Engineering Explained: How much fuel does idling consume?

[Xist]

Shouty likes Toyotas, although I do not know if he has convinced anyone to stop driving other brands.

[ProDigit]

Yeah, well, the priuses have as benefit that they depart using the electric motor, and that starting the engine is like push starting a car. The car has too high momentum for the engine to fail to start; which is unlike some cars who have a small starter, and once the 12V battery is depleted, they don't generate enough momentum for the engine to start.

I've read some people reviewing, saying the 12V can be used to jumpstart the engine, from another car. It's there to give enough power to the engine to do just that.
Again, I don't own one, so I couldn't tell if they were right or not.

[Daox]

I think if you're going to keep talking about how the Prius does this and that, you should really read up on how they actually work. Its a pretty impressively simple system that is unlike a lot traditional drivetrain setups.

[Xist]

Perhaps he thrives on attention from willful ignorance. If you recall, I created this thread to discuss an Engineering Explained video. Did we criticize him? No. Are we still discussing him? No.

[teoman]

He is a previous generation guy (not age wise but tech wise) trying to make it in modern times. I am sure that no one disagrees that he has brilliant videos and tips. However when he enters a realm that is beyond his comprehension all becomes melodramatic. You can’t really blame him, he has a formula that makes him successful on YouTube which works for him (and the masses). But when he gets the facts wrong, his formula of machine gun shouting of wrong facts becomes rather obnoxious.

I do not like the shouting, but I rather do prefer the bulleted presentation of facts when they are correct. It makes for good brief videos where one comprehends what the symptoms are, what the problem is and what the solution is.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by ProDigit

I've read some people reviewing, saying the 12V can be used to jumpstart the engine, from another car. It's there to give enough power to the engine to do just that.

Since the 12v battery does not start an engine, it gives little to no warning when it is worn out and about to fail. There is no starter motor to listen to that would indicate the 12v battery is worn out.

For this reason, it's not uncommon for people to get stuck, with a 12v battery unable to "start" their Prius. What it's actually failing to do is close a contactor which connects the high voltage battery to the inverter/converter, which then drives the car. The 12v battery is used to throw a switch that turns the car "on".

[Xist]

Is there a workaround or are the millions of Prius owners not as clever as the Insight owners?

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Xist

Is there a workaround or are the millions of Prius owners not as clever as the Insight owners?

The workaround is bring a portable 12v jump pack that you can get for as little as $20. They double as USB phone chargers and flashlights. You can jump the car just like any other too.

[Vman455]

Originally Posted by Xist

Perhaps he thrives on attention from willful ignorance. If you recall, I created this thread to discuss an Engineering Explained video. Did we criticize him? No. Are we still discussing him? No.

Welcome to the internet! We're glad you're here.

Originally Posted by redpoint5

The workaround is bring a portable 12v jump pack that you can get for as little as $20. They double as USB phone chargers and flashlights. You can jump the car just like any other too.

I bought one of these a couple years ago; I've used it to jump several other cars, but never my own.

Back on topic, I was waiting to cross at a stoplight earlier today where a new Cherokee (with dealer plates) was waiting. When the light changed, I heard his engine fire up. I didn't know Jeep was using stop-start systems now.

One of the articles I came across the other day while researching these systems had an interesting statistic: 25% of the NEDC city test is spent idling (vehicle stopped), compared to 11% of the EPA city test. So, a stop-start system will have an outsized effect on a European rating, but still a significant impact on an EPA rating. I wonder how that compares to a typical driver and trip.

[oldtamiyaphile]

Originally Posted by Vman455

One of the articles I came across the other day while researching these systems had an interesting statistic: 25% of the NEDC city test is spent idling (vehicle stopped), compared to 11% of the EPA city test. So, a stop-start system will have an outsized effect on a European rating, but still a significant impact on an EPA rating. I wonder how that compares to a typical driver and trip.

According to my GPS, over 13,000+ km, I've averaged 30km/h. My 'moving average' is 45km/h.

So I spend 33% of my time stopped.