Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf
Not to mention that if you warm up the engine quickly, you'll be getting cabin heat for free.
One of the several reasons that I don't really like the Prius design is the fact that it has a pure EV mode at all. As others have said, it's not really efficient to drive in EV mode, then recharge the battery from the motor. With the Insight + MIMA, virtually all my battery charging comes from braking or going down hills, so it's "free" energy that'd otherwise be wasted as braking heat.
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The Prius used regenerative braking as well but it doesn't supply as much energy as the engine does. The Civic IMA system doesn't either. On my commute I have a 1,200ft. elevation change so my battery charges to full if I choose to let it regen. Normally I just glide for the long downhill section as this is more efficient.
I wish Honda would have set up a better system for keeping the battery cells leveled off. As it sits we have a ton of Civic owners with useless or barely useful batteries because of this. There is a device being built which can fix the situation and it's only about $500. I hope it comes out soon so the Civic guys can regain their lost MPG.
