I still have a fully charged batery, even if the catayalic converter need warming. However what you say is interesting as my engine does not start when I start the car from cold. It just runs on the EV mode. and with the Battery the EV mode will be longer. Sorry but I have some doubt as to what you say. When Marrinne went to the Grocery store she did it without the engine running.

Actually this CC problem is a known issue with hybrids.
You can serach other forums for information on this.

You seem to be in a very warm climate right now. I
do not know if this is lessening the cold start problem
for you but still I think the CC needs to reach 750 C
before it can function. So slightly warm weather will
not lessen the problem much.

Marianne was able to pull it off because she started
with an warm engine as she acknowledged in post #3

Well the engine running as you say has NOT happened to me. IF it EVER does it is a small amount of enery compared to having a full battery. So I WOUN'T worry about it and it will NOT change my plans.