What is ev mode in a car

You’ll find that most hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars have a button marked EV or EV mode – perhaps among a choice of other driving modes or as an individual button somewhere on the dashboard or centre console. But what does EV mode do, and when is it best to use it?

EV generally stands for Electric Vehicle in the motor industry, and that’s exactly what this refers to here. Activating the EV mode stops your hybrid car using the petrol or diesel engine and instead forces it to use the electric motor to propel itself.

In order for this to work, the hybrid in question must first have the capability of driving on electric power alone, and second have enough battery capacity available for the electric motor to take over. As such, how often and when you’re best to use EV mode will vary between different types of hybrid.

What kinds of hybrids have an EV mode?

For a hybrid to have an EV mode, it must have an electric motor powerful enough to drive the entire car and a big enough battery for the e-motor to use as a power source.

So while ‘mild hybrid’ cars don’t have an EV mode, conventional hybrids, such as the so-called self-charging hybrids sold by Toyota and others, do generally have this option. This is because although most Toyota hybrids only have a very small battery for the electric motor, they are still able to drive along without turning on the petrol engine for short distances.

EV mode has become much more significant as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have become more common. These have much large electric drive batteries that work alongside their petrol or diesel combustion engines, enabling them to function as 100% electric vehicles for several miles at a time.

Almost all car manufactures now offer at least one plug-in hybrid, so if you’re a new PHEV driver and want to know how to get the most out of the EV mode, keep reading.

What are the advantages to using EV mode?

Where available, EV mode stops your car using petrol or diesel and instead relies on the e-motor and batteries.

This is good news for your bank balance, because electricity is still cheaper than petrol and diesel, so using EV mode as much as you can makes your car cheaper to run.

It’s also good news for local emissions, as when running on the electric motor a hybrid or PHEV produces nothing from its exhaust.

Your car will also be quieter with the combustion engine turned off.

Are there any disadvantages?

The car’s performance may be reduced, as the electric motor will be less powerful on its own than in combination with the regular engine.

You may not notice this very much at low speeds, however, due to the comparatively high amount of torque (pulling power) e-motors produce, making them feel quite effortless to drive.

It’s also worth thinking about the best time to use EV mode to make the most of it.

When is it best to use EV mode?

PHEVs and hybrids make best use of EV mode at lower speeds – particularly when driving around town.

The stop-start nature of urban and city centre traffic will even help to keep the batteries topped up. Which is why although many self-charging hybrids only have very short EV driving ranges, you’ll find they are able to use EV mode much more of the time than you might expect in these situations.

PHEVs in particular are perfectly capable of driving at higher speeds using EV mode; you’ll just find that this uses the battery up much more quickly.

Still, since some plug-in hybrids have electric-only driving ranges of 50 miles or more, you may find that you can cover lots of journeys without ever troubling the conventional engine. This is why PHEVs often have such enormously high official fuel economy figures – though being plug-in hybrids, to get the best out of them you will have to charge the batteries from the main electricity grid in order to keep them topped up.

If you’re wondering about how to drive a Toyota hybrid the best way, the company has a full guide to maximising the efficiency of its system in its own online magazine.

Do I have to turn EV mode on?

EV mode is typically thought of as a specific function that forces your hybrid or PHEV to use the electric motor as long as there is battery power available. It’s up to you whether you use this function.

However, if left to their own devices – in the Normal or Auto driving mode, for example – the car will also try and use the batteries and electric motor as much as possible to maximise efficiency. In many cars you’ll find an EV light popping up on the dashboard to tell you when this is happening.

Some of the very latest PHEV models, such as those from BMW, will even use sat-nav and route data to work out the most efficient points on the route to use EV mode, all by themselves. We’ve found the usefulness of this to be a little variable in practice, though, so you may find it’s still better to make the decisions about when to use EV mode yourself.

Is EV mode the same as Eco mode?

No. EV mode is specifically related to driving with the electric motor, and is only available in hybrids and PHEVs that have this functionality. Many other types of car have an Eco mode – so what is an Eco mode?

Eco mode is also designed to improve mpg and reduce running costs, but it typically does this by limiting engine power or reducing the energy used by accessories such as the air-conditioning. So while you can use Eco mode all the time – and EV mode only when there is enough battery capacity – you may find the car a little too slow in some situations. As well as uncomfortable in extremes of hot and cold weather.

Power mode (sometimes PWR mode) is another common feature in many different types of car, and this does the opposite to Eco mode – maximises performance for the greatest speed at the cost of increased fuel consumption and higher emissions.

Do all EV modes work in the same way?

The basic function is the same across all models, but the results and changes to the way the car drives may be subtly different.

For instance, while many normal hybrid cars have the electric motor integrated into the gearbox or transmission, on a plug-in hybrid its more likely to be located separately. Sometimes, such as on Volvo plug-in hybrid models, this means the electric motor drives the rear wheels while the petrol or diesel engine drives the front wheels.

In this instance, when operating together, both forms of propulsion give the vehicle four-wheel drive. But when operating in EV mode, the car becomes rear-wheel drive only – something that can have a dramatic impact on the driving experience, especially in slippery conditions.

Aug 26, 2020

Did you know that many Toyota hybrid and plug-in hybrid models feature an EV (Electric Vehicle) Mode? Did you know it was there and just not know what it did? We are here to help at Earnhardt Toyota. EV Mode is a feature available in many Toyota hybrids that include your 2020 Toyota Prius and the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime. With EV Mode enabled, your Toyota hybrid receives power from the hybrid battery and high-torque electric motor. When you choose EV Mode, you can drive your 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime with pure electric power at low speeds for up to 42 miles. Learn how to use the Toyota hybrid EV Mode with this quick guide and find a fuel-efficient option when you visit the Earnhardt Toyota inventory! 

READ MORE: How To Use Toyota Smart Key® with Push Button Start

1. Press the EV Mode Button on the Center Console 
2. EV Mode Indicator will Appear on the Multi-Information Display 
3. Press the EV Mode Button to Resume Hybrid Function 
4. EV Mode Will Automatically Cancel When the Battery is Low 

If you’re new to electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles, you might be puzzled by the various modes available, which tend to include EV Mode, ECO Mode, Sport Mode, Power Mode, and Snow Mode.

EV mode is short for Electrical Vehicle mode and is therefore only available in hybrid vehicles. But what does it actually do, and when should you be using it?

The following article will explain all you need to know about hybrid cars’ EV mode, as well as briefly outline all the other modes found in electric and hybrid vehicles. 

EV Mode Explained

Electric vehicle mode is a mode only available to hybrid vehicles, such as the Toyota Prius and unlike other modes, it’s quite particular in its uses. Essentially, when a car is running in electric vehicle mode, the only power is being pulled from the car’s battery.

This makes for far more efficient driving, but it does mean that the car has access to less power than it usually would. For this reason, electric vehicle mode is only recommended for specific conditions where the car is moving at very low speeds, and should only be used for up to one mile at a time.

Examples of times when electric vehicle mode is actually handy include driving through a car park looking for a space, or reversing out of your driveway or garage. 

One thing that drivers of hybrid vehicles must be aware of is that, when driving in electric vehicle mode, your vehicle is virtually silent. You must be extra vigilant, as pedestrians, cyclists, or other vehicles may not hear your car approaching while you’re in electric vehicle mode.

To avoid harm to yourself and others, you must pay utmost attention to what’s going around you when using the electric vehicle mode.

ECO Mode Explained

A somewhat obscure driving mode, ECO mode allows your vehicle to run in a more economic way. Although its purpose is clear, a lot of drivers aren’t clear on how it actually works.

Essentially, it increases fuel efficiency by reducing the vehicle’s acceleration levels, and although this doesn’t make any changes to the engine power of the vehicle, this means that the accelerator will be less sensitive.

This, in turn, means less fuel will be used when the pedal is pressed in the same interval.

ECO mode is most handy when you’re driving through a busy city, stopping and starting regularly, because you’ll want your accelerator to be less sensitive in this context.

It also helps to regulate the power used by the vehicle’s air conditioning, as well as other accessories, in order to increase fuel efficiency. 

Your vehicle’s dash may feature an indicator light displaying ‘ECO’. This is quite different to ECO mode.

This indicator light is there to inform you whether you’re driving economically while putting your vehicle into ECO mode makes adjustments to how the vehicle is running in order to make it run more economically. 

Unlike the aforementioned electric vehicle mode, ECO mode isn’t strictly confined to hybrid cars. Even some vehicles that run on gas feature their own variation of ECO mode.

Other Vehicle Modes

There are a few other vehicle modes you might want to be aware of. These include power mode, sport mode, and snow mode. 

Sport Mode / Power Mode

One of the more popular modes, the sport mode, allows for increased power and increased response, which is designed to give the driver a more enjoyable ride.

Sport mode will make the throttle more sensitive, and an automatic transmission can respond at similar speeds by downshifting earlier. It also makes for quicker and heavier steering.

While in sport mode the body of the vehicle will usually feel more planted on its wheels, which improves the stability of the vehicle and reduces the workload of the driver.

Power mode is much the same. Just like sport mode, it is designed to increase the vehicle’s acceleration levels, which will result in an increase (or at least a perceived increase) in the engine’s power because the driver can accelerate faster.

It should be noted that neither sport mode nor power mode actually have any effect on the engine’s power. It’s more that they reduce the effort required for the driver to feel like their engine has increased power. 

Snow Mode

Snow mode is quite straightforward, simply giving your vehicle more traction control so you’re better equipped in slippery conditions. Most beneficial in snowy, icy, and particularly rainy conditions, snow mode will allow you to feel safer when accelerating. 

There are some other driving modes available with certain cars. One of these is the TOUR mode. This is most useful when you’re on a highway road trip. TRACK mode, on the other hand, is used for weekend lapping. 

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Hybrid Cars

How Do Electric Cars Differ From Hybrid Cars?

The main difference between hybrid cars and electric cars is that hybrid cars use two motors, one that runs on a battery and one that uses gasoline. The benefit of a hybrid is that you can use the battery for short trips, and on longer journeys, it will run like a regular car.

Because of this, they’re very fuel efficient. Hybrids tend to get between 30 and 45 miles per gallon. 

Electric cars, on the other hand, run exclusively on a battery. They tend to be quite expensive because of the distances they can travel. Some of the best electric cars have between 250 and 300 mile electric ranges.

Electric range is the electric vehicle equivalent of miles to the gallon. Just like with hybrid cars, they tend to have excellent fuel efficiency. 

What Is EV Mode?

EV mode (electric vehicle mode) is a mode exclusive to hybrid vehicles, including the Toyota Prius and one that makes it so your vehicle is only pulling power from the battery.

Since this naturally means it’s using far less power, it’s ideal for when you’re driving slowly for less than a mile at a time, as it allows your vehicle to run with more efficiency.

The one thing you must remember when using electric vehicle mode is that, when activated, it makes your car almost entirely silent. This makes it a lot harder for cyclists, pedestrians, and other vehicles to be aware of your presence. 

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