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PHEV - over-revving and using petrol whist in Electric mode

Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 9:16 am
by NFMC
Hi - even when fully charged my PHEV engine will kick in after about 30 seconds. The energy flow graphics on the dashboard shows that the engine is sending power to the battery and the battery is sending power to the wheels.

It then seems to stop after a few miles and then will happen off and on throughout the electric charge.

Tends to happen regardless of whether it's particularly cold or if the AC or lights are on or off. It's using petrol (not lots) and is noisy.

Is there a simple setting I can change or do I have to take it back to the dealer?

Thanks.

Re: PHEV - over-revving and using petrol whist in Electric mode

Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 10:12 am
by radar2018
Press the "off" button below the demister button, for some reason there is something "on " even though there are no indicator lights on, pressing this button on my car immediatly stops the engine running

Re: PHEV - over-revving and using petrol whist in Electric mode

Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 6:22 pm
by MattyJWard
I am a Niro PHEV rookie too (well, a few weeks in) and had the same issue. However, thanks to posts here established that the engine will indeed kick in if the windscreen de-mister is on or the AC/HV running when cold. Press ‘off’ and you should kill the engine. My understanding is that it is not propelling the vehicle, simply powering the heating and possibly recharging batteries. In an ideal world, the battery would also power these extra needs so that those of us who bought the PHEV to be emission-free on short journeys could indeed be that! The advice seems to be to clear the window then switch off and rely on steering wheel and heat warmth for short trips...

Re: PHEV - over-revving and using petrol whist in Electric mode

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2019 5:38 pm
by niroal
Agreed, any outside temperature below about 14c would cause the engine to kick in unless the heating was turned fully off. AC can run on electric, but actual car heating is combustion engine only.

Re: PHEV - over-revving and using petrol whist in Electric mode

Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2019 8:49 pm
by Bigbob
I have had my PHEV for nearly two years. It has taken me that time to understand it! Can I offer the following:

1. If it is cold switch to hybrid mode. If you do not do this the engine takes ages to warm up because it is essentially idling with traction coming from the electric motor. If you activate hybrid you are then putting engine power through the drive so the engine works harder and warms up faster. When you are toasty switch to EV mode.

2. If you move to sport mode and change gear manually you will recharge the battery quite quickly. Now, it depends on what you want but on a long journey it can be worth it to get enough charge to take you through traffic in electric mode. Clearly if you can get to a charger it is cheaper to plug in.

The manual is silent on All of this and I have discovered this by experimentation. I have found that if you work at it you can manage the engine.

I offer it for for what it may be worth.

Overall a great car.

Re: PHEV - over-revving and using petrol whist in Electric mode

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2019 5:47 pm
by davethesteam
Agree with Radar2018 - yes, the engine does kick in at start up even though the big battery is fully charged. I do as they suggest - hit the 'Off' button on bottom left hand side of Aircon group and that does kill the engine ALTHOUGH if its cold out there, so are you.
I will try Bigbob's idea of using HEV but if an HEV only run I did is anything to go by, the mpg really does go to hell in handbasket (ca 49)