How to accelerate on electric only mode? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

utkan · 10-30-2006, 07:43 PM

I have been driving our new TCH for a week now. I am loving it. Here is the question (not complain). When I try to accelerate from stop to regular driving speed ( 30, 40 miles) If I want to stay with electric only I cant touch the accelerator. If I step on it jut a bit it starts the engine. I want to save by trying to go only electric but it seams to be impossible. So I come the the speed and let go the pedal to go to electric mode.
I am hopping all the TCH's are like this and mine does not have a problem. I would be good to be able to start and go to 40 miles without starting the engine(and not getting honked from behind).
Doing 37 mpg average on second tank (congested traffic and 60 highway driving mostly)

Sallyspal · 10-30-2006, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by utkan

I have been driving our new TCH for a week now. I am loving it. Here is the question (not complain). When I try to accelerate from stop to regular driving speed ( 30, 40 miles) If I want to stay with electric only I cant touch the accelerator. If I step on it jut a bit it starts the engine. I want to save by trying to go only electric but it seams to be impossible. So I come the the speed and let go the pedal to go to electric mode.
I am hopping all the TCH's are like this and mine does not have a problem. I would be good to be able to start and go to 40 miles without starting the engine(and not getting honked from behind).
Doing 37 mpg average on second tank (congested traffic and 60 highway driving mostly)

You can relax. Your car's behavior is perfectly normal. The TCH is not designed to run off the battery for long periods (it needs frequent recharging), and it is common for the ICE (gas engine) to kick-in when accelerating. Also, in colder weather the ICE will come on more often to heat the car and circulate fluids. Many drivers report that they are able to attain their best mileage by doing as you have - accelerating to the speed limit (or slightly above) then backing off and letting the car run off the battery as long as possible. In my car the sweet spot seems to be in the 37 - 42 mile per hour range on a level road with few stops.

Good luck!

Tideland Prius · 10-30-2006, 11:31 PM

Get a Prius and install the EV mod :P haha

The best way to accelerate is accelerate briskly. I attribute to that with engine powering the wheels and engine to motor to wheels (no arrows to or from the battery).

If you've been following my posts, they all lead to one conclusion. Contrary to popular belief, NOT using the battery gets better mileage. Odd? Yes but it works.

In short, don't worry about accelerating in EV mode. Just use the engine!

utkan · 11-01-2006, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

Get a Prius and install the EV mod :P haha

The best way to accelerate is accelerate briskly. I attribute to that with engine powering the wheels and engine to motor to wheels (no arrows to or from the battery).

If you've been following my posts, they all lead to one conclusion. Contrary to popular belief, NOT using the battery gets better mileage. Odd? Yes but it works.

In short, don't worry about accelerating in EV mode. Just use the engine!

Ok I will try that.

But does not make sense. So why am I carrying around a extra battery then

. TCH only saves gas by turning the engine off on idle?

Sallyspal · 11-01-2006, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by utkan

Ok I will try that.

But does not make sense. So why am I carrying around a extra battery then

. TCH only saves gas by turning the engine off on idle?

No. You are describing a "mild hybrid," the sort of vehicle that GM is trying to pass off as an energy saver. The only distinguishing feature of a mild hybrid is their "idle-off" capability. The TCH is a "full-hybrid," meaning that it achieves much better fuel economy via idle-off and regenerative breaking (the brakes help recharge the battery), and electric motor assist (the car is propelled by both the electric motor and the gas engine), and the ability to drive on electric only.

Your mileage seems right on target, but if you are looking for ways to achieve even better fuel economy then read the various threads at Greenhybrid.com and Edmunds CarSpace Automotive Forums.

utkan · 11-01-2006, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sallyspal

No. You are describing a "mild hybrid," the sort of vehicle that GM is trying to pass off as an energy saver. The only distinguishing feature of a mild hybrid is their "idle-off" capability. The TCH is a "full-hybrid," meaning that it achieves much better fuel economy via idle-off and regenerative breaking (the brakes help recharge the battery), and electric motor assist (the car is propelled by both the electric motor and the gas engine), and the ability to drive on electric only.

Your mileage seems right on target, but if you are looking for ways to achieve even better fuel economy then read the various threads at Greenhybrid.com and Edmunds CarSpace Automotive Forums.

Thanks
I was kind off joking when I asked the battery question. I do know all about the Tch futures and abilities for the record.

Again thanks.

second tank 565 miles 36.2 average mpg's. By the way. This tank I will be driving like I was driving a regular car and accelerate little bit faster and see how it goes since the car is over 1000 miles now I am nor afraid to step on it now.

PhantomZX · 11-01-2006, 04:37 PM

You can accelerate up to 40mph in electric only mode, but it will be real slow, and the people behind will certainly be pissed off. I do it when there's nobody around, but it's very hard in the Bay Area. Also, there's no good road for me to try the pulse and glide technique.

I really wish there were a button I could press to hold the car in electric only mode for the times I know I don't need the ICE.

I only seem to be able to get 500 miles before my low fuel light comes on, and my trip computer is showing that I average 37.5mpg...should I be able to go a lot further without refueling?

utkan · 11-01-2006, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhantomZX

You can accelerate up to 40mph in electric only mode, but it will be real slow, and the people behind will certainly be pissed off. I do it when there's nobody around, but it's very hard in the Bay Area. Also, there's no good road for me to try the pulse and glide technique.

I really wish there were a button I could press to hold the car in electric only mode for the times I know I don't need the ICE.

I only seem to be able to get 500 miles before my low fuel light comes on, and my trip computer is showing that I average 37.5mpg...should I be able to go a lot further without refueling?

I did 60 miles after fuel light comes on on both tanks.(I did the same on my 07 ce too) It toke 15.6 gallons on this refill.
The Electric mode accelerate is slow and I can not do it because it kills ME makes me feel 80 years old .....

Sallyspal · 11-01-2006, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhantomZX

You can accelerate up to 40mph in electric only mode, but it will be real slow, and the people behind will certainly be pissed off. I do it when there's nobody around, but it's very hard in the Bay Area. Also, there's no good road for me to try the pulse and glide technique.

I really wish there were a button I could press to hold the car in electric only mode for the times I know I don't need the ICE.

I only seem to be able to get 500 miles before my low fuel light comes on, and my trip computer is showing that I average 37.5mpg...should I be able to go a lot further without refueling?

The low fuel light comes on quickly. Toyota wants to discourage us from running out of gas because of the potential to harm the traction battery. Other TCHers have tested the limits and pushed to well over 600 miles before refueling, but this is not recommended.

utkan · 11-01-2006, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sallyspal

The low fuel light comes on quickly. Toyota wants to discourage us from running out of gas because of the potential to harm the traction battery. Other TCHers have tested the limits and pushed to well over 600 miles before refueling, but this is not recommended.

Unless you are carrying 5 gallons of fuel in the trunk as backup

I do not think the tch will operate with no gas in the tank even if you have full battery.

Tideland Prius · 11-03-2006, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by utkan

Ok I will try that.

But does not make sense. So why am I carrying around a extra battery then

. TCH only saves gas by turning the engine off on idle?

To store energy when you brake to be used later. If you think about, if you don't have to use it, why use it and save it when you really need the battery to maintain the speed. A full hybrid allows you to glide (no engine, no battery) thus the potential fuel savings over a mild hybrid.

Think of it this way. A full hybrid is sorta like cable internet. It has the potential of high speeds but generally, it's average is much lower. If you're lucky (e.g. neighbourhood with few kids and like.. 3am in the morning) then you get max speed. Same with the TCH, if you learn to maximise, you can get superb fuel economy.

A mild hybrid is sorta like DSL/ADSL. It gets good fuel economy consistently but has no potential to get great fuel economy.

spiff72 · 11-03-2006, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

A mild hybrid is sorta like DSL/ADSL. It gets good fuel economy consistently but has no potential to get great fuel economy.

I get 5.1 Mbps with my DSL connection. I think that's great...

Tideland Prius · 11-03-2006, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiff72

I get 5.1 Mbps with my DSL connection. I think that's great...

...

thanks for proving my analogy incorrect haha.

nathanso · 11-27-2006, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by utkan

Ok I will try that.

But does not make sense. So why am I carrying around a extra battery then

. TCH only saves gas by turning the engine off on idle?

The TCH's smallish battery is simply a temporary storage for braking and decel energy. My TCH, driven mostly on hilly rural roads, only gets 30MPG.

On the highway I can easily get 40+ but unfortunately I do little of that sort of driving.

I've wished for an "Electric Motor Only" button as well as a "Full Electric Motor Output" button but apparently Toyota doesn't feel we're smart enough to use them. EMO would be for, say, creeping from one traffic light to the next, or moving in bumper to bumper traffic. FEMO would be for climbing a steep hill when I knew I could more than fully recharge the battery on the ride down the other side. C'mon, Toyota!

Tideland Prius · 11-27-2006, 08:08 PM

Actually the same button can accomplish both requests. The Prius has "EV Drive Mode" programmed but no switch and a number of us have installed switches (either OEM switches or Coastal's switch that uses the CC stalk).

In the city, you should be able to crawl in bumper-to-bumper traffic in EV mode unless you asking for a lot of heat or A/C which would cause the engine to run.