
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2021
  3. nathandavidhall

    nathandavidhall Junior Member

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    I don't see anything about "camper mode" from searching on here or googling. The second comment seems like my post wasn't read, I had no problem with battery capacity (still had 75% and engine never came on after having it on most of the night), the problem was that it would automatically shut off after 2 hours and turn the lights on, waking me up to turn it back on which is not ideal
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    your titile is misleading.

    someone with a prime will know if camping mode is available or not
     
  5. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    OP: You were in READY Mode?
     
  6. nathandavidhall

    nathandavidhall Junior Member

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    How is it misleading? I didn't want to go into the detail of "car shuts off after 2 hours" in the subject since I figured that's what the body of the message is for and that people will actually read it before commenting, also this doesn't let you edit the subject after posting
     
  7. nathandavidhall

    nathandavidhall Junior Member

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    Yes, I pushed brake in and turned car on just like I was going to drive but left in park, which seemed like the only way to get actual AC to come on (pressing "on" button twice without depressing brake pedal seems to only give fan, not AC). Set it to "EV mode" of course
     
  8. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    Something strange. Car defaults to EV mode on startup so no need put it into EV mode proactively.
    Can you try again: Foot on Brake, Press Start Button once. Leave it that way. S/b in Ready/EV Mode at that point.
     
  9. nathandavidhall

    nathandavidhall Junior Member

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    You're saying it's strange that it would shut off after two hours in that mode? I may have not actually pressed the "EV mode" button after seeing that it had started in EV mode, don't remember exactly, I just know that I made sure it was "ready" and in EV mode. I wonder if newer models automatically shut off if left in park for so long? I haven't seen anyone mention this with PP car camping but the threads I see are usually from '17-'19
     
  10. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    I have no specific “21/22” info. There is at least one thread where a PP user let his car run all night on a camping trip and it did not shut off. I don’t know the exact year of PP but it certainly was pre 21. J
     
  11. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    I also seem to remember one user let his car run all night to see if it would recharge his almost depleted 12v battery. He ran in in his garage in HV mode and felt it was ok to do so even if the ICE came on as the emissions were so low. Not sure I’d try that.
     
  12. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Did you lock the door from inside? If you did, it should have disabled the automatic hybrid system shut off feature on your PP.

    Here is the pertinent section of manual on pg. 341 for 2021 PP.

    upload_2021-8-24_17-11-17.png
     

    Attached Files:

    #12 Salamander_King, Aug 24, 2021
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2021
  13. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    Probably to keep one from inadvertently leaving the car on after exiting and ignoring the warning "buzzer"?
     
  14. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Apparently, this automatic hybrid system shut off feature is new in 2021 model PP. I could not find this term in the manuals of the 2020 PP nor in the 2017 PP.
     
    #14 Salamander_King, Aug 24, 2021
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2021
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that's it, thanks sal!
     
  16. nathandavidhall

    nathandavidhall Junior Member

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    Thank you vry much! That appears to solve the issue, and makes me think I need to find a searchable PDF version of the manual. I'll give it a go with the doors locked next time
     
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  17. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    You are welcome.
    Here is the link you can download all the manual/warranty documentation in PDF format.

    2021 Toyota Prius Prime Owners Manual and Warranty - Toyota Owners
     
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