Prius Cold Starting

[98CamryLE]

I was wondering if any Prius owners could answer a question for me-

How does it start in Winter? (I'm talking like Zero degrees or slightly below).

Does the cold weather have any impact on how the car starts, or performs?

I've heard that the Prius uses batteries to accelerate, and the gas motor kicks in when needed. This would mean that when you first start a Prius, you are completely dependant on the batteries, will the gas motor start if there isn't enough juice in the battery pack to start the electric motor?

Thanks for any responses, although this isn't a very popular forum, so hopefully someone will look eventually.

[foompla]

word around the campfire is that the prius does in fact have a cold start system.

how it works.... i wouldnt be able to tell you tho

sorry.

[Phi]

Some media folks here up in Canada had a Prius on long term testing and they never reported any probs

[ea8631]

I don't see any problem at all, since my prius going through 3 winter with me already.

[foompla]

Originally posted by ea8631
I don't see any problem at all, since my prius going through 3 winter with me already.

ah, its chilly up in canada, eh?

[Nick]

the rcmp use their prius year round around parliament hill, and this is for really short low speed trips, i don't think they have major problems

[ARODYL]

the big electric battery does not start the car, the prius still uses the 12 volt (although small) to start the mg1 to spin the engine over, the 01-03 prius always starts the engine when cold until the operating temp. comes up.also when the throttle is depressed, depending on the demand the prius will kick the engine over to help with the extended torque demand so you will have both batteries and engine to help propel the car down the road,