[UPDATE: It seems that the gas engine will turn on [1] when it is below 40 degrees F and the climate control is on (regardless of fan setting), [2] after a certain number of weeks(?) to lubricate the engine, [3] after a certain number of months(?) to get rid of stale gas, [4] when accelerating quickly, [5] and of course, when the battery runs out.
For #1, you can avoid using gas due to cold weather if you do NOT have climate control on. But, if it is below 40F, the second you turn on the climate control (including the defog), the gas engine will turn on. That is true regardless of the fan setting. We went through 1/2 tank of gas in a month this winter that appears to have JUST been from cold weather, as my wife was using heat based on some bogus advice here about fan speed. The gas engine will turn off and on occasionally, presumably to keep the engine warm.]
Hi,
When I first heard about the PacHy, it seemed to fill an empty space in the marketplace: a not-small car that could be powered mostly on electricity.
But now that I am seriously looking at getting one, the actual mechanics of not using gas seems very vague. When I had a Volt, they were clear when gas would be used if battery power was available: [1] when it is "too cold", [2] after 6 weeks of not using the ICE to maintain the engine, and [3] if the gas in the tank hasn't been used in a year. #1 was the contention point (although someone found that pre-heating the car for 10 minutes twice would minimize the gas usage when it was too cold out).
With the PacHy, the information seems limited. Obviously it will use the ICE if there is no battery power left. I've heard it comes on when it is cold -- but how cold? Some people say that when it is cold, the ICE only comes on if the heater is turned on -- is that really true? If so, can pre-heating the car be used?
It sounds like the "refresh mode" in the PacHy combines #2/#3 for the Volt. Is there data about how often the "lubrication" mode occurs, and how much gas it typically uses? Is there data about how often the "stale gas" refresh mode occurs (the manual says it stays that way until the "low gas" warning comes on, or new gas is added to the tank)?
I have also read that going over about 80MPH will turn on the ICE, and that accelerating too hard will turn on the ICE.
-Scott
For #1, you can avoid using gas due to cold weather if you do NOT have climate control on. But, if it is below 40F, the second you turn on the climate control (including the defog), the gas engine will turn on. That is true regardless of the fan setting. We went through 1/2 tank of gas in a month this winter that appears to have JUST been from cold weather, as my wife was using heat based on some bogus advice here about fan speed. The gas engine will turn off and on occasionally, presumably to keep the engine warm.]
Hi,
When I first heard about the PacHy, it seemed to fill an empty space in the marketplace: a not-small car that could be powered mostly on electricity.
But now that I am seriously looking at getting one, the actual mechanics of not using gas seems very vague. When I had a Volt, they were clear when gas would be used if battery power was available: [1] when it is "too cold", [2] after 6 weeks of not using the ICE to maintain the engine, and [3] if the gas in the tank hasn't been used in a year. #1 was the contention point (although someone found that pre-heating the car for 10 minutes twice would minimize the gas usage when it was too cold out).
With the PacHy, the information seems limited. Obviously it will use the ICE if there is no battery power left. I've heard it comes on when it is cold -- but how cold? Some people say that when it is cold, the ICE only comes on if the heater is turned on -- is that really true? If so, can pre-heating the car be used?
It sounds like the "refresh mode" in the PacHy combines #2/#3 for the Volt. Is there data about how often the "lubrication" mode occurs, and how much gas it typically uses? Is there data about how often the "stale gas" refresh mode occurs (the manual says it stays that way until the "low gas" warning comes on, or new gas is added to the tank)?
I have also read that going over about 80MPH will turn on the ICE, and that accelerating too hard will turn on the ICE.
-Scott