Advantage to running in EV mode until out of 20mph zone on cold starts?

[benjamino]

On a cold start I notice the engine kicks in quite early, presumably to get it to operating temperature as fast as possible. However, the first 3/4 mile of our journeys are out of our estate at under 20mph.  I'm thinking having the engine in this mode at this speed will be a very low mpg. Would it be better to switch into EV mode until we're out of the 20mph limit so that the engine can kick in when we're actually driving faster, thus helping the engine get to temp sooner and going at a faster speed as a result of the engine being used. I guess that energy will need to come back from somewhere else later in the journey so it might not average out that well - just wondered if anyone else has any info on this kind of approach?

[Mike J.]

It depends on what you want to do. If you leave home early and want to keep the noise down, then you must try and park up the previous journey with as full a Battery as possible. Then on the next journey, you can select EV mode which should hold for a while - make sure the heating is also off. Note that this is not much good on frosty days - too cold. Then again, closing the car door is noisier than our engines starting!

Car magazine had an article whereby the UK Toyota hybrid manager said that it is best to arrive home with a depleted Battery as on cold starts the engine will run anyway and so whilst it warms up, it continues to charge the Battery - nothing worse (for mpg) than having the engine running (for interior heating) and a full battery. 

I now start the car (usually have 3 bars battery), turn off the heating, move off in electric mode for 50 yards and then turn on heating and thus engine. and thus can go faster.

[benjamino]

Interesting thoughts - many thanks. Not too worried about noise as wont be that early. Yeah even with engine on its so quiet!