Prius Prime - Test-Drive Suggestion (using Charge-Mode)

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-Current)' started by john1701a, Oct 26, 2019.

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  1. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    I've heard stories of people interested in Prius Prime, but ending up being disappointed at the dealer because no one bothered to charge the battery. Without that plug-supplied electricity, you don't get the full experience of EV (electric) driving. That's unfortunate. There is a handy solution though.

    Using Charge-Mode is a quick means of charging the battery. When you hold the EV/HV, rather than just pushing it, that feature will engage. It instructs the engine to operate beyond just HV (hybrid) mode. The result is electricity generate from gas instead of plugging in.

    That isn't the most efficient means of recharging the battery, but it is quite useful when you would like to go for a test-drive but the salesperson was unable to accommodate.

    Watch this video I created for detail:


     
    #1 john1701a, Oct 26, 2019
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  2. Tha_Ape

    Tha_Ape Active Member

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    Thats a good idea.

    Honestly, dealerships should invest in 220V chargers. The whole process takes a couple hours anyway. They could have your vehicle charged by the time you leave.

    I got mine used and it hadn't been driven in 1 month (thank goodness for the amount of data the Prius gives you in the MID). I was able to use that knowledge to get a better price knowing it had basically been sitting on their lot for a month. I was also able to tell that even though it was a 2017 model, it only had 6mi on it until July 2018. Make sure you check that as well.
     
    #2 Tha_Ape, Oct 28, 2019
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    unfortunately, most sales people don't understand how charge mode works, (or even know about it at all) so not only is the battery low, but most customers won't even know about charge mode.
     
    #3 bisco, Oct 28, 2019
  4. dig4dirt

    dig4dirt MoonGlow

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    Maybe some big time hybrid sales dealerships will install (if they have not already)

    But, yes my test drive a couple weeks ago started with no EV charge.
    Lets just say that it didnt result in a sale, lol. (not the only reason tho)
     
    #4 dig4dirt, Oct 28, 2019
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  5. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    Great idea, but doesn’t Charge Mode take a reasonable length of time to build up any significant amount of charge? Most test drives I have taken in my life (which have not been all that many) have been ~10 minutes with the sales person, and not sure that would be long enough to build up any charge worth anything? Spend 8 minutes of charging for a 2-minute EV drive? :(

    What is the average length of a test drive? Maybe I am just not pushing them enough, LOL.
     
    #5 Sarge, Oct 28, 2019
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that sounds about right. i asked about keeping it overnight and the guy looked at me like i had 3 heads
     
    #6 bisco, Oct 28, 2019
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  7. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    The video was created to address that very concern.

    Charging is much more aggressive than you'd expect.
     
    #7 john1701a, Oct 28, 2019
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  8. eskudo12791

    eskudo12791 Junior Member

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    What year prime is that, my left screen does not look like that
     
    #8 eskudo12791, Oct 28, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 28, 2019
  9. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    2017. You can adjust settings to get that extra gauge by the speedometer.
     
    #9 john1701a, Oct 28, 2019
  10. GSK

    GSK Member

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    I did just this a few weeks ago when I test drove a 2020. Battery was empty, so I drove it in charge mode for about 4 miles, then had enough EV to get me back to the dealership.
     
    #10 GSK, Oct 28, 2019
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  11. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    Touché. I never watched the video. :cautious:
     
    #11 Sarge, Oct 28, 2019
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Leave the car running and discuss other matters (or go back into the showroom and look at the car inside). Yes it's stupid to idle the car but it's their fault for not charging it.
     
    #12 Tideland Prius, Oct 28, 2019
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  13. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    I guess that is rather obvious now isn’t it? I was thinking of doing Charge mode when starting the test drive, but nothing says we couldn’t just idle car before driving. :whistle:
     
    #13 Sarge, Oct 28, 2019
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  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    10-15 mins should be enough to last a test drive. (I assume the test drive is less than 10km).
     
    #14 Tideland Prius, Oct 29, 2019
  15. mister2cool

    mister2cool Member

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    What display is that on the lower right?
     
    #15 mister2cool, Oct 29, 2019
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