Prius (Gen 2) :: NiMH Versus Lithium-ion Batteries In Hybrid Vehicles
Nov 6, 2015
This is a video to compare some of the advantages and disadvantages of the two most popular hybrid battery technologies in hybrid vehicles today.
View 4 RepliesThis is a video to compare some of the advantages and disadvantages of the two most popular hybrid battery technologies in hybrid vehicles today.
View 4 RepliesI just bought a 2009 Prius from a dealer and the last 2 weeks I have noticed the hybrid batteries reads in the blue 3-4 bars down most of the time even after driving for awhile it goes up to the 2nd bar down (green) then when I drive for a couple of minutes it goes right back down. I also notice that I am NEVER using just hybrid motor power .The gas engine is constantly showing and the only time the power returns to the battery is when I take my foot off the gas completely or hitting the brakes.
When I am at a stop if I don't hold the brake down hard the hybrid motor shows running until I press further down on the brake pedal. I can't seem to get the car to a glide so I can less power to maintain speed and it seems like the CVT is in B mode. Also at higher speeds trying to pass it feels like the cvt is slipping.
I try to use a feather touch on the gas but can't see to find a point where the car will not use gas power constantly. I drove my boss's 07 and his gets like 4-5 mpgs better than my 09. His car has 130k and mine only has 95. His car can run and glide on hybrid motor and the gas engine is not constantly powering the vehicle like mine does. I get only 38-39 mpgs he gets like 44. We both drive about the same time on the road.
Looking to buy a used bmw x3 (75K miles) 2006 model versus a toyota highlander limited hybrid 2010 with 65K miles. The bmw is priced at 14K, while the highlander is priced at 26K. Both cars drive good, clean records. However the hybrid I fear has hidden costs.
View 4 RepliesIm the second owner of a 2008 Toyota Prius (Package II) with 23k miles.
View 2 RepliesI have a 35 mile (70 round trip) commute to work, all highway. I do some in town driving as well, but mainly the commuting. The price of gas is getting higher and I was thinking of getting a hybrid, but wonder if that is the best choice for my type of commute ? I drive a Honda CRV (04) which I love but maybe something smaller like a Civic would be better. I need room to occasionally put my 3 kids and hubby in and I want to feel safe in the snow.
View 13 RepliesI had the Honda recommended software upgrade done on the car in July 2010 and have taken it back twice to two different Honda dealers more than once. The gas mileage has dropped from 44 to 40 consistently for the same route and driving conditions on my daily commute. Worst still the car's power has suffered as the battery does not kick in as often so it struggles going up a hill. The battery is in charge mode more quickly at roughly 50% life so it is not available to boost the power, prior it would not stsrt recharging until much lower like 20% left. In fact I have had to turn around on hills that it could manuever before as it would not go up hill after the upgrade. I have spoken to several other drivers of the same model that say they have the same problem. The software upgrade was to lengthen the life of the battery pack not kill the power and MPG of the car. Any recommendtaions on how to fix since Honda is of no assistance?
View 3 RepliesCar wouldn't start, electric came on but it wouldn't turn over. Towed it to Toyota Dealer. Trouble reported in window was "Check Hybrid System" and " Check CVS? and one other but don't remember. After leaving the dealer and arriving home, I had a call advising me that there was water in the hybrid battery to the tune of $6K. Manager told me that the car had to have passed through standing water or water rose to level where batteries were contaminated. Don't know of any flooded areas around here and no evidence of water on the carpet so how does water get into the batteries. Manager advised me to call insurance company to have them pay for it. Nothing surprises me today but how does water get into the system without flooding the car?
View 1 RepliesI have a Honda Accord 2004 Hybrid with 85,000 miles on it. My IMA and check engine light went on less than 2 months ago, and the dealer replaced the starter battery and it was "fixed". Less than 2 months later the same thing happened and the dealer claims that the hybrid battery is failing, need to replace it, and they can't do this anyhow because the part is backordered "indefinitely". Honda extended the hybrid battery to 80,000 miles but you are over the limit. So here's my question:
1. Can the car be driven without the hybrid battery, just using gas engine, without risk of getting stuck somewhere?
2. Is there any other remedy that would be less costly?
3. Was this a known problem that I should have been warned about when I bought the car.
I have a ingot silver 2011 F150.....I've seen some posts that say not to use silicone wax on vehicles with clearcoat (I assume this is the candy red and premium white?). Any opinions on what is compatible with my silver?
View 14 RepliesI have a 2013 Prius III with the standard cloth seats. I would like to know an information whether the mounting for right hand drive and left hand drive seats is identical. Here is the reason I ask:
My wife needs more seat adjust-ability than the passenger side front-back and seat back tilting up and down. The seat height would be really useful to alleviate pain (especially during long drives) caused by a genetic disorder than involves joint dislocations and other discomforts of overly-elastic connective tissue (ligaments and tendons).
My 2010 Prius just turned 11,000 miles. Recently with colder weather it has become a rattle machine. Last winter it did not rattle at all. I then rode in my friends 2007 with 115,000 miles on it and it was still solid and tight on the same cold weather day. Did the Gen II have better build quality with fewer rattles?
View 11 RepliesWell, I have a new friend who has a 2012 Honda Accord Coupe EX-L w/ Navi. He has about 1,100 miles on it since yesterday. When I first hung out with him, he made fun of the Prius, then test drove one, and loves it & wants one. He said "I wish I would have driven the Prius before the Accord."
View 10 RepliesIm very happy with the Prius that I have a 2010 V, its loaded with all of the options that were available at the time and I get a true 43 -46 mpg with my driving style and daily commute. The Prius averages more than twice the mileage I was getting with my other cars.
But I stumbled on the Lexus Cth and it seems its a Prius with a Lexus styled body and interior. The Lexus is a more conventional body style and seems to be a little better fit and finish on the interior but at a little less MPG. I tested a 2012 Cth with the F sport package over the weekend nd really liked it.
For each number the computer says is there an exact match to what it means for computed. For example if the computer says 50mpg does that always calculate to x number calculated????
View 10 RepliesI kept a record of every drop of fuel used in my 2008 Gen II Prius. It was easy with only two simple screens: Energy and Consumption. After writing down the numbers I reset the Consumption screen at every fill up. I entered these into a spreadsheet that did a bunch of calculations telling me all kinds of interesting things.
Now to my new 2014 Prius v Two. I'm confused regarding all the new information available. (A good thing) Which screen and number am I looking for that is equivalent to the Miles and cumulative MPG on the old Gen II?
Would like to sort this out before my first fill on the new car.
Yesterday I was stuck in traffic and the battery eventually went down to 2 bars and the engine came on.
My question is: In stop and go traffic, if I stay in the first half (left part) of the HSI while the engine is on to recharge the battery, is the ICE turning the wheels or just charging the battery?
I think my battery is low in both of my fob keys.It's not unlocking every time anymore but I don't see any access to get into this thing....Don't want to do damage cause i'm sure it wouldn't be cheap.
View 3 RepliesWell Prii have always been a little "loud" under acceleration due to the CVT and small engine and minimal sound proofing, BUT We have 2 Priuses (Prii??), a 2011 with 41000 miles and a 2014 with 7k miles. My daughter got the 2011 to take to college. 1200 mile round trip so it made sense.
She maintains that for sometime, the 2011 is making more of the droning/roaring sound that a Prius makes when accelerating briskly. I did not really believe, her, but over holiday break, I had the opportunity to drive both cars more, and she is right.
The 2011 is clearly louder under acceleration. It also will develop a bit of a vibration at certain RPMs, even at very low RPM sometimes, when the economy bar is just beyond the electric mode.
The noise differential between 2011 and 2014 is most apparent at cold temperatures, but it does not resolve completely even with both engines fully warmed up.
This code appear after I connect two Prius batteries in parallel.
View 10 RepliesSo my window was left partially down today and it poured down rain! The window that was down was the passenger side rear window. The handle on the door was full of standing water and my seats and floor mat were pretty soaked.
The speaker at the top of the door had water in it and I can't get it out by just wiping the cover. Is there an easy way to take this off and try to make sure everything is OK?
The vent for the batteries got lots of water in it too, this is dangerous?
Also, it's my first time with leather seats and I don't know how the water will affect them. Anything special I need to do?
I wiped up and soaked up everything I could with towels but still worry about the lasting damage it could have.
In the event you may want to disconnect both the 12v and the traction battery, what's the correct process?
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