EV Mod

It works in a limited way. I use it to leave in the mornings when the ICE is cold thereby letting the ICE kick in one the main roads when I am not sitting at a stoplight. I also use it in parking lots you would be surprised how much you can hear.

You might as well do the mod yourself as it is easy and free to do. Less then a buck.

I use to ride too. Road, and Track. 70mi, 35mi, 70mi, 35mi, 35mi, race day, 20mi easy, week after week. Don't ever stop or you will put on weight like you would not believe.

 

Like Evan said, too many variables for a true test. From the theory, however, i think it can be shown that the mod can be benificial, or hurtful, to your MPG.

If you over use it, forcing the ICE to run to recharge the batteries, you'll suffer worse MPG. There really isn't much of a way around that.

Using it sparingly (to move 100 ft down the street till you turn on a high speed road, using it to force the ICE off when you're slowing down for a stop but you're in a state where it won't shutoff until after you're stopped) you can see a mild improvement of your MPG.

Regardless, it's not going to be setting any world records or boosting you too noticably. Mostly, it's just for showing off the features of the car, and as a neat little toy.

 

I added the Coastal EV mod to mine and it's fun to play with, but I have not seen it increase my milage in any condition. I have seen it decrease my milage slightly when I use it. I think it's mostly for fun and moving the car in and out of the garage. I don't use it in daily driving myself (other than to impress riders)...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jbarnhart @ Oct 4 2006, 12:03 PM) [snapback]328089[/snapback]</div>

My experience, exactly. Very good advice.

Edit: except that I did my own, not the Coastal mod.

 

To answer the question in the subject line - yes it works perfectly. I don't use it to save gas, however. I use it to avoid turning the ICE on when I don't need it. That's why I installed it, and it works perfectly for my needs.

Now, if I just had a button that would remove the ICE completely and replace it with more battery and a plug...

 

Some of Japanese mileage enthusiasts use the EV switch a lot, more than 100 times during 20 miles commute.
Some people stay in S3, then they use EV-switch on for glide and cancel EV-switch for pulse.
They can't live without the EV switch.

Ken@Japan

 

I have a very short, very hilly commute, and the EV mod has helped my mileage noticeably. My primary commute is 2.8 miles each way, mostly downhill going to work, mostly uphill coming home, with about 10 unsynchronized traffic lights and the usual dips and rises.

Without the EV mod, the ICE runs the whole way there and the whole way back, maybe shutting off at the last couple of traffic lights. "Just driving it" I was down around 38mpg. Using the EV switch on the downhill drive to work (starting in EV mode, going back into EV whenever I had to stop) my average came up to 44-45mpg. So EV is a definite win in my special situation.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dkenglish7 @ Oct 4 2006, 06:35 PM) [snapback]328232[/snapback]</div>

Oh man. You SERIOUSLY need a real EV. Or even better, a bicycle! Seems silly to burn ANY gas for that commute!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Oct 4 2006, 10:37 PM) [snapback]328298[/snapback]</div>

Hey darelldd, how about one of these, https://www.revopower.com/main_detect.html

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Avid @ Oct 4 2006, 10:44 PM) [snapback]328306[/snapback]</div>

Dude you just dont get it. If you are talking to darell, you need to show him one of these.

Solar bike

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Oct 4 2006, 10:37 PM) [snapback]328298[/snapback]</div>

During the day, the traffic on that route makes bicycling a death-defying experience. And at night, some of the neighborhoods are equally frightening without the traffic. Plus, bicycling up those hills at 2am would require an Iron Man contender (I'm not, by a long shot). But yes, if I could plug in my Prius I could sometimes go a week without starting the ICE.