Greetings, new member/owner. Just a couple questions if you please.

So I have my new Prime, and am loving it... Had it almost 2 weeks and I haven't seen the gas bar move an inch. Also I have a free public fast charger 3 blocks from my home, so that can help with quick turn arounds if it isn't totally occupied lol.

Anyways I have two questions please.

Firstly, when I leave for work it's all pretty much downhill. I have about 89-94% battery left when I get to a long 1.5KM 8% downhill grade. I let the Prime just coast and regen what it can. However when it gets in the mid to high 90s range again from the regen, then engine turns on and starts some hybrid action even though I am in EV mode. I don't have climate control on or anything. Just heated seat and wheel, and satellite radio.

Just wondering if anyone knows why the engine kicks in? Also it was fairly warm for December 6C degrees.

Lastly, just wondering about hybrid mode. If an owner of a 2018 Prius jumped in my Prime in HV mode would he/she be able to tell the difference or is the system identical for all intents and purposes in HV mode.

Thanks in advance for any information.

 

Well my commute is VERY short 12KM... why I really love my Prime... however after I come to the bottom of the grade, it's all flat and I am maybe halfway through my trip or just over at this point. The energy overview shows that the petrol engine is powering my car, as even accelerating from red lights, my battery doesn't budge because it is in HV mode I can only assume. Even if I toggle it from HV to EV again the petrol engine stays on. Then I usually park at my choice of fast food joint right before I get to work and get out of the car. This stops the petrol engine, and when I come back and leave EV mode operates again.

Just seems weird to me, but then again my whole commute is 10-12 minutes so... perhaps if it was longer the petrol engine would stop on its own.

 

Thanks for that, when I head to work tomorrow I was going to test just that, I was out and about and ran the battery down to 60%.

I figured I'd go down my nice 8% grade in B mode to see what I can regen, and then also I was going to see if the engine starts up or not.

Thanks for the info I will definitely report back, even though with all the posts under your belt I am sure you'll be right lol.

 

Well just finished another jaunt to and from the slave yards =P lol j/k. It seems I use pretty much 40% charge on the battery getting to and from work in EV Eco mode, with the Climate control set to A/C and Auto @ 22C.

However once again when I hit my steep 8% grade for 1.5km, I started off @ about 52% at the top, put it in B mode to regen as much as possible and control speed, and once again. The petrol engine came on, and the green EV car icon went out meaning I had been transferred over to HV mode if I am not mistaken. It runs the petrol engine for approximately 2-4 min as that is how long it takes to get to my pit stop before work.

I want to make it clear I am not complaining, just questioning why. I have had it almost 2 weeks and I have not even seen the Gas meter budge, mind you I do a lot less traveling then most do I am sure.

Upon hopping back in the car, it's EV as normal for the last 2-3 min to work.

Just trying to understand is all.

Beyond that and the condensation in my Rear Taillights that Toyota is going to replace the whole assembly for, and is on a slow 1 month long trek from Japan, I absolutely love my Prius Prime.

 

Yes I have tried in D as well it still happens. I guess I shall see what happens in the warmer months. Just trying to understand.

Ohh well my custom order Sun Shade, and DashMatt just arrived, that and mounting my dash cam should keep me distracted.

 

Just wanted to post a follow up. You guys are totally right, the batteries are not warm enough to take such an immediate amount of regen braking. I know this because I had a busier day than usual and for the first time ever, took my Prime to 0%... I had wanted to use a quick charger as I only had two hours before work, however as usual all taken lol. So I went home and plugged into the 120v. When I had to leave for work I obviously had to unplug it and head to work on the normal route I take. During the descend the ICE didn't turn on once.

One follow up oddity... since the giant nice person touch screen displays the time, and the time on the dash are not connected. How does one adjust the time on the main prime 11.x touch screen. I live in Canada so no Entune, cellular car connection for me.

Thanks.

 

Actually okay, I saw there is a time setting that controls your timezone via GPS and it had the right time, but then how does it know the right date?

I am asking this because twice now when I set the car to be charged to depart with climate prep it has failed.

Last night I got home @ 11:11pm. I set it to be ready to depart Friday with the little radio button @ 2:05PM. The HUD said ready Friday @ 2:05PM as well.

Then I went to plug in the car it did it's normal cycle thing and I proceeded to go to sleep. Now it's 3 hours until I have to leave, and I have a little wireless energy monitor that is connected to smart meter that shows me the entire households usage. I noticed that the car definitely wasn't charging and headed out to check, sure enough it wasn't. I turned the car to the on position removed the preset departure time in the touchscreen, and then the car proceeded to start charging. Saying 4 hours to a full charge, when I leave in 3...

What am I doing wrong... I watched the Toyota youtube video, this shouldn't be a complex matter... it's why it leads me to think perhaps the cars date is off?