becky said:
Not true. The gold and salmon colored arrows do mean something. As I recall, the gold arrows seem to appear when the wheels are working off the synergy of the electric backup battery. The salmon arrows appear to show when we are using gas. And green, of course, means GREAT. We are coasting and generating electricity and pumping up our battery. Anyone else out there who can help us?
Well, I think that John was merely trying to say that the battery colors, whether green, blue, or red/pink, really didn't signify "good", "status quo", or "bad" like one might normally infer from those colors.
There are 8 bars on the battery. When it's "empty" on the display, there might yet be up to 40% charge left. When it's "full" on the display, there may be an 80% charge, maybe more. Just because it's green, doesn't really mean "good," per se. It's just to help you see that it's one bar from the top or at the top.
Likewise, if it's red/pink, that's not necessarily "bad." It just helps you recognize that it's either one or two bars higher than a 40% charge.
As for the colors of the energy-flow arrows, those too are to help you see the energy flow without having to make note of the tiny little arrowheads while in traffic.
Green is regenerating the battery, usually from slowing down.
Yellow is discharging the battery to move the car.
Red/Salmon is using ICE to move wheels.
Green is not necessarily "good." Nor is yellow or salmon "bad." As I said, it's just to help you see the energy flow easily and quickly, without having to squint at the little arrowheads while you're merging onto the expressway! :shock:
In fact, I would venture to say "it's all good." After all, without occasional regen or ICE operation, eventually the battery would go dead. And without occasional electric assist or all-electric power (stealth), then your gas mileage wouldn't be as good as it could be, because that would mean that your ICE is doing all the work, and all of the other parts are just acting like big heavy ballast.
So don't sweat the colors, folks. You'll get used to seeing them and being able to more quickly read your MFD while in traffic. At a
glance, which is as it should be, right?