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CasperJordaan

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Good day guy.

I know, the title of this topic is not really right, but here goes anyway.

I have a 2022 2.5 4wd Hybrid. Now, it has 16 000mi on it. I have an issue with the EV mode. EV Mode itself I never use, I mean the portion of the Hybrid that works electrically. Previously I would for example drive to the office (only about 4mi) and it will say when I power down the vehicle, that my Hybrid Ratio was about 48%. Now, it is always 0%. The ICE is ALWAYS on. It never shuts off, or rather, almost never.

Let me just also say, um........ it has a major impact on my fuel consumption! I now get less than half what I used to get. Here's the thing, there is no loss in power or performance. The little "Info" screen (pruis like animation info) shows how the electricity is moving however, I can always hear the engine.

IF and only IF it now and then (maybe once in 3 days) shows EV on the dash, when I am stopped at a traffic light and the ICE turns off, it will IMMEDIATELY start the engine the moment I touch the accelerator, even if i physically not even push it 1mm in.

I've tried Eco, Normal and Sport mode, no change. I should maybe just mention that I use ECO mode 99.9% of the time.

Can you maybe share something I can try to resolve without booking it into a dealership?

Thanks guys!
 
If there are no codes being displayed it's probably working as it should. The EV mode only comes on and only stays on when you have very little torque required at the wheels (or when the HV battery charge is getting low). The conditions I've seen for EV mode (indicator on) are the initial acceleration from a stop, downhill driving, slowing down, at a stop, driving slowly through the neighborhood, reverse, very low speed maneuvering (parking lots, traffic jams), etc. The EV is sized only to supplement the ICE to help with MPG. What was your old MPG and what is your new MPG? You never posted these. The kind of driving has a big impact also. As mentioned winter mileage is significantly lower than summer.
 
If there are no codes being displayed it's probably working as it should. The EV mode only comes on and only stays on when you have very little torque required at the wheels (or when the HV battery charge is getting low). The conditions I've seen for EV mode (indicator on) are the initial acceleration from a stop, downhill driving, slowing down, at a stop, driving slowly through the neighborhood, reverse, very low speed maneuvering (parking lots, traffic jams), etc. The EV is sized only to supplement the ICE to help with MPG. What was your old MPG and what is your new MPG? You never posted these. The kind of driving has a big impact also. As mentioned winter mileage is significantly lower than summer.
His issue is the ICE hardly ever turns off. Something is wrong
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Hi, look I am extremely familiar with the whole works of the Hybrid system. What I am saying is the car's behavior has changed. I just did a peak hour traffic trip of around 20Mi, stopped, 0% EV Ratio. Engine on ALL the time. It is hot here now 32C.

My driving, let me just say, I am a hyper-miler. I am a very ECO driver. Sometimes it get irritating though. I like speed, but yes, I do the ECO thing with minimal throttle input and smooth slow take offs and tries to make the most of regen.

I work on Km/pl not MPG. I used to get 16.2Kmpl on my daily trips to work ect, now I get 8kmpl. That is the same as my wifes 1.8 Corolla Auto.
 
It does sound like something is wrong after reading that. Are you saying in stop and go traffic on the interstate the engine doesn't shut off when you're stopped and go into EV mode? At a stop light the engine never shuts off and doesn't go into EV mode? I thought your previous post said it rarely goes into EV mode. Your above post sounds like it never goes into EV mode. When I stop at a light, after some short time period (5-10 seconds?), my engine will shut off and EV mode indicator will turn on. In grid lock interstate traffic it also goes into EV mode if I'm barely moving or stopped.
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
Not never, but very very rarely does the engine shut off. I mean, in bumper to bumper traffic on the highway the engine idles all the time, at traffic lights waiting for 2 minutes it idles all the time.

No error or message whatsoever. a friend of mine used his Toyota computer tool and scanned for error codes, nothing.
 
What weight oil are you running? 8Kmpl is about 18.8mpg. That's hard to believe, even with the engine always running.

What happens if you hit the EV mode button in stop and go traffic?
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
I have no idea what oil is in it, It was serviced in June at a Toyota dealership here in Johannesburg. I have not changed the oil myself. BTW, I would not have cleared any error code if there was any.

If i press EV Mode (next to gearlever, It just says EV mode is not available.
 
It is hot here now 32C.
Even though the ambient temp is 32C, the actual temp in bumper to bumper traffic is probably much higher. And the road surface in the hot sun, is, like we say in the US, "hot enough to fry an egg on". Literately true.

I assume you have the A/C on. That will require much more energy, thus the ICE needs to stay on more. Try ECO mode on the A/C and see if that helps.
 
Might be worth getting an OBDII bluetooth adapter that plugs into the diagnostic port, then running Dr. Prius and hybrid assistant apps to get more info on battery health and system operation.
 
I live in a hot climate and this happens to me sometimes, usually when it is hot. I think that when the battery is hot the car won't use EV mode until it cools off. Even with the AC going and the battery cooling fan, I think it takes a while for the battery to cool off.

How long are your trips? I would expect after 20 minutes or so the battery would cool off enough.

Edit: I get the exact same behavior: hybrid info screen shows the battery has spare charge, it uses electric power with gas power, and the engine turns off when the car is stationary. But the car refuses to use electric power alone, even with very small amounts of throttle.
 
I also think this is temperature related. When it's 90°F here, I also cannot get my Camry to go into EV mode. If it were software, I assume it would have always been there.

Things to check:

  • What is your oil level? Have you checked it?
  • Have you checked the battery air filter?
  • What happens when you turn off HVAC and come to a stoplight?
  • Have you tried putting HVAC into eco mode?
 
Discussion starter · #20 ·
My car and the AC is always in Eco mode. Without fail

Oil is full. Yes, I actually blew out the coolers filter with my compressor about 2 months ago, it looked brand new even before is blew it out.

Guys, in the morning with my travels its not at 32C, when I posted this thread is was about 2pm and then it was 32C, in the mornings its about 22C and very pleasant.
 
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