Hybrid in the snow

[Red_Corolla]

This morning was my first experience of driving a hybrid in snow and on summer tyres. Although it did OK (the car in front had to be pushed up one hill whereas mine did not), I did find it tricky because theres no sudden change in engine speed to tell you when the wheels are starting to break traction. The motor was providing the motive force and the engine was just working as a generator, as it normally does at low speeds. This makes it very difficult to know when you're starting to get stuck while ascending a hill until you notice a loss of momentum (possibly too late).

I opted turn off the TCS as I would with any normal car, but, because of the situation described above, I'm wondering if the best bet with these cars is to just leave it on? What do you guys find? It's a sad reminder that, as drivers, we don't actually control the power delivery these days, we just use the pedal to communicate a request.

Yes, I know what I really ought to do is fit winter tyres. My bad. 😊

[Stopeter44]

@Red_Corolla In the past you've turned off TCS ? I haven't ever done that on the so equipped cars that I have owned. Why did you do that ? 

[Red_Corolla]

16 minutes ago, Stopeter44 said:

@Red_Corolla In the past you've turned off TCS ? I haven't ever done that on the so equipped cars that I have owned. Why did you do that ? 

Yes, it's common practice and is indeed recommended in the Corolla owners manual (page 404 in the PDF version). Toyota obviously thought it was important as they went to the trouble of putting a button in the dashboard so that we can turn it off without digging through the menu system.

Generally, I find that a small amount of wheelslip is conducive to keeping momentum in the snow (or mud), but it needs to be regulated and the best regulator is a good driver (or at least it used to be).

[TonyHSD]

That’s my favourite, driving on snow ❄️ 🏎🏁👌, was waiting all night last night but nothing, only heavy wind and 🌧🥲. Driving Toyota hybrids on snow actually is very similar to driving any other torque converter automatic transmission car however as you described electric motor does most of the job at low speeds and it is a very smooth acceleration and this helps with wheel spin plus instant high torque, that is beneficial in slippery conditions over other ice cars. Tyres here obviously are the most important thing, although the car may start to move stopping afterwards or making a turns with summer uhp tyres is mission impossible especially if you are at speeds over 20mph, I had tried mine with good summer tyres in the past just to change parking space and my conclusion was , definitely I need a winter/all season tyres if I am planning to use this car for work. Last winter I had chance to try the car + the tyres in proper snow and was great experience. For the traction control better keep it ON as it’s ultra helpful because can get you out of situations where cars without can not, TC works very well when one wheel loses traction since the car has an open differential and the TC detects sleeping wheel applies the brake on that wheel and let the other wheel with good grip keep you going. The only time you may need TC off is when the car is stuck and you need momentum to get yourself out, because with TC On if the car detects that both wheels are slipping will immediately cut off all power going to them from both electric motor and ice, and here’s the reason why switching off TC helps, any other time tc on is much better. I had tested all above myself. ❄️🏎👍

[Rambler56]

To reduce torque with a manual box you would select 2nd or 3rd to get the car moving in snow, anyone tried selecting a 'higher' gear using the paddles to help reduce torque (it worked in the snow with the multitronic gearbox on my old Audi A4)?

 

[Red_Corolla]

Cheers @TonyHSD, I will try leaving the TCS on next time, as you suggest.

 

@Rambler56 I did try the manual paddles in sport mode, just to get some smooth 'engine braking' on descents rather than having to use pedal braking. For reducing the power delivery, I'm not sure the paddle shift would help, because the MGU2 drives the car at low speed and low pedal travel. Doesn't that have a direct connection to the differential? I'm thinking that the paddles control the contribution from the engine but not the motor? The only way to torque limit the motor would be for the inverter to do it electrically.

 

[Stopeter44]

@Red_Corolla Thinking out loud here, wouldn't "ECO" mode be suitable in snow ?

[TonyHSD]

1 hour ago, Stopeter44 said:

@Red_Corolla Thinking out loud here, wouldn't "ECO" mode be suitable in snow ?

Definitely, it gives you less responsive accelerator feeling and keeps the car slightly longer in ev mode when driving off. But again if you used to your car Normal mode is the best for all occasions 👍✅

[Cyker]

You might have to be a bit careful with Eco on slippery surfaces as, although it's more gradual at the beginning (Which I find good for slow traffic jams!), I find it starts to ramp up quite rapidly as you press on it more. Normal is very linear by comparison...

 

[Gray86]

I reverted to Eco mode yesterday in the snow as I found the accelerator is a bit to eager in Normal mode. Made pulling away much more smooth, however once out on gritted roads, I reverted back to Normal mode as Eco demands a lot more effort to get up to speed 

[Red_Corolla]

2 minutes ago, Gray86 said:

I reverted to Eco mode yesterday in the snow as I found the accelerator is a bit to eager in Normal mode. Made pulling away much more smooth, however once out on gritted roads, I reverted back to Normal mode as Eco demands a lot more effort to get up to speed 

And I use Eco all the time around town because I find 'Normal' demands a lot more effort not to speed