How To Use The Toyota Hybrid EV Mode?

Overview Toyota Hybrid

Thanks to advances in technology, Toyota now has the option to make EV hybrid vehicles. Well, you may wonder what is EV mode in Toyota Hybrids fuss all about and is it worth your money? 

Toyota Hybrid Electric Vehicles (EV) are designed with a function that allows drivers to either use the electric mode powered by the vehicle battery rather than solely relying on the power supplied by the gas engine.By switching to EV mode helps in conserving gas.

Well, this article highlights what EV mode in Toyota Hybrid vehicles is and every other detail you need to know about Hybrid EV modes and how to efficiently use the feature.

Let us dive in right away!

What is EV Mode in Toyota Hybrids?

By Now you already know that by acquiring any Toyota Hybrid EV car will enable you to switch between the electric power from your car battery and the gas-powered engine. For Toyota EV hybrids, pressing the EV mode button automatically switches the modes.

By doing so, it causes your hybrid car to be powered by the electricity generated by the battery. With this EV mode in Toyota Hybrid cars, drivers get to experience a smooth and enjoyable sleek electric mode driving mode.

When to Use the Toyota Hybrid EV Mode?

I have realized that the best time and place to use the EV mode is under the following circumstances:

• While stuck in trafficthat does not seem to move at all and which forces me to do under 10mph.

• Another place I do enjoy the EV mode in the car is through the drive troughs, closed parking garages, and the parking lots which require a slow speed in a short distance.

• During a cold start within a short distance while avoiding warming up the car gas engine.

• When I don’t want to wake people within the estatese specially in the early hours when most people are still asleep. 

Advantages

• Pertaining to the issues of global warming and environmental pollution, the use of electric power in EV mode driving reduces harmful emissions and preserves ecosystems.

• Creates a smooth driving experience, free from any loud driving noise since the EV mode reduces your car’s noise to nearly zero.

• Switching conditions are perfectly defined, to ensure that your Toyota Hybrid EVchanges to electric power only when the battery has sufficient charge. Otherwise, it sticks to the normal mode to preserve your car’s battery from complete power drain.

• A perfect hybrid system that saves on fuel, by switching between the two modes making the Toyota Hybrid EV sefficient.

Disadvantages

• Most complaints are on the low speed performance of the EV mode – this makes it only efficient for short distances and not on the highways; ideal for distances between 25-50 miles.

• The EV mode drains the battery power within a short timeand forces the car to switch to gas engine just by a slight acceleration above 30 mph.

• Until certain conditions are met, for instance, charging the battery to sufficient charge levels or driving at a particular speed level, the pure EV mode is completely deactivated to ice. Hence, curbs further battery drainage. 

Do Toyota Hybrid Cars Need Charging? 

No, they don’t. Since all Toyota Hybrid cars are powered by both fuel and electric vehicle battery, automatic charging occurs through regenerative braking. So, you don’t need to manually change the car as this seamlessly happens as the car alternates between the two batteries.

How it Works?

The electric battery is auto-charged in two ways:

• Via the gas engine generating electric charge to charge the electric battery as you drive.

• Secondly, through regenerative braking system that converts the car’s braking power into a charge as you brake.

How Do You Maintain Battery Life?

Maintaining your Toyota Hybrid EV car’s battery live is pretty simple, you only need to adhere to simple guidelines to extend its life:

• Avoid exposing the battery to very high temperatures. More so when It’s parked.

• Circumstances that lead to battery deep discharging and fast charging should be avoided at all costs.

• Charging the EV to 80% is more good for batteries.

• Don’t leave the battery discharged for a long time, it leads to damage.

Other ways to maximize the Battery Life expectancy:

It’s vital to do this to maintain your Toyota Hybrid Electric Vehicle’s battery

• Regular inspections with Toyota specialists to assess and fix all issues they detect.

• A healthy cooling system should be available always to avoid overheating that carves the battery’s life.

• Parking in optimum temperaturesas per the weather season to regulate battery temperatures.

• Avoiding fast acceleration and hard brakingwill reduce the workload on your car’s battery.

• Drive for long distances and avoid short distances to fully charge the electric battery for optimum performance.

What Is Eco Mode?

Basically, the ECO mode in your Toyota Hybrid EV makes it run more economically compared to when it’s in the normal mode. Simply by regulating climate controls, the EV’s power output, and the seats temperatures.

Best for use according to your driving conditions.

Advantages of the ECO Mode

• Minimizes power demands- on the car’s engine while increasing its fuel efficiency by reducing the EV’s acceleration levels.

• Makes the accelerator less sensitive, in turn, reducing fuel consumption when you press at the same level.

• It is ideal for your stop-and-go driving on busy roadsand you want your accelerator to be less sensitive.

• Becomes helpful in regulating the power supplied to your EV’s air conditioning system and other parts; further increasing fuel efficiency.

Other Toyota Hybrid EV Modes? （Normal/Sport）

Toyota EV Hybrids also have the normal and sport modes besides the ECO mode. Pressing the sport mode button Increases your car’s  throttle experience as well as increasing your car’s acceleration levels. 

Hence, an increase in engine power and rapid acceleration caused by increased accelerator sensitivity. Simply, it reduces the effort required in achieving a particular effect while driving, for instance, to speed up to pass another vehicle in front of you.

The normal mode exists to allow drivers to use their EV’s engine and battery in the most ideal and efficient manner. Acts as the default mode of the Toyota Hybrid vehicles for a balanced driving performance and enhanced comfort in daily driving environments.