"Green Switch" for hybrids

I am pretty sure Prius' in Japan already have this feature. Maybe in Europe as well.

It is a good idea.

The Prius in Europe/Asia have an EV button. This allows EV Drive Mode of anywhere from a few hundred metres to two kilometres depending on battery SOC, terrain and ambient temperature. The programming is in NA vehicles and most of us added the switch to access this mode. This is different from what Edmunds is reporting.

Also, the Camry Hybrid has an "ECO" mode for the A/C. We've yet to see what it does in detail.

I'm liking the idea.

Oh, ok. So this will be another different switch. Cool. Toyota should give us both of them.

nice, it would have helped me when i was trying to escape hurricane rita!

That would be nice. But those of us mileage freak tend to turn off the climate control at traffic lights to let the engine shut off (if it's not off already with the A/C on). We'd glady sacrifice a longer cold period than have the engine run to supply heat early in the morning.

Tideland Prius said:

That would be nice. But those of us mileage freak tend to turn off the climate control at traffic lights to let the engine shut off (if it's not off already with the A/C on). We'd glady sacrifice a longer cold period than have the engine run to supply heat early in the morning.

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So is the A/C and heat in the Prius run by the engine. I have not done a lot of research on the Prius I must admit. I do remember hearing that in the Camry it will all be electirc so it can run independent of the engine.

The Prius has the world's first electric A/C compressor. This means you will get cold air blowing even with the engine off. The compressor will run off the HV battery. In the old Prius, Insight and old Civic Hybrid, if you wanted A/C at the traffic light, the engine had to run thus putting a dent in mileage.

The Prius does come with an electric heater but it's weak and serves a purpose of providing some heat while waiting for the engine to warm up. It's not much but still better than cold air.

The Camry will have electric A/C. I'm just unsure of what the ECO mode that they describe does.

Tideland Prius said:

That would be nice. But those of us mileage freak tend to turn off the climate control at traffic lights to let the engine shut off (if it's not off already with the A/C on). We'd glady sacrifice a longer cold period than have the engine run to supply heat early in the morning.

Click to expand...

True for gen1 prius, toyota won't be usnig that technology for their own cars!