[hodags]

What is the maximum MPH of the electrical motor before the gas engine kicks in?

 

[hyperion]

No difinitive answer. Usualy "zero" as engine components have to heat up regardless if it is needed for motive power or not. Without internal combustion engine to keep main battery charged the battery cruising range is only a couple of miles.

 

[KTPhil]

I don't have the exact numbers in memory, but ordinarily it is about 40mph (with v---e---r---y slow accelaration), but a lower speed (perhaps 30) when in EV mode via a switch. I'm sure I'll get corrected on the exact values.

I find I just can't accelerate that slowly or traffic objects. I don't see anything over about 15 in traffic without using the EV switch.

 

[hyperion]

However if you were equipped with an engine run light or a tachometer you would discover the ICE is running much more than is indicated on the MFD.

 

[ken1784]

What is the maximum MPH of the electrical motor before the gas engine kicks in?

It depends on your speed, SOC of battery, accelerator pedal and so on...

The absolute max is 42 MPH.

[email protected]

 

[ehurtley]

As was mentioned, 42 is the absolute maximum. Higher than that, and the gas engine will start spinning. Note that this doesn't necessarily mean you will be using gas. If you don't need much power, the electric motor will spin the wheels AND the ICE, without any gas entering. I've seen this at speeds as high as 60 MPH. (I even accelerated on a freeway from 55 to 57 on level ground solely with electric power.)

If you apply the EV mod, then in EV mode it WILL start using gas when you exceed 35 MPH.

Those are the absolute limits. If it's twenty below zero, the ICE will come on as soon as you start the car, and stay on for quite a long time as it warms up. (And if you have the defogger on, you guarantee the ICE will stay running.)

 

[DanMan32]

On the classic, MG1 had an RPM limit of 6500. In the new version, that was upped to 10K. Still, the ECUs seem to make the ICE spin at 42 MPH from reported scans, even though it could safely go to 65 MPH before ICE spin would be needed to compensate.

 

[jtmhog]

Why does the engine spin? Is it to operate the water pump? What is driven by the engine drive belt?

 

[DanMan32]

Well, on the classic, the engine spins to prevent over-reving MG1, which would happen at 42MPH if ICE did not spin.

On the 2G, the rev limit is 10K, not 6.5K, so the car could be going faster before ICE would have to spin to prevent MG1 damage.

Yes, the drive belt does drive the mechanical water pump, but if ICE isn't fired, the coolant doesn't need to circulate, as there is no excess waste heat to get rid of. If you need cabin heat, there is an electric pump to provide circulation for the heater core.

 

[drash]

All that and anything over 13 horsepower will also guarantee the ICE spin-up.

 

[jtmhog]

Thanks DanMan32. Then I assume the coolant for MGI, MG2 and the power electronics is circulated by the electric pump.

 

[ken1784]

Thanks DanMan32. Then I assume the coolant for MGI, MG2 and the power electronics is circulated by the electric pump.

Please note that the oil pump for the PSD lubrication is driven by ICE.

[email protected]

 

[DanMan32]

Thanks DanMan32. Then I assume the coolant for MGI, MG2 and the power electronics is circulated by the electric pump.

THE electric pump? There are 3: heat storage, heater core, and inverter.
The transaxle is cooled using the inverter circuit.

And yes, Ken is right, the oil is pumped with ICE. But much of it is bathed in oil so it is all good.