Quote:
Originally Posted by SilentAltima
I have not had a chance to get through all my manuals, but maybe someone here knows the answers.
A. When do you use 'B'? I know its for keeping the car from over accelerating on downhills etc and it boost the charging of he battery pack. But can you also use it for normal slowing? Like when exiting onto an offramp? I know when I test drove the TCH the salesman said try not to use it over 50 miles per hour.
B. Does light braking use the conventional pads at all or is that only under hard braking?
|
Actually, the previous poster was wrong. "B" stands for engine braking. Normally the brake pedal gives regenerative breaking except when almost at a stop. The problem comes with very long downgrades where the traction battery fully charges and the conventional brakes have to be used. Using B forces the ICE to absorb the energy (usually spinning with fuel off). It's a bit strange because if you step on the gas the engine slows down!
You can switch to B at any time, but shouldn't use it except on very long downgrades as the regenerative braking energy is reusable while the engine braking energy is lost. At least it saves the brake pads.
My understanding is that "N" is only there to meet legal requirements that there be a neutral "gear". In "N" if the ICE is running it can only spin the generator freely. Keeping the car in "N" will drain the traction battery since there is no way to recharge. If you are sitting for a long red light, keep in "D". The engine will only come on to keep the battery charged and the engine warm to meet emissions requirements.