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Tune that increases hybrid utility?

mjssss

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I like the benefits of a tune that increases power and smooths the transmission shifting, but I'm wondering if there's a tune that additionally changes the way the hybrid powertrain is used.

Watching how the hybrid assist is used, here are my observations:
- Electric assist used heavily for the first 30sec after startup (wish this was the mode it just stayed in)
- Then almost no electric assist while engine warms (seems like good logic to let the engine warm)
- Then, electric assist used mainly in specific cases:
--- No load, engine shuts off, then for extremely low throttle use (first two bars, of four, on the electric assist gauge)
--- Engine restart, just for a second or so
--- Heavy throttle (good)
--- If the battery is pretty much full (>90%), it will be more liberal

I would rather:
- Allow 3/4 electric assist before restarting the engine
- Use 1/4 electric assist all the time when applying throttle (down to a battery state of ~35%, then do whatever the stock logic is)
- Maybe make this logic for Eco and Normal, but leave stock for Sport?

Also, for all drive modes:
- Make the throttle pedal more linear. Stock, it seems very front-loaded. This makes it extremely difficult to modulate to stay in the electric-only mode.
--- Make the reverse throttle and electric assist response the same as Drive (I hate the dulled throttle response in reverse!)


Thoughts?
Thanks!
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bakutheleo

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I am not aware of any (but that does not say much) but I expect Toyota's logic is pretty good. Using electric along with the gas engine running would not increase fuel efficiency overall--it is more "expensive" to charge the battery used to run the electric motor than to just push the car with the gas engine in the first place (always some loss when converting to electricity then back to mechanical). I agree it would be nice if it stayed electric more than that 50% level, but there is probably a reason they do that as well.

I have noticed that it uses the electric boost more during warm-up, not just the first 30 seconds or so. Then again, where I am at it is/has been warm (Southern California) so it does not take long at all to warm up (maybe a minute or so).

It would be interesting to know the logic Toyota engineers used to choose the electric/gas operational behavior.
 

127.0.0.1

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Toyota logic is to get the most life out of the traction battery while providing
the performance engineers expect.

muck with the settings you might cause the pack to fail in 2 years vs 10-15+ years
and will definitely void any hybrid battery warranty

research prius forums, they have lots of hybrid hacks tweaks and possibilities people have plowed through...
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