Comments on: 3 G Prius – Four Driving Modes

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:59:46 +0000

I almost agree with what Fred said, except you need to note the comment above that ECO mode “also changes air conditioning operation in an effort to reduce fuel consumption.”

By: Fred

Fred — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:56:06 +0000

ECO, normal, PWR modes. I get the impression that these modes do very little other than change the sensitivity of the accelerator. You can get all the power you want in ECO mode by just depressing the accelerator all the way. If you use PWR mode, it is somewhat more difficult to just nudge the car “a little faster”. They are all the same, no new allocation of power is being done between the electric motor and the gas engine.

By: Fred

Fred — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:31:43 +0000

The differences between the modes need to be explained better, as to their operation and function. The article simply gives a general use suggestion about “responsiveness” or vague feelings.

I want to know why my battery indicator is always showing almost full? Why am I carrying around a full battery all the time? Shouldn’t the most efficient use mean that more of the abttery gets used?

By: Zeph

Zeph — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:13:42 +0000

@Chris K – yes, I switch Eco mode on and off with the Eco button.

@Clydie – yes, you can change modes while driving (moving to EV might not work due the the described limitations).

I also switch from D to B and back as I drive the local hills. B increases the “no gas/no brake” electric regeneration – there’s more drag on the car as it regenerates more power. (According to the display a lesser degree of this happens even in D). In hybrid terms, it’s sort of like very slightly but continually pressing the brake whenever not using the accellerator in order to slow by regenerating, but not enough to activate the brake pads. In conventional terms it’s like using engine braking, except you get some of the energy back.

By: Clydie

Clydie — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:47:29 +0000

Article says you can switch driving modes when leaving the driveway. How about during driving? Can you make a switch mid-drive while moving?

By: Chris K.

Chris K. — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:34:39 +0000

I am pretty sure I was able to switch to normal mode this morning by pressing “ECO” when the car was already in “ECO”; in other words the buttons toggle between their mode and “normal”.