What I don't like about the 2016 Prius

B is for downhill braking, to reduce brake pad wear.

 

The car should do that automatically. It shouldn't use the friction brakes unless the battery is full and rotating the engine isn't enough (if engine braking cannot achieve same energy dissipation as what the battery could do) or a combination of friction brakes and regenORenginebraking if the brake pedal if pushed down enough. It should be all automatic.
Who knows, maybe it can regen and engine rotate at the same time too.

 

funny, you're the first expert to say that in 12 years.

 

You're quite right - I grossly oversimplified. But then so does GM in the bulk of their explanations. The bottom line doesn't change - in hybrid (range extending?) mode, the Volt mechanically engages the ICE MUCH less than does the Prius. It's a different design, and the system shown in the video is quite different from the Toyota PSD. And for cost reasons, both of these may soon be overshadowed by rapidly improving P2 hybrid systems with a single electric motor/generator. The next few years will be instructive.

All I can say is I tried. I guess chughes just knows more than the rest of us, so my input is not needed. Moving on . . .

 

Hey, I can believe you that Toyota feels there is a purpose of 'B' specifically to spin the engine (along with a sprinkle of regen until the battery is full I read on some threads). But what's the point. The user shouldn't care and why would they allow this choice if there isn't even a traction control off button until 2016+ (even then, it nags). The user can see with the graphic when max regen is achieved, when engine braking and/or friction brakes are going to be in play anyway so 'B' isn't needed to quench the user's desire of not using the brake pads (unless see below).

The only reason for 'b' would be if going down a long hill, battery full, if in 'd' and press the brake, the car won't turn the engine, it'll just use the friction brakes once the battery is full for some reason?
I'd hope the 2016 would use engine braking if the battery is full/can't accept full regen automatically in 'd' along with friction brakes as needed. So then no point at all in 'b'. 'd' would be best for efficiency (filling up the battery first) and brake pad wear. But maybe it doesn't so there is a reason for 'b' mode.

EDIT: Seems the '16 may still not use engine braking if the battery is full/can't take full regen in 'd', cus the book for it says 'b' does that (engine braking). Ok. But why can't software do this in 'd'..
Thanks

 

There are three models that have a spare tire in the '16 Prius.

 

Fully Charged HV Battery==No Regenerative Braking? | PriusChat

So as I thought, in 'd', when the battery is full, going down a hill (or a truck pushing you, whatever), the regen power will be used to turn the engine. But not until the battery is full (or close to it I suspect). The only advantage of 'b' is to engine brake early before the battery is full, for whatever reason. Very little circumstances where 'd' won't keep you safe and most efficient. Going down a mountain with a trailer I could see that. Pulse the friction brakes, release, repeat while in 'b'. I don't know if engine RPM will increase further when pressing the brakes in the 'regen region' in 'b', in that case keep it there to minimize momentum gain. Sure it would in 'd'.

EDIT 4/1 4:45PM-PST: Could be that in 'd', battery full, the algorithm is to not maximize engine RPM so noise stays low, brake pedal may not feel as effective because regen is probably less when battery is full so the user will press into the friction brakes more. So 'b' is used to ramp up engine braking, noise be darned. Also as above, to engine brake before the battery is full. Asking 'macman408' right now to see if he knows for sure. Because I'm curious.

 

Going down a long steep hill in B, it's not "regen" turning the engine, it's the fact that you've got this heavy car rolling down a steep hill, gravity, momentum. And having it in B is akin to shifting down. The engine really protests, revs high. It doesn't want to turn, resists, hence: "engine braking".

 

It is regen turning the engine IMO. The main MG is in generator mode, instead of the energy going into the battery, it is being used to run the secondary MG in motor mode, to turn the engine. Regen turning the engine. Transmission in series hybrid config. Or dynamics braking turning the engine. Locomotive uses dynamic brakes to heat up resistors. Same principle.

 

Good point - and after all, isn't opinion what matters most?

Isn't there any way for this to move to another thread? I don't think complaining about (or defending or misunderstanding or explaining or whatever) Toyota HSD in general is quite on-topic for a Gen4 gripe thread, and this is getting a bit tedious for those not interested in debating or re-learning HSD minutiae.

In other words, I'm not sure how "What I don't like about the 2016 Prius" became "Prius 101", but I'd prefer that it hadn't.

Just sayin' . . .

 

<GROAN> Another "What I don't like about the 'What I don't like about the 2016 Prius' " thread drift.

Bob Wilson

 

Ok,

• I don't like that it takes 10 seconds to reach 60 mph when there it should handle 0-60 in 8 seconds.
• I don't like the traction battery is still a whole sub-assembly with no option for module replacements.
• The car should run everything from E0-E100.

Bob Wilson

 

Is there no pieces on the door thresholds, just painted body metal? This would get burnished pretty quick; our last car was like this.

 

Does the cargo cover from a 3rd gen Prius (2010-2015) fit on a 16? Or will only the type that hangs from the hatch work (Flexible lightweight tonneau cover | PriusChat), not the type that unrolls like a projector screen Also, the front seat headrests interchangeable with the 3rd gen?
I wish the battery temp could be displayed. Algorithm to detect if cooling system needs to be dusted or fan failure (it may detect fan failure, don't know).
Seat recline adjuster handle is awkward. But it's a great car so far. Great possibility for a plugin.
EDIT: rear sway bar possibilities.

 

You should be able to monitor battery temps, if not now, soon enough, using a ScanGauge coupled with an XGauge. There's maybe other devices too that'll work.

 

I've seen some "lighted" door threshold protectors. But I would like to find the ones that you just stick on, not lighted.

Maybe when the mudguards come along , so will the threshold protectors.

 

Do you know the scan codes for the battery ? Do you have a reference to the new scan codes ?

I've been looking everywhere.

 

Just looked through our 2010 brochure: "door sill protectors" where an accessory. They never made mention of it, ours had been sitting on the lot a long time, maybe someone added it and sale fell through?

I don't know about 2016. I'm sure something will be worked out. There's a good 3rd gen spreadsheet of the codes, linked here (if you haven't found):

GEN III XGAUGE master list | CleanMPG

And to cheer up :