Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG
OK, but nothing inherently damaging about running dry. Only if the driver continues blithely pushing onward under battery power alone.
It's surprising the standard programming in place that normally protects the NIMH battery by managing its state of charge "window" doesn't continue to protect it in a case where there's no gasoline.
So there's nothing to prevent it being fully drained if you keep driving with no fuel on board? (Doesn't it operate with something like a 40 or 60% lower limit on SOC in normal operation?)
|
Metro,
Topical thread on priuschat relevant what we were discussing the other day about a Prius running out of gas and having to use the battery to limp to safety. Gen I and Gen II it is possible to use the battery to do this (until it completely discharges)...But...
This involves a GenIII Prius but highlights the safety concerns with running out of gas in a Prius...the poster intentionally ran out of gas to see what happened as the Gen III has a standard tank and not the Gen I/II inflatable bladder...FYI - this guy does alot of testing with his Prius and provides alot of info over there for other posters so that's why he ran it out of gas on purpose. Pretty scary and even MORE important to not run out of gas in a Gen III.
From BWilson...
Start Quote
"Tonight I found that running out of gas in my VZW30 (2010 Prius) completely removes all traction battery power. There is no motive power to get to a 'safe place' to refill. I was able to coast to a parking lot but basicly:
* power steering failure icon - this is the only warning light, IMHO, totally inadequate
* all power indications 'off' - it is as if the car had been shifted into "N"
* shifting to "N", stays in "N" and does not return to "D"
I can buy a new traction battery and have no problem with being put in "EV" mode. But the car would not shift into "D" nor respond to "EV." Compared to the NHW20 and NHW11, this means a valuable safety feature has been lost.
End Quote