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Possible battery degradation?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Larrytat, Apr 21, 2022.

  1. Larrytat

    Larrytat New Member

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    Hello, my ev range have been over inflating due to the fact that I do very little street local driving and primarily freeway driving. I’ve been toggling the ev more on and off during my drives which I think have contributed to the high EV range estimate. So since it’s over inflating, during the very few times I’m actually driving on the street(in ev mode), the ev range will start dropping rather quickly.
     
  2. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    Manually switching Modes will do that everytime. It (mode switching ) is so much different than just letting the car switch the modes automatically like it does normally. Depending on how and when the modes are switched manually, can change almost all the gauge readings in the car when compared to how the gauges look when the car is left in one mode to do it thing(s).
     
  3. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    That answers that question. Without knowing what your commute is, you're usually better off leaving things default to what Toyota has programmed the vehicle.

    I also have a mostly 90% freeway commute. I do one of two things in the morning:

    On colder mornings, I start the car but I do not turn on the heat. As soon as you do, the engine turns on, so avoid if possible to maximize EV. I drive the 1-2 miles to the freeway entrance. As soon as I go over 62 mph, the engine is forced on and that's when I can turn on the heat. Driving this way I get 12+ EV miles estimated in the morning.

    On warmer mornings, I do the same as above driving to the freeway. I then stay in the right lane and keep my speed below 62 mph so the engine never turns on. Semis usually drive slower than this so I am not slowing down anyone except idiots who speed in the right lanes. This uses up EV a lot faster and I get <10 miles EV estimated. When new, I was getting 11+ but this has degraded over 150k. This is the true EV range as engine does not turn on. I don't get to turn on heat until 15 or so minutes after starting my commute, so honestly, I don't do this very often anymore as the bones have been aching in my old age.

    Notice I don't touch the EV button in either case. I change my driving style and let Toyota determine what is most efficient.
     
  4. Larrytat

    Larrytat New Member

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    I have been toggling it on and off during freeway to store my ev range for when im off the freeway. If im able to charge at my destination, ill completely drain the ev range on the freeway before I reach my destination.
     
  5. Larrytat

    Larrytat New Member

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    my routine is somewhat similar, I would drive in EV to the freeway entrance and turn to HV upon entry until the engine is warm. During freeway driving ill cycle on and off ev mode in different situations to maximize it. I have been netting some decent mpg tinkering with the ev button, my last tank was 668 miles and filled 8.3 gallons with 85-90% freeway driving. I need to fully test ev mode on the street to see what my actual EV range is. if I attempted to test ev range at 62 mph, I think I would probably make it 5-7 miles considering how fast it drops trying to sustain that speed.
     
    mmmodem likes this.
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    same here
     
  7. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    Your Hwy stats look excellent for a PiP and the 5-7 EV miles at 62mph looks about right too, remembering the few times I took the Hwy in EV. with the 2014 PiP.
    I'm not sure about this as a reason that EV range drops so fast for you, but I think it might be cause your EV range is so elevated, compared to what is normal, and also the manual mode switching, it takes time for the computers to adjust to all EV operation. It doesn't just happen real time, due to history data.
    I'd think that the computers need to start from scratch when you're driving EV only and add history data from each EV only drive. Than keep your fingers crossed that the EV only drive data doesn't get pushed way back into long term memory ( for lack of a better description ), every time you run Hwy switching modes again.

    At least that is my theory from what I see with the Prime.

    DrPrius has two different pack tests. Did you run one of those test from the DrPrius app? the one in your original post where the ICE stated early and the results were 17%?
     
    #27 vvillovv, May 5, 2022
    Last edited: May 5, 2022
  8. Larrytat

    Larrytat New Member

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    I just did a quick Test drive in ev mode in my residential/business area. I managed 10.1 miles on my trip A. I started at 16.4 estimated from being inflated. I ran the life expectancy test on dr Prius a couple weeks ago and it showed 17%. I’m not sure if it’s accurate or if I did it correctly.
     
  9. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    If you haven't seen these tutorials yet. see if they are helpful. The vids are using a gen 4 so you have to adjust some things for the PiP, but they give a good general description of HowTo do the tests.
    full pack diagnostic ---- youtu.be/hCf_vsgNRic
    life expectancy test ---- youtu.be/AhfIbLkEq8w

    and the DrPrius page
    Hybrid battery diagnostic and repair tool for Toyota and Lexus
    both videos are there too just scroll down the page and you'll see them and the other ones Jack and his crew have posted.

    another life expectancy test - this time for a Gen 3 so some adjustments needed when testing the PiP
    youtu.be/J5sjeMnwSFw
     
    #29 vvillovv, May 6, 2022
    Last edited: May 6, 2022