LC - Auto Hybrid Engine Shut Off - Not Engaging

[LCColorado]

I have almost 5k on my LC LC. I am very disappointed in the hybrid performance. Yes it is fast and has lots of torque around town. But, when I place my order I was lead to believe that it would get much better gas mileage and range. I hate having to go the the gas station all the time. I also assumed it would perform like other Toyota hybrid vehicles and have much more electric driving. For me it drives more like a fancy refined engine start/stop system for stoplights. I love the design I just wish I had the twin v6 like on the 550 with a 30 gal tank. All electric mode rarely happens with the way I drive I guess. Sea level.

I’m sorry if someone mislead you, but any Toyota hybrid that is isn’t a car/crossover SUV the hybrid systems are all about making power. They might get better MPG sometimes, but that isn’t the main goal of the engine. Just look at the TT V6 hybrid, that’s all about power, not efficiency.

FWIW the GX only has a 21 gallon tank, and because the MPG is even worse the range is about the same.

 

[BirdCruiser]

I agree. If not for gas savings why give it a 17 gal tank? I think the engineers missed the mark and had to eat some humble pie. 17 gal tank was already specified in production and they had to roll with it. Remember when it was first released and they were estimating 27-28 mpg? Then EPA bumped it down to 20-23. And now "real world" is less than that if the consensus on the forum is correct. There was a misconception for sure. Great esthetic and design but fell short on the powertrain.

 

[jnsplace]

Space and weight, likely. space is a premium, and perhaps a bigger tank would have required a bigger frame?

 

[MuddyDog]

The hybrid in the LC is more for power/torque then mpg. For the LC to operate more like the hybrid in the RV4, it would need a bigger battery.
You can get electric only for a short distance when driving slowly with little to no acceleration on your neighborhood streets (25 or less) as long as you have been driving long enough to charge up the battery and have not been driving aggressively or in sport mode.

But, maybe an update from Toyota adding a quasi-hybrid mode might provide slightly better hybrid performance geared around mpg instead of power for those that want to increase their mpg under normal around town driving. Toyota, you listening out there? Can that be done or are there inherent limits to the system where what we have now is what we got?

 

[LCColorado]

The hybrid in the LC is more for power/torque then mpg. For the LC to operate more like the hybrid in the RV4, it would need a bigger battery.
You can get electric only for a short distance when driving slowly with little to no acceleration on your neighborhood streets (25 or less) as long as you have been driving long enough to charge up the battery and have not been driving aggressively or in sport mode.

But, maybe an update from Toyota adding a quasi-hybrid mode might provide slightly better hybrid performance geared around mpg instead of power for those that want to increase their mpg under normal around town driving. Toyota, you listening out there? Can that be done or are there inherent limits to the system where what we have now is what we got?

The battery is pretty small, I feel like it would fully deplete too quickly to make that work.

 

[EOD Guy]

The hybrid in the LC is more for power/torque then mpg. For the LC to operate more like the hybrid in the RV4, it would need a bigger battery.
You can get electric only for a short distance when driving slowly with little to no acceleration on your neighborhood streets (25 or less) as long as you have been driving long enough to charge up the battery and have not been driving aggressively or in sport mode.

But, maybe an update from Toyota adding a quasi-hybrid mode might provide slightly better hybrid performance geared around mpg instead of power for those that want to increase their mpg under normal around town driving. Toyota, you listening out there? Can that be done or are there inherent limits to the system where what we have now is what we got?

I agree with you on the power/torque, but I have had "all electric drive" at 60+ mph on numerous occasions.

 

[AMP]

I agree with you on the power/torque, but I have had "all electric drive" at 60+ mph on numerous occasions.

Wow - that’s wild. Yea I’ve hit all electric but it’s all sub 25 mph…basically idle. I doubt I’ll ever hit those speeds in EV mode living in Colorado. As mentioned in my original post, I really think the lack of oxygen(9500+ft elevation) drastically affects how/when the models switches on.

 

[AMP]

Has anyone else found that the cold weather greatly affects the Electric Motor kicking on?

 

[cvx5832LC]

Has anyone else found that the cold weather greatly affects the Electric Motor kicking on?

Yes, as in it's not going into electric mode as much. That said, no effect to mpg, in fact it's gone up a little bit with the colder air.

 

[Esquire]

Yes, as in it's not going into electric mode as much. That said, no effect to mpg, in fact it's gone up a little bit with the colder air.

Similar here as well as the weather cools.

 

[spietros]

Do this -
1. drive into a parking lot and stop.
2. put it in park.
3. put your foot back on the brake and put it in gear WITHOUT touching the gas.
4. take your foot off the break it will start to cruise around in electric mode until you put your foot on the gas

Mine cruises around in electric all the time if I am not putting my foot on the gas. You will see the Tachometer arm disappear when it is in electric mode.

 

[Esquire]

Do this -
1. drive into a parking lot and stop.
2. put it in park.
3. put your foot back on the brake and put it in gear WITHOUT touching the gas.
4. take your foot off the break it will start to cruise around in electric mode until you put your foot on the gas

Mine cruises around in electric all the time if I am not putting my foot on the gas. You will see the Tachometer arm disappear when it is in electric mode.

I will play with it a bit as well in the neighborhood just to see how long I can keep it in electric.

 

[bennettlo]

It's also important to know that you need to drive intentionally to take advantage of the battery. I believe the most likely reason you won't see more electric usage is based entirely on gas pedal pressure.

If the engine is warm and the battery is charged enough (maaybe 30-40%) it will shut off the engine at a stop. If you meet those conditions and barely touch the gas you will see usage while driving...mostly when coasting. I primarily drive in ECO, but it seems to occur in Normal too; just less often.

 

[HWMOldster]

Mine will go battery only at any speed if the load is reduced. I drove from NE Florida to KC and back for Thanksgiving, and cruise control went battery only pretty much on every downhill set to 80mph.

 

[sailcalifornia]

Mine will go battery only at any speed if the load is reduced. I drove from NE Florida to KC and back for Thanksgiving, and cruise control went battery only pretty much on every downhill set to 80mph.

Noticed this too and wondering the group thoughts, anytime i downshifted on long hills, the engine stays on the whole time, and i think the engine braking with the small motor is kind of crap. On the flip side, if you lease on CC, i think it uses the electric engine to do regenerative braking and slow the car that way, but no way to know for sure that its not just the regular brakes.

 

[cvx5832LC]

I’ve learned from this board how to deliberately do regen on a downhill slope. If you have the brake lights activated on the instrument panel, step on the brake as much as you can without the lights coming on. With some practice is easy enough to do.

It’s not much but that’s how you know you’ve started to use pads vs just regen.

 

[Island Time]

I have almost 5k on my LC LC. I am very disappointed in the hybrid performance. Yes it is fast and has lots of torque around town. But, when I place my order I was lead to believe that it would get much better gas mileage and range. I hate having to go the the gas station all the time. I also assumed it would perform like other Toyota hybrid vehicles and have much more electric driving. For me it drives more like a fancy refined engine start/stop system for stoplights. I love the design I just wish I had the twin v6 like on the 550 with a 30 gal tank. All electric mode rarely happens with the way I drive I guess. Sea level.

Picked up our LC last day of November, was not expecting great mileage (heavy body on frame truck) and enjoyed how nimble at traffic light during test drive. Now haven been on the highway and mixed use to break in, am very disappointed with lame highway driving, cannot keep up with traffic because engine keeps dying and then restarts at 1200 rpm where turbo does nothing and we limp along. Not my idea of safe, my old 3rd gen with 2.7 four was more alive and rev happy, compared to this turbo hybrid LC. Taking LC into the dealer, not going to live with a beater after paying all that money.

 

[cvx5832LC]

How many miles?