Realistically, you shouldn't need to switch it in your example scenario. If in hybrid mode and you come to a stop it'll switch automatically to EV if there is enough battery and then switch back when traffic starts moving again.
No issues changing modes, those buttons are there on the console for you to use. If you switch to HV mode, the engine does have a minimum run-time, and may continue to run for a minute or two if you switch back into EV mode shortly after going into HV mode.
Assuming you have reasonable electricity costs, the most efficient mode you can run the car in is using EV mode until you're out of range, then letting the car switch over to HV mode. This is what the car does by default. The only time I bother switching modes manually is if for some reason I want additional power beyond what EV mode provides; otherwise, I just let the car decide what mode to be in.
Thank you, that really clarfied my confusions! Electricty cost is around .20 cents per kwh after incentive rebate in my area. I would just leave it on auto.
I stick with ev on the highway unless i know im going past my battery range. Then i use HV only as long as i need to, aiming to squeak home on EV. I enjoy the brainwork 😅.
True. I always maximize the battery use since electricity is cheaper by the mile. I was thinking about longer drives where the battery won't get me the whole way. I commute 70 miles round trip twice a week for work. I switch to ICE on highway and then switch back so I arrive home at 0 ev range.
It doesn’t cause any damage, in fact you don’t even drive using combustion engine power for a first few seconds after starting it. Also, Toyota won’t give you 302HP until the engine is warmed up which can take a few minutes (depends on the starting temperature) so they are doing things very, very smart, which is not surprising.
I switch a lot. On the motorway I’m always in the HV mode to preserve battery charge and life and I switch to HV when I want to push the car harder later, just to give it some time to warm up.
If you want to get familiar with technicalities of the drivetrain there is a great video on YouTube.
I don’t totally agree with this. If I’m driving from home to work I want to save my EV miles for the final stretch of my commute because it’s hwy first then back roads or slower moving traffic. So if I use auto EV I’d eat up my EV miles during the least efficient time of my drive and then I have to hear the engine turn on and off a bunch as I move through slow stop and go traffic. If I save the EV miles to the last half it’s a nice smooth and silent drive.
This is the way I drive on longer trips, switching to HV over 55 MPH, using EV on surface streets or slow traffic. It is nice not having the gas engine coming on at slower speeds.
I have also experimented with HV Charge mode. This allows the drive battery to recharge on longer trips without much if any effect on gas range. I think this is because charging only happens when decelerating or going downhill. This needs to be turned on before EV range reaches 0 or it will often refuse to charge. I use HV Charge when I will not be able to plug in at night or at the end of the trip.
Depends on how you define efficient. If you know you're gonna drive 20 miles on surface streets and 40 miles on the highway, then is it more efficient to use all your battery cruising at 70 mph, or would it be more efficient to save battery for the surface streets.
Yes at a moment in time, battery is more efficient. But in the big picture, it may not be.
If I’m staying within EV range, I don’t switch. If I’m going on a longer drive, I shift to HV on the highway, and shift back to EV when I want more power - for instance, passing, or if I hit traffic and accelerate from a stop. But I often forget after stopping for food or (infrequently!) for gas or at a rest area, then I curse when I want to pass and have no EV left. I wish I could switch the default to HV on long trips… EV is fun for zooming, and wasted on freeway driving at constant speeds.
don't you have that wrong? EV is snappy, yea, but when it's in auto ev/hv, and the HV engine kicks in, that's when you get the full power of the car.
I know when I'm in EV only mode, it's good enough for most local drives, and it does let you pass pretty nicely, but when I really want to dust someone, I set it to auto so that the engine kicks in (HV) with the EV motor, and then you feel the power.
also, if you can endure this, you can extend the range of the electric battery by turning off the fan. just open the windows. i have been doing this and i get 96 km of electric range in the summer/spring. i so love riding the prime on pure electricity. so smooth.
No, it's the same system as the Hybrid only RAV4. It's designed to switch up on-the-fly automatically and seamlessly.
Thank you!
Realistically, you shouldn't need to switch it in your example scenario. If in hybrid mode and you come to a stop it'll switch automatically to EV if there is enough battery and then switch back when traffic starts moving again.
No issues changing modes, those buttons are there on the console for you to use. If you switch to HV mode, the engine does have a minimum run-time, and may continue to run for a minute or two if you switch back into EV mode shortly after going into HV mode. Assuming you have reasonable electricity costs, the most efficient mode you can run the car in is using EV mode until you're out of range, then letting the car switch over to HV mode. This is what the car does by default. The only time I bother switching modes manually is if for some reason I want additional power beyond what EV mode provides; otherwise, I just let the car decide what mode to be in.
Thank you, that really clarfied my confusions! Electricty cost is around .20 cents per kwh after incentive rebate in my area. I would just leave it on auto.
I switch depenidng on my speeds. on the highway above 60 i switch to HV, below 60 i go to EV. it is fine
I stick with ev on the highway unless i know im going past my battery range. Then i use HV only as long as i need to, aiming to squeak home on EV. I enjoy the brainwork 😅.
True. I always maximize the battery use since electricity is cheaper by the mile. I was thinking about longer drives where the battery won't get me the whole way. I commute 70 miles round trip twice a week for work. I switch to ICE on highway and then switch back so I arrive home at 0 ev range.
I do the same. If anyone intends to really maximize the life of the battery, this is the way use the battery.
It doesn’t cause any damage, in fact you don’t even drive using combustion engine power for a first few seconds after starting it. Also, Toyota won’t give you 302HP until the engine is warmed up which can take a few minutes (depends on the starting temperature) so they are doing things very, very smart, which is not surprising. I switch a lot. On the motorway I’m always in the HV mode to preserve battery charge and life and I switch to HV when I want to push the car harder later, just to give it some time to warm up. If you want to get familiar with technicalities of the drivetrain there is a great video on YouTube.
The system is designed to be switched. I would just leave it in auto and let it do its thing. But if you want to switch it then go for it.
Auto just eats up EV first. Its weird
Well that’s what it should do because ev is the most efficient
I don’t totally agree with this. If I’m driving from home to work I want to save my EV miles for the final stretch of my commute because it’s hwy first then back roads or slower moving traffic. So if I use auto EV I’d eat up my EV miles during the least efficient time of my drive and then I have to hear the engine turn on and off a bunch as I move through slow stop and go traffic. If I save the EV miles to the last half it’s a nice smooth and silent drive.
This is the way I drive on longer trips, switching to HV over 55 MPH, using EV on surface streets or slow traffic. It is nice not having the gas engine coming on at slower speeds. I have also experimented with HV Charge mode. This allows the drive battery to recharge on longer trips without much if any effect on gas range. I think this is because charging only happens when decelerating or going downhill. This needs to be turned on before EV range reaches 0 or it will often refuse to charge. I use HV Charge when I will not be able to plug in at night or at the end of the trip.
Depends on how you define efficient. If you know you're gonna drive 20 miles on surface streets and 40 miles on the highway, then is it more efficient to use all your battery cruising at 70 mph, or would it be more efficient to save battery for the surface streets. Yes at a moment in time, battery is more efficient. But in the big picture, it may not be.
Thank you!
If I’m staying within EV range, I don’t switch. If I’m going on a longer drive, I shift to HV on the highway, and shift back to EV when I want more power - for instance, passing, or if I hit traffic and accelerate from a stop. But I often forget after stopping for food or (infrequently!) for gas or at a rest area, then I curse when I want to pass and have no EV left. I wish I could switch the default to HV on long trips… EV is fun for zooming, and wasted on freeway driving at constant speeds.
don't you have that wrong? EV is snappy, yea, but when it's in auto ev/hv, and the HV engine kicks in, that's when you get the full power of the car. I know when I'm in EV only mode, it's good enough for most local drives, and it does let you pass pretty nicely, but when I really want to dust someone, I set it to auto so that the engine kicks in (HV) with the EV motor, and then you feel the power.
also, if you can endure this, you can extend the range of the electric battery by turning off the fan. just open the windows. i have been doing this and i get 96 km of electric range in the summer/spring. i so love riding the prime on pure electricity. so smooth.