I have a few questions that have come up after reading many of these threads. 1.) I've read that the battery can get "low". If this is true, how does the battery recharge itself if it's low? 2.) How long does the battery last for before it needs to be replaced? 3.) If you don't have to use a key to start the ignition (just a button), how do you turn off the engine? Do you hit the start button again? Thanks!
Search around also, but here's some help ... 1) The computer(s) keeps the hybrid battery in a correct state of charge automatically. It's something like between 40 - 60% state of charge at all times. The gasoline engine recharges the battery, and regenerative braking also works to charge as well. 2) Someone just reported turning 200,000 miles on a 2004 Prius with original battery. Another reported needing a new one at 110,000 on a 2001. 3) Yes, you do. Hit button again to power down. It's a quick process to get going btw. I hit the power button, wait just a few seconds and put the car in drive or reverse.
just to clear things up for the newb. there have (somehow) been complications in the past. the power button is like an ignition key, in the sense that it has 3 phases to it. there is pressing it without the brake down.. which will put it into accessory mode.. or similar to having the key turned back. then if you press it again without the brake pedal, it goes into ign on... or similar to having a key forward. (radio + window controls, lights, etc) if you press it again, without the brake, it shuts back off. at any one of those two times, if you were to hold down the brake pedal and press the power key, it goes into "ready" mode. (or from off to ready mode) once on, you can turn the car off anytime while stopped by pressing the power button. if you forget to set the parking gear, or parking brake, the car engages the parking pin automatically before shutting down.. every time... and just because you might ask, no. you can't "shift" while driving... if you're under 8mph, you can probably switch between D and R with no problems.. but don't hit P... because the car will attempt to drop the parking pin.. and it's really NOT fun to experience. (i've experienced it a couple times)
Hmmm, I always use my parking brake but I always power off before pushing it down. So the car has already put itself in Park. Are you saying that if I keep my right foot on the brake and push the parking brake in with my left foot, THEN push Power, it won't go into Park? Actually you can. You can bounce between Drive and Braking. Not something everyone does every day but if you are coasting down a hill in D and have to keep your foot on the brake to hold speed, you can push the shifter straight down (back in the 2010 I guess) into B so the engine compression will slow the car more than the regen braking system. This will, by the way, cancel Cruise Control if you have a speed set. Presumably you can also attempt to go from D to R or Park at higher speeds and the car will either ignore you or go to N (since it is WAY smarter than anyone who would do that). As I'm not willing to try it, I'll let others confirm or deny this behavior.
