When does the electro motor kick in?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(alaskaprius @ Apr 22 2007, 04:14 PM) [snapback]427973[/snapback]</div>

First of all . . . Anchorage . . . burrrrrrrrrr. [Just reliving a couple of very cold December days I spent in Anchorage :blink: ]

That could be problem #1. Cold weather.

Cold weather and high MPG don't go hand in hand with a Prius.

If you have the heater on and/or are driving short distances, the gas engine will run longer than if the car were in warm weather and no heating or air conditioning running.

If you only drive short distances, the Prius doesn't have an opportunity to finish it's warm-up cycle . . . the gas engine will continue to run, even when the car is at a standstill.

Sometimes you can force the gas engine off early if you shift into neutral and then back to drive. This often can be accomplished after just a few blocks of driving, but chances are much better with the heater off.

Try accelerating slowly.

The sales creature got it wrong. It can get up to approximately 41 MPH on only battery power.

 

Hi Alaska...

Accellerating on All Electric is really a mileage no-no. And the car is programmed to not use electric acceleration, except at very very slow acceleration.

Once up to a speed between 25 and 41 mph, with the state of charge (SOC) up above half, and the car well warmed (its also easier if the battery is warm - use solar gain to keep the inside of the car warm when possible in the winter) an experienced Prius driver can drop the car into electric readily.

Its good to accellerate a little faster than than other cars on the road, but just a little. Then, when up to speed lift off the throttle completely, see the green arrows, then slowly increase the throttle till the yellow arrows light. If your in a slighly downhill situation, and warm temps (low tire drag), you may be able to maintain speed without bringing the yellow arrows on (this is called "glide"). In that case, just push down the throttle till the green arrows go out but not farther. In steep downhills, you may maintain speed with the green arrows on.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(alaskaprius @ Apr 23 2007, 09:55 PM) [snapback]428864[/snapback]</div>

And too bad that the sales guys can't get a handle on it!

As others have said, it is more efficient for the Prius to use the ICE primarily, and blend in the e-motor when acceleration is needed. The guys who get the best mileage use the battery as little as possible. The traction battery and motor are there for a reason - but that reason is NOT to make the car an EV - it is to make the ICE a bit more efficient at certain times of high demand. You are driving a gasoline car, with a bit of electric assist.

But hey - I have the opposite problem in my Rav4EV. I can't get the gasoline engine to ever turn ON! (Here comes the 2x4).

 

:mellow: Perhaps you remember "HAL" the computer on the space mission movie of some years back.

Think this way... HAL (Prius computers) decides when and how much ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) and Electric Motor power to use at a given time depending on all factors, especially your power requests. So, you are relieved of the responsibility of controlling how much of which power source to apply... or even the ability to exert your influence. Some Prius owners have installed the "EV" (Electric Vehicle) button modification which allows the driver to prevent the ICE from being engaged, so those drivers can override HAL for limited periods.

Previous posts are correct, ambient temperatures will most certainly cause the ICE to run more and the block heater modification would be beneficial in your area.