Quote:
Originally Posted by chestr
Though today I also lost some to having one of those less-broiling days when for some reason (purely temperature??) I couldn't get it to drop right back into EV mode without either a complete stop or pushing it up to 40 miles per hour. Wasn't until I was almost at work, at least 12 miles of driving, that it started freely going back and forth. So till that point I was wasting gas when I was stuck on a strip where I couldn't get past 30 miles per hour, but had no reason to burn gas. I still don't understand how it happens. What I want is a manual override (or at least suggested-override? hehe) to tell the car _I_ want to switch to EV mode now, and unless you have a serious reason to keep burning gas, change now!
|
The TCH will not switch over to full hybrid mode (that's what I call it) until the engine is warmed up AND it idles (idle or go under ~5 miles per hour) for about 8 to 10 seconds and stops the ICE. Because the TCH also stops the ICE when coasting around 35 - 40 miles per hour, I mostly stop with the ICE off. This prevents switching to full hybrid mode.
What I often do now after the TCH is warmed up, is to 'restart' the ICE at a long light to let it switch into full hybrid mode. Just blip the gas pedal while keeping your foot on the brake and the ICE will restart. About 8 - 10 seconds later it will shut back off if the ICE is warmed up.
Once in full hybid mode the ICE shuts off anytime the TCH coasts at any speed under 40mph after only 2 or 3 seconds. Only if the battery SOC drops too low, or the ICE temp drops too low will the ICE stay running.