I'm probably going to move to AB next year and I've been thinking about hybrids in cold weather, I'm talking -10°F to even -40°F. Think about this situation: The gas engine and the electric motor are continously taking over each other. What is the expected impact on the gas engine long-term that's frequently cold started and shut off before it's up to operating temperature (which might take around 20-25 minutes in these frigid temperatures) and the cycle keeps repeating itself on and on. I think driving on EV only mode does fit those whose trips are going to be short (With less range, of course compared to summer time). But what about people who are going to drive 75-85 miles? Does a plug-in hybrid even make sense? Especially if you're forced to depend on the gas engine exclusively during winter time? Will the engine be safe in that frequent on and off state along long drives?
More fuel efficient without the price of full EVs. Knowing that I have few gallons in the tank along that small battery is very convenient for me. I drive a lot because of my work.
Either you are going to freeze or the ICE is going to be on.
Those vehicles, and EV's, will probably be parked for the Winter in AB.
In my opinion a hybrid is only a good option in cold weather environment if you aren't short tripping. I'd like to have a hybrid but with my short trips the gas engine never reaches operating temp and is almost always running inefficiently. Fuel economy takes a pretty dramatic hit.
I’m my pretty sure that the engine will run constantly until it’s fully warmed up and in extreme cold the battery capacity will be reduced, therefore the engine will need to be running in order to keep it charged.
In other words, it will not be shutting down constantly. It will probably cycle on longer trips, but the cycles should be fewer than during the warm months.
In other words, it will not be shutting down constantly. It will probably cycle on longer trips, but the cycles should be fewer than during the warm months.
modern hybrids will run the engine constantly for warmth in cold temps and there are efficiency benefits to hybrids even when cold.
However look carefully at the specs, even the well refined Prius has a published low temp limit. Below which the hybrid system is disabled.
However look carefully at the specs, even the well refined Prius has a published low temp limit. Below which the hybrid system is disabled.
This. In truly cold weather the ICE will operate until warm, then revert to hybrid operation. Now whether that is enough warmth to evaporate gas/moisture is another issue. Non-hybrids have the same issues in cold weather, but probably to a lesser extent.
Is AB Alberta or Alabama?
I live in Alberta with a hybrid rav4. 5.6l/100km summer. 7l/100km winter. The weather definitely impacts fuel efficiency.
I live in Alberta with a hybrid rav4. 5.6l/100km summer. 7l/100km winter. The weather definitely impacts fuel efficiency.
Alberta. Thanks you. That's definitely something to consider.
Those are still pretty good numbers. The ICE only models likely get 10l/100km in winter.
That's not a bad spread for your climate. Most vehicles would probably suffer more in the winter unless they only see long trips.
My non-hybrid Subaru averages 6.8 summer, 8.2 winter, and that's using a block heater religiously in the winter and blocking off most of the front grille. Though, it probably gets a bit colder where I am, and I do fewer long highway drives in the winter.
Hybrids tend to have some creative ways to heat the engine or keep it warm. The Prius used to have an insulated thermos for the coolant that would keep warm for days. The newer generation uses exhaust heat to warm up the coolant faster. I wish regular ICE vehicles had systems like this.
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2009
- Messages
- 9,523
No electric heat?
oh engine warmth?Modern hybrids no longer have to run their engines constantly during the winter. They just cycle on and off more often than they do in mild temperatures. You’ll still experience a gain in fuel economy going hybrid over ICE.
I don't understand this comment, but the models of the Prius I'm familiar with (2nd and 3rd gens) have supplemental electric heat.No electric heat?
On another topic, the early Prius models used NiMH batteries that are OK with cold temps, but the newer models are Li-Ion and use battery heaters.
If you preheat the cabin before start it might be useful, a dinky 1-1.5kW heater will not heat up a moving vehicle in real cold.
Heat exchanger like the more premium EV's have works better, but I don't think that is common on hybrids. Could be wrong though.
Similar threads
