INTRODUCTION

I have had instances with some clients, not familiar with the operations of hybrid electric vehicles, and who at the same time, considering owning a hybrid or electric vehicle, of any brand, called to asks if the the mode of driving such vehicles are somewhat the same with known conventional vehicles around town. Some would even want to know how to drive one, if eventually they get to own one.

SO HOW DO YOU POWER ON THE VEHICLE?
In some of the known hybrid electric vehicle brands, like Ford fusion, and Toyota's Camry/Prius etc., the following steps should shed more light on powering on(or starting such vehicles)

1. READY LIGHT MUST BE LIT ON THE DASHBOARD. Depending on the brand of hybrid electric car you've got, some automakers have configured their car's "starting operations", to be only when the READY LIGHT IS LIT ON THE DASHBOARD. Without such indication signs coming onboard, the vehicle would never start.

Making the READY LIGHT come on, means that(a) your right hand foot must be depressed on the brake pedal, (b)while your right hand or finger is pressed m or turns the key, depending on what start system function your car has.

Camry, and some Prius, has a start button system, whilst Ford fusion hybrid, and some older model highlander and prius hybrids came equipped with a traditional car keys lots.

2. ALLOW THE ENGINE TO RUN FEW SECONDS BEFORE DRIVING. In these vehicles, immediately the READY LIGHT COMES ON, pls DON'T DRIVE YOUR CAR IMMEDIATELY. AT THIS STAGE, IT'S
ONLY THE ENGINE THAT IS RUNNING (IDLING)

To reduced emissions output, and to allowed the engine more efficient, manufacturers, have deigned the engine's ECU, in such a way that it immediately starts the car, in order to warm the engine up, and the catalytic converters. This prevents prevents engine wear problems, and helps lubrications of internal engine components.

3. COMMENCE DRIVING. After the engine has stopped working, engage the car in D/R, depending on your choice, but this time, with the the brake pedal depressed.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THE ENGINE HAS STOPPED WORKING? You get to know this when there's a sudden silence from the engine. This is the stage where one or all of the electric motors are driving or moving the car, without the engine coming on.

4. DO NOT DRIVE AGGRESSIVELY ON STARTUPS . Driving this way, exerts more "juice" from the energy storage system(high voltage battery), and would put more strain on the battery an a frequent engine cycling (the engine keeps coming on, to help with replenishment of lost energy.

The more you accelerate beyond 10km/hr, the engine itself comes onboard, to provide the much needed boost to the electric portion of the car.

5. DO NOT DRIVE WITHOUT THE AC COOLING SYSTEM. The cabin cooling system is meant to provide cooling, not only to the occupants of the vehicle, but also to the high voltage battery pack behind the car. In some cars, vent homes are provided, at the passenger side rear (for Prius), at the middle of the windshield at the rear(for Camry), and underneath the rear middle seats (for highlanders).

Driving without the AC cooling system ON, would quickly shorten the lifespan of the hybrid pack. All hybrid electric vehicle compressors are electrically powered, and efficient, that's why they do not run off of the engine to burn fuels. It does not exert any loads on the engine, like a conventional vehicle, where the load on the engine from the AC cooling system, automatically means fuel consumption.


CONCLUSION
Knowing how to power up a hybrid electric car, and driving it more efficiently, is the key to sustainable ownership.

Getting to know these tips, affords you increased fuel economy, and a reductions on your emissions footprints.


Thanks for reading.



Regards

The region that tells you the engine is running.
This was for a 2008 Camry hybrid.
The indicator stays at that point, for some few seconds, before it falls down to the zero mark.
Do not engage the transmission system at the point where the indicator is UP!

At this region, the engine is silent totally, and the car is on electric mode.
You can drive safely now, without putting more stress on the hybrid battery, and the engine.

It should be noted that as the engine is running, there is no energy flowing from the hybrid battery, or vice verse.
Notice that the energy monitor on this 2008 Prius is stagnant without any energy flow.

READY LIGHT ON on the dashboard of a hybrid Highlander 2010

A Ford fusion 2012 with only the ignition system on. This car has a key slot for keys, and not a start button system.
Notice how dim the dashboard lights are.

The Ford fusion hybrid with it in READY.

The green arrow shows the hybrid battery of a 2010 highlander discharging into the load(driving the car).

Engage the transmission system in D/R, depending on your choice.

NB: Allow the engine to be in electric mode before moving. This helps reduce your carbon footprints, and conserves fuel consumption.

Thanks for sharing.

Please op does honda clarity work just like a regular hybrid? Can you work on such vehicle if it’s battery pack was to develop issues?

Conner44. What trim of Honda clarity do you own? Electric, plug In hybrid, or fuel cell? Any of the trims have one or more characteristics of a regular hybrid vehicle.

TRYGO:
Conner44. What trim of Honda clarity do you own? Electric, plug In hybrid, or fuel cell? Any of the trims have one or more characteristics of a regular hybrid vehicle.

I wish to drive a hybrid next and I looked at the clarity plug in variant. I like the figures on its mpg for the battery pack and it’s engine. The engineering on that clarity is superb. I was just wondering if it’s also that complicated to work on considering it has an engine and battery that can work independently of each other.

Conner44. If you're considering one, go for either of the plugin, or full electric(BEV). Although the hydrogen cell ones has massive MPG, but we seem not to have the skills at the moment, fixing that trim. But for the others (electric, or plugin), there are people that can fixed em up!

YOU SUDDENLY TRIED STARTING YOUR CAR, AND REALISED THE HYBRID SYSTEM ISN'T COMING ON(DID NOT START).

There many things that could caused your vehicle not to start.
I'm just going to try my best, to give just a few.

WHAT IS THE BASIC THINGS TO DO FIRST?!

Here's what I think you could do in the interim, to get you out of the situation, or with a DIYer diagnosis:

1. Try using another remote key for the car, if you've got an extra key fob reprogrammed.
If you try starting it with the extra key, and it works, that means your previous remote key is bad, and probably has a broken board.

2. A bad or weak 12V battery could prevent the hybrid system from coming on.
If you try starting the car, and noticed the dashboard lights are dimmed as in the Ford fusion hybrid with pictures above, that tells you the battery is weak or dead.

Have the battery replaced before going further.

You could actually try jump starting the car, using a battery from a donor vehicle.

Always ensure the battery jump start cables are properly clamped on the battery terminals before starting.

IF AFTER GOING THROUGH THE CHECKS ABOVE, AND YOU CAN'T START THE VEHICLE, you can now try this last option.

Use the EMERGENCY PROCEDURE TO START THE CAR, as follows:
1. Make sure the transmission system is set to the P range.

2. Just like is obtainable in conventional vehicles, with accessories(ACC), Ignitions (IGN), and state options, so it is applicable on these vehicles.
Depending on the type of start system mechanism on your vehicle, set the mode of the ignition systems to accessories (ACC). This I'd achieved by PRESSING THE START BUTTON ONCE!

3. While in that mode(ACC), apply your foot on the brake pedals, with your finger pressing the start button for about 10-15seconds.


RESULTS
If it starts, that tells you the system has issues, that needs further diagnosis. If it still does not start, it still means you've to consult a hybrid fixer to troubleshoot the more.

Here are some video links to help:

First video, shows a NO READY light



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEBslhIRDaE



Second video, shows a READY LIGHT display



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPCAi8iz3xw


I hope this short piece comes would helped you someday.