I just heard of this one and gave it a try.

With the lights on the battery slowly recharged from 2/3 up to full (took about 5-10 mins on the freeway). There were no green charge bars or anything.

Is this what to expect?

Doesn anyone know if just having the running lights on will do it or do I have to have the main beams on too?

thanks.

Kurt

 

You know, I have read about that "trickle charge" trick also, but I have never seen any difference between having the lights on or off in the daytime.

Am I missing something? Does this work only on the CVT HCH? Mine is a manual tranny.....<confused>

 

Headlights only, not just parking lights. Not sure about the MT.

 

I noticed on my way home the other day that Driving on the flat freeway, my battery charged from about 50% to full within 15-20 min. with no charge bars. I think at that speed it must just charge a bit...not sure if headlights have anything to do with it.

 

my experience is that the HCH will trickle charge anytime you're driving over 40mph, and it won't show any bars on the charge guage. it will naturally charge quicker at highway speeds than at 40mph.
KLC

 

I have a manual transmission and almost all of my driving is flat hwy. and I limit my a/c use and my battery rarely goes down past 5/8 full and yes it recharges without green bars.Kevin

 

According to the owner's manual the IMA does charge a bit during normal driving, and mine certainly does. In fact, I've noticed an occasional green bar or two when driving 50+ MPH and the IMA low.

 

no lights are needed to do this. the car will always recharge a tiny bit while cruising.

 

livvie,
That is not always true with the HCH.
That's where headlights on can help.

I've been experimenting and leaving my lights off durring the day.

SOC will sometimes drop to 1/3 (2/3 discharged) and stay there forever before being "triggered" to turn on either hidden charging or regular charging. The trigger is usually a little more use of Assist but without that it could theoretically stay at 1/3 for.......hundreds of miles?
Headlights on and it stays to about 90-95%.

This hasn't seemed to affect MPG though, as I've already passed 450 miles and still have 5 bars above half left.

Looks like a record tank if the new tropical storm off of Miami keeps its distance.

On my nightly commute, hidden charge keeps my SOC to about 90-95%.
My headlighs are on at that time.

 

Ok, I'll have to check this out. I'll ask my buddy at Honda.