Toyota's 2008 Highlander Hybrid Enables "EV Button"
Feb 8, 2007 (From the CalCars-News archive)

The next model of the Highlander Hybrid will give
drivers the option to push a button upon starting
up and thereby defer the start of the internal
combustion engine, which otherwise happens
automatically several seconds later. Driving in
"Electric Vehicle Mode" is very handy if you want
to move your car across the street. You avoid the
"cold-start," which even in an ultra-clean
hybrid, is still the dirtiest part of the fuel cycle.

This is one small but significant step by Toyota
toward plug-in hybrids. The company is giving
drivers a taste of the pleasure of silently
gliding down the street. And it shows their
marketing team is paying attention to the interest in PHEVs.

But let's not make too much fuss: if you gun the
engine or go at highway speed, or once you've
driven about a mile, the engine goes on no matter
what. Why only a mile? Here's the technical
reason: This and other standard hybrids have
batteries designed to transfer large amounts of
power and remain in the mid-state of battery
charge (e.g. 40-60%). In contrast, PHEVs have
batteries that maximize energy transfers, and
charge/discharge across a much wider range (e.g.
20-90%). In practical terms, the lithium-ion PHEV
Prius batteries store 20-30 times more energy
than a standard nickel-metal hydride battery Prius.

Below we reprint a report and discussion at
AutoblogGreen about the feature and its
implications. But before, here's some background
about the significance of the EV Button.

Way back in October 2003, the new
third-generation Prius included a mysterious
non-functional black button to the left of the
steering wheel. New Prius owners (I included)
discovered that in Europe and Asia, this button
was marked "EV," and Americans wanted equal
opportunity. One Texas engineer figured out that
the American cars had the same circuitry; the
wires weren't hooked up. He explained how to do
it, and at PriusChat.com and at CalCars.org, we
helped publish the instructions (they're still a
popular download at <http://www.priusplus.org>).
CoastalETech.com sold little kits with all the
needed parts. At least several hundred people enabled the button in the U.S.

This "hidden feature" became the starting point
of our online-based open-source style project
that led to CalCars first PRIUS+, completed in
November 2004. It facilitated the designs of
other after-market conversions. At the time,
Toyota said it didn't enable the button in the US
because it would complicate emissions testing.
This never made much sense to us. We did
understand that Toyota saw enough confusion about
"gas-electric hybrids" that it wouldn't want a
button labelled "EV" in a car it has always
promoted "you don't have to plug it in."

Toyota's FAQ warned users not to install the
button. (The current version of its faq still
mentions the "switch," but now reads more
broadly, and confusingly, since there are 4 warranties in a hybrid:
http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2007/prius/key_features/launch_faq.html
25. Does Toyota support the modification of my
Prius to be a plug-in Hybrid and run on electric mode only with a switch?
Any such alterations, modifications or tampering
with the vehicle voids the warranty and is likely
to be counterproductive for air quality and Prius’ durability and safety.

Logically, Toyota should now ship 2008 Priuses
and its Lexus hybrids with the EV button enabled....


A few comments:

* Marc Geller, in his "Plugs and Cars" blog
<http://plugsandcars.blogspot.com/2007/02/toyota-hybrid-breakthrough-one-mile-ev\
.html>,
emphasizes that 1-mile limitation of the button
has nothing to do with the the type of battery used.
* We include excerpts from the Toyota press
release, noting with regret that,as it tries to
out-muscle Detroit, efficiency improvements pave
the way to bigger/heavier/more power. Toyota
didn't mention the button; the company singles
out: "four inches longer and three inches
wider...The new Highlander gained about 500
pounds, growing significantly in every dimension
and receiving extensive body and chassis
reinforcement, aimed specifically at achieving
best-in-class crash ratings. Not only were
engineers able to increase output to 270 net
horsepower, they were able to maintain Highlander
Hybrid's impressive fuel economy at 31 city and 27 highway."
* Many reader comments show how much people yearn to drive electrically.

AutoblogGreen
Chicago Auto Show: 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, now with EV ONLY mode!
Posted Feb 7th 2007 12:01PM by Sam Abuelsamid
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/02/07/chicago-auto-show-2008-toyota-highlander\
-hybrid-now-with-ev-on/

Today at the Chicago Auto Show, Toyota unveiled
the all-new 2008 Highlander Hybrid. Toyota has
upgraded the control system of the new Highlander
Hybrid so that they can increase the net output,
which is now up to 270 hp, an increase of 55 over
the first generation model. At the same time, the
mileage ratings remain the same at 31 city / 27
highway. The big news, if you can call it that, is the new Full EV mode.

That means there is a switch on the dash allowing
the driver to disable the internal combustion
engine and run on battery only. Unfortunately,
that battery is still a nickel metal hydride
type, which results in a whopping battery only
range of a whole mile! This really comes off as
more of an advertising gimmick than anything
truly useful. Aside from that, the hybrid
drivetrain is largely unchanged, although
everything else is. The new Highland is bigger,
wider, more luxurious and has airbags everywhere
including three rows of curtain airbags. The new
Highlander Hybrid will be available in July.


Toyota Launches 2008 Highlander And Highlander
Hybrid At The 2007 Chicago Auto Show

February 7, 2007 – Chicago - Toyota Motor Sales
(TMS), USA, Inc., unveiled the all-new
next-generation Highlander and Highlander Hybrid
mid-size sport utility vehicles (SUV) at a press
conference today at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show.

"Highlander holds a unique distinction within the
Toyota brand and within the industry," said Don
Esmond, TMS senior vice president, automotive
operations. "Along with the 4Runner and the FJ
Cruiser, it anchors one of the industry's only
three-vehicle, mid-size SUV line-ups. Equally
important, along with Prius and Camry Hybrid, it
is a key component in the industry's only three-vehicle hybrid strategy."

The 2008 Highlander is significantly larger,
roomier and more powerful than the vehicle it
replaces. Yet its fuel efficiency will be
virtually unchanged. It is noticeably quieter,
smarter, with improved versatility and ride
comfort. It will offer the highest level of
standard safety equipment in a segment where
safety is at the top of purchase considerations.
And, it's all wrapped in a package designed for
buyers who want to stand out and make a statement.
<snip>
On the outside, Highlander moves away from
traditional SUV styling cues with a statement of
strength instead of ruggedness; of intelligence
over toughness. Calty Design Research in Newport
Beach, Calif. sculpted clean, crisp lines, a
wide, stable stance and muscular contours to give
Highlander an advanced, contemporary, forceful and dynamic personality.

Highlander rides on an all-new chassis derived
from the current Camry and Avalon. It is nearly
four inches longer and three inches wider, with
an inch more ground clearance and three inches of additional wheelbase.
<snip>
When Highlander arrives in July, it will be
offered in Base, Sport and Limited grades. All
three grades will be powered by a new 3.5-liter
V6 that delivers an impressive 270 horsepower --
a 55 horsepower gain over the previous generation's 3.3-liter engine.

Two months later, the all-new Highlander Hybrid
will arrive at dealerships. Offered in both Base
and Limited grades, all Highlander hybrids will
feature Toyota's advanced VDIM stability system. The system integrates:
• full-time four-wheel drive with intelligence,
• electronic brake and throttle control,
• with true electronically-controlled active steering.

Highlander's advanced Hybrid Synergy Drive system
has been extensively upgraded and refined for
2008 for both power and economy. The new
Highlander gained about 500 pounds, growing
significantly in every dimension and receiving
extensive body and chassis reinforcement, aimed
specifically at achieving best-in-class crash
ratings. Not only were engineers able to increase
output to 270 net horsepower, they were able to
maintain Highlander Hybrid's impressive fuel economy at 31 city and 27 highway.
<snip>
"As you can see, the new Highlander has raised
the bar significantly," said Esmond. "Last year
we did the same with RAV4. And in about a year,
we'll do the same with both Land Cruiser and
Sequoia. The Toyota division now markets a
six-vehicle SUV lineup that appeals to specific
buyer demographics and life-stages. It is a
lineup that gives us enormous flexibility in
responding to shifts in the marketplace. We are
committed to keeping our products fresh and at the front of the pack."

Reader Comments

1. Nickel metal hydride batteries have a cycle
life of 500-1000 cycles. With a range of 1 mile,
that means that the useful life of this battery
in full electric mode is 500-1000 miles.
That's why no "mild hybrids" have ever had a full electric mode.
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-36.htm
Posted at 12:34PM on Feb 7th 2007 by Peter

5. It's not the battery type, it's the size of
the pack. I go 120 miles on NiMH in my RAV4 EV.
With more NiMH, the new Highlander would get more
EV range. It's Toyota's decision to give you
squat. Of course with more battery, logic would
compel a plug to the the cheaper, cleaner,
domestic electric grid. Not ready to go there yet
apparently. http://www.plugsandcars.blogspot.com
Posted at 1:24PM on Feb 7th 2007 by marc Geller

6. Even with a one-mile range, an EV-only option
is great! How many times do you have to shuffle
vehicles in your driveway by running their engine
for maybe 10 or 20 seconds? This can do away with
ALL of that, which is arguably the dirtiest kind
of driving you could do. Kudos, Toyota!
Besides... this will make is EASY to simply plug
in a different (bigger) battery pack. No more
hacking the system, just upgrade the battery! Sweet.
Posted at 1:27PM on Feb 7th 2007 by Andrew

7. Peter: there's more info for you on the web.
First, Toyota does not deep discharge its hybrid
packs. The state of charge (SOC) varies between
20 and 80%. EV only mode will not disable the SOC
limits. The BU article refers to full cycle in
consumer electronics. Second, while Toyota's
fully electric RAV-4 used different packs, these
have been running for more than 100,000 miles in
fleet use since the mid-1990s. Battery packs in
well designed hybrids like Toyota's last for the life of the vehicle.
Posted at 1:42PM on Feb 7th 2007 by Ron Fischer

8. The RAV4 uses the same battery chemistry but
has a much higher capacity. That is why it lasts for 100,000 miles.
Cycle Life x Range = Battery Life
So 1000 cycles x 120 miles = 120,000 miles (Rav4 EV)
But 1000 cycles x 1 mile = 1000 miles (Highlander hybrid)
Even if they avoid deep cycle discharge, 1000
cycles is a generous estimate. 500 is more common
and don't forget that the batteries in a car are
exposed to heat, cold, and vibration. The bench
tests from the link I sent were performed in controlled conditions.
Posted at 1:54PM on Feb 7th 2007 by Peter

10. One mile seems like nothing - but people
drive these distances! I'm working on a project
for a town that is so unpedestrian friendly, that
they drive from store to store in their business
district, way less than a mile. I live about a
mile from a train station, and I usually walk, but more people drive.
How much do you think range would improve if you
yanked out the 3.5l engine and the transmission,
put in a smaller ICE engine to power the brakes,
steering, etc if necessary... I think range would
improve alot if you pulled all that weight.
Now it is just up to owners of these new cars to
feedback to Toyota and tell them to increase the range.
Posted at 4:00PM on Feb 7th 2007 by Dave

12. Please keep in mind that the "EV" button
doesn't add any complexity to the car -- all of
Toyota's hybrids support full EV mode, and the
Japanese market Prius and some European-market
Prius models have come with the "EV" button for years.
The performance of the "EV" mode, although very
limited in range, is seamless and automatic. When
the battery charge falls below a certain level,
the gas engine automatically kicks in and the
vehicle enters normal operation mode.
It's not going to be a big feature for most
people, just a fun diversion/experiment from time to time.
In normal driving, the hybrid system enters "all
electric" mode all the time, sometimes several
times a second -- all transparent to the driver.
The button just enables a part of the software
which allows you to demand that the vehicle stay
in that mode as long as possible.
Posted at 10:23PM on Feb 7th 2007 by Bob R.