Hybrid operation

[teghogh]

Watching the instrument cluster with the middle set to hybrid imax/ force gauge is quite interesting and provides good information on the the inner working of the motor f/ engine operation. However sometimes 0-20 or 10-20mph under light throttle the engine seems to bug down and I’m not noticing the motor helping. So despite the big lower end torque values the truck does not feel like it has lots of low end torque unless at full throttle.
A friend of mine was riding with me for the first time and he asked whether the transmission is cvt due to bogging down feeling at low speeds.
The 30-50 however is quite torquey feeling and fun
Does anyone else feel the engine struggling just off the line ?

 

[6-funk]

I have noticed that it is mushy and very cvt like., with a light throttle from a stop. I 've spent most of my time in the eco mode and like my old Prius that definitely softened the pedal feel. But I noticed it in normal mode as well. I wondered how often it starts in 2nd gear, so I tried it in Manual in first, but it was that same feeling. The electric motor in our trucks acts as the torque converter. If the motor isn't electrified I imagine the engine is spinning all that mass, maybe that's why it feels like that. But when the motor and turbo kick in it's fun!

 

[Onyx]

Watching the instrument cluster with the middle set to hybrid imax/ force gauge is quite interesting and provides good information on the the inner working of the motor f/ engine operation. However sometimes 0-20 or 10-20mph under light throttle the engine seems to bug down and I’m not noticing the motor helping. So despite the big lower end torque values the truck does not feel like it has lots of low end torque unless at full throttle.
A friend of mine was riding with me for the first time and he asked whether the transmission is cvt due to bogging down feeling at low speeds.
The 30-50 however is quite torquey feeling and fun
Does anyone else feel the engine struggling just off the line ?

Yes. I believe this is how this particular engine set up behaves as "normal". That brief moment of pause while kicking in the electric motor and then transition into HV engine makes it feel like a lag when the car goes from dead stop off the line.

 

[dpgoat]

Yes, mushy and engine struggling just off the line is a good way to describe it.

 

[teghogh]

Off the line hybrid performance is really terrible. I’m not sure what is going on here. The truck should never struggle in this situation given the amount of low end torque available just on the motor side. But what i often see is that the motor doesn’t not. Help in these situation ( per iforce max gauge ) and you are relying on engine only. What interesting is that my steep incline goin home has no issues at 40-60mph range as I do see the motor being used but the low speed at very moderate inclines is a struggle. I’m not sure if the transmission is starting at second gear in these senarios but the engine bugging sensation is real and embarrassing considering the hp tq numbers. I will have to start driving the car in manual mode to remedy this

 

[teghogh]

On a positive note the transmission is really responsive in Manual mode and it is engaging to drive

 

[cvx5832LC]

On a positive note the transmission is really responsive in Manila mode and it is engaging to drive

What's Manila mode? And how many miles on this rig?

 

[LaughingRaven]

We have a 2025 LC 250 and the electric motor never seems to cut in. If we are stopped at a light or driving under 50km/hr, the electric motor works but other than that, it’s basically a gas vehicle. In contrast, my friend has a Tacoma Trailhunter and he said his truck is constantly in the electric mode and can be all the way up to 80km/hr while he is cruising. Is there something we are missing? It is winter here in Canada so maybe the LC just isn’t getting warm enough?
Anyone else experiencing that the LC just seems to be a gas powered vehicle?

 

[Ed1]

Judging just from looking at the tachometer going off in electric mode, my 2024 LC is almost never, or maybe never, driving in electric mode with the gas engine off. The only times the tach goes off is at stoplights or when coasting with very light or no foot pressure on the gas pedal. This is with the driving mode set at ECO.

 

[NoMe cruiser]

We have a 2025 LC 250 and the electric motor never seems to cut in. If we are stopped at a light or driving under 50km/hr, the electric motor works but other than that, it’s basically a gas vehicle. In contrast, my friend has a Tacoma Trailhunter and he said his truck is constantly in the electric mode and can be all the way up to 80km/hr while he is cruising. Is there something we are missing? It is winter here in Canada so maybe the LC just isn’t getting warm enough?
Anyone else experiencing that the LC just seems to be a gas powered vehicle?

I would ask your friend if you can accompany him or her in their trailhunter and take a look at the rpm’s to check if it is constantly in electric mode.

 

[ferrari1898]

With the relatively small battery, the electric motor is leveraged to help getting moving while the turbo spools up before transitioning to the turbo. The electric is also used going up hills to help limits RPMs and the turbos boost.

A couple things that I have noticed.

1 - For the first 1000 miles or so the electric is reluctant to engage; to help the gasoline engine to break itself in.
2 - Eco mode seems to bog the Toyota down. Outside our neighborhood there is a busy street and several times in eco mode it struggled to get going when I turned on the busy street. the MPG between ego can standard is nominal.

 

[qberg]

IMO, eco mode is only good for driving on the highway. If you are coming to regular stops or what I'd call suburban driving, just use normal mode so it doesn't dull the accelerator input so badly.

 

[ferrari1898]

IMO, eco mode is only good for driving on the highway. If you are coming to regular stops or what I'd call suburban driving, just use normal mode so it doesn't dull the accelerator input so badly.

I would debate even how well the ECO mode does on the highway. I noticed the battery gauge would typically be at 1/3 or so while in ECO as the electric tries to help as much as it can. Compared to in standard mode will tend to stay more charged but is able to better assist better when extra oomph is needed.

Additionally in the city, ECO would have the gas engine engage and disengage a LOT more frequently. The MPG difference I have seen is less than 1mpg and the Toyota is MUCH more fun to drive out of ECO.

 

[TrailWhale]

I wish eco mode would tell the turbo to chill out a little bit. Getting moving at stop signs on a cold morning, it's like a child gasping for air while learning to swim. I saw some folks talking about cold air intakes, i was wondering if my LC instead needed a hot air intake.