How to PHEV work with the ice engine warming up

01-09-2023 7:14pm #1

I was wondering if anyone knows, do PHEV warm or micro run the combustion engine in any way when driving on electric?

Example would be I live beside the M50, my commute to M50 is all on electric and then when I get up to 120 as I am merging the combustion engine kicks in. Surely this can't be good for the combustion engine that the second it turns on its doing 120 without having been warned up at all.

Do these cars do any sort of pre conditioning of the engine or is it exactly like the above..

Thanks

Jrbeire · 01-09-2023 7:26pm

Exactly as above - bear in mind that the engine won’t necessarily be under massive load if you’re holding a stable speed as it cuts in

01-09-2023 7:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121057785#Comment_121057785

Agree not under massive load but it's definitely not good for the engine as it would be if it's allowed to build temperature gradually.

When I first got mine I was testing the acceleration (claimed 250bhp electric motor and petrol working together) and I was absolutely gunning it after a few mins thinking the engine had warmed up, that's a recipe for disaster in hindsight.

jeremyr62 · 01-09-2023 8:16pm

The engines tend to use low viscosity oil so unless it was a really cold day and you really thrashed it, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I did the same when I got my PHEV but I learned my lesson.

kanuseeme · 01-09-2023 10:33pm

3000 rpm in first gear @ 12kph = 3000 rpm in 8th gear @ 120 kph

I think the rpm is more important, the engine does not know what speed is, you would think nothing of 12 kph when cold but 120 kph seems worse, wear is wear, but its less in a phev.

Padre_Pio · 02-09-2023 6:22am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058311837/how-to-phev-work-with-the-ice-engine-warming-up

As above, your engine regularly gets to high RPM at low speed/ low gear without the chance to get warm.

Most people would get to at least 80kph within 30 seconds of starting the engine, some near motorways would get to 120.

I wouldn't worry too much about it, it'll heat fairly quickly either way. Petrol engines don't even need to be "run in" anymore.

Buffman · 02-09-2023 11:21am

Ye, using petrol to run the engine just to 'pre-warm' would be a complete waste of fuel and negate the benefits of a PHEV.

If such an option was there, the car wouldn't know when it's required to come on without the driver telling it, and 99.9% of motorists wouldn't have a clue how to use it correctly.

Atlantic Dawn · 02-09-2023 12:48pm

Sort of related question...On a cold winters morning on start-up would a PHEV use the ICE to heat up the cabin of the car or are they fitted with some kind of heat pump type device like in EV's? I know in most if not all hybrids the internal cabin heater requires the ICE to function when weather is cold.

02-09-2023 3:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121059903#Comment_121059903

I haven't had to do it on mine yet but I'm pretty sure I can pre condition the car via the app which uses the plug electric source to heat it. It uses battery for cold AC so not sure why the same wouldn't apply to heat the car

Alun · 02-09-2023 4:47pm

On my KIA niro PHEV the engine is needed to provide cabin heating, the AC is electric though, so no guarantee. I understand BMW PHEVs have an electric heater, no idea about other manufacturers though.

jeremyr62 · 02-09-2023 4:50pm

My Golf PHEV will heat the cabin without the ICE running. It kills the range so I wear lots of clothes. You get used to it.

Alun · 02-09-2023 4:51pm

On mine, when the engine is running to provide heating it's also charging the battery so not a complete waste of petrol.

kanuseeme · 03-09-2023 11:22am

BMW's have electrical heating, some of the higher spec outlanders also, I had a Toyota Prius phev with no heating, but the AC in it and the base spec outlander worked on electric.

I think phevs are more damp, maybe I am imagining it, but with less engine heat naturally getting into the cabin they seem to be more wet, I bought a 800 watt heater for my outlander, I never got around to installing it and gave it to the new owner.

there should not be a need for it, a simple electric element does not cost that much for a car manufacturer to install.

I work in a factory, so I prefer the car to be cold rather than taking on and off a jacket, but one thing is for sure, if the window is fogging up, the heat comes on, no point crashing to save a few euros worth of fuel over the winter months.

How to PHEV work with the ice engine warming up

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