question for a noobie re hybrid

[potentialowner]

i live in ohio(cold winters) and was wondering, if i purchased the hybrid is there any way to keep the car running in order to keep the heating going on inside. or can i get a remote starter for it? since it runs on batteries when just sitting there would the heater be very warm when just at a stand still. i currently have a non-hybrid with remote start and love it in the winter time. i always get to go to a warm car after work and in the mornings before i leave for work in the cold winters.

[maynard160]

At a stand still, I believe the gas engine will continue to run in an attempt to maintain the desired heat setting.

[schmidtj]

Originally Posted by potentialowner

i live in ohio(cold winters) and was wondering, if i purchased the hybrid is there any way to keep the car running in order to keep the heating going on inside. or can i get a remote starter for it? since it runs on batteries when just sitting there would the heater be very warm when just at a stand still. i currently have a non-hybrid with remote start and love it in the winter time. i always get to go to a warm car after work and in the mornings before i leave for work in the cold winters.

I see references to supplemental electric heating elements but can not confirm they actually contribute to warming the passenger compartment. It is referred to as the PTC heater system and is shut OFF when in ECO mode.

When the THS II is operating (READY), and the blower motor is turned ON, the A/C
ECU turns ON the PTC heater if the conditions listed below are met.

Engine coolant temperature is below specified temperature.

Outside temperature is below specified temperature (DEF mode).

Tentative air mix damper opening angle is above the specified value (MAX HOT).

The PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater system contains a PTC heater that heats the air that
has passed through the heater core to ensure proper heater performance.

[potentialowner]

is the remote start an option on the hybrid. i can't imaging going without it in our winters around here (ohio).

[FlopShot]

Originally Posted by maynard160

At a stand still, I believe the gas engine will continue to run in an attempt to maintain the desired heat setting.

I don't believe this is true. I live in a very HOT climate (average temp in the summer over 100*), and this past August while I was cooling down the car in the garage, the ICE would shut itself off ater 1-2 minutes like it always does, and the a/c would be running just off the hybrid battery. Now I never left the car like this for more than 10 minutes, so maybe eventually the ICE would start back up if the hybrid battery falls below a certain power level, but the ICE definitely turns off for a period of time with the a/c running, so there is no reason to think it wouldn't do the same if the heater was running.

[jhbhatia]

^^ this was true cus the many compaints on the gen1 prius was that if you used the a/c the ICE was needed. Toyota overcame this in gen2 prius and same is used on TCH where ICE isn't necessarily needed to run a/c. But the question is specific to heat...I have no answer nor clue to answer....

[maynard160]

Originally Posted by FlopShot

I don't believe this is true. I live in a very HOT climate (average temp in the summer over 100*), and this past August while I was cooling down the car in the garage, the ICE would shut itself off ater 1-2 minutes like it always does, and the a/c would be running just off the hybrid battery. Now I never left the car like this for more than 10 minutes, so maybe eventually the ICE would start back up if the hybrid battery falls below a certain power level, but the ICE definitely turns off for a period of time with the a/c running, so there is no reason to think it wouldn't do the same if the heater was running.

I understand your logic but in most conventional systems, the a/c compressor is not needed at all for heating but only for dehumidified heat. Two seperate but mixable systems. I see that the car has two radiators. One for the gas engine and the other for the traction motor. Maybe the system is also setup to draw heat from the traction motors coolant if needed. The electric heating element (PTC) mentioned makes sense. At this point, without good tech manuals, its appears to be all guess work. I do hope a good manual is availiable soon so most of the questions like these can be easily researched. The only way validate this I guess is to sit in the car, crank the heat, and see/listen to what happens.

[Tideland Prius]

It'll use the heater core (PTC?) until the engine and cat are up to operating temperature, then it'll use the engine to provide heat. The engine will continue to run to provide heat. Try it next time. Turn off the climate control and watch the engine shut off. Then turn it back on and see the engine come back on. Then tell your neighbour that's how you control the engine LOL.

[maynard160]

....and thats all it took was a little driveway test. Operation is just as Tideland advertised.