Electric Vehicle Mode

For plug in vehicles, the electric vehicle mode is a driver selectable switch that determines the operator request for one of three driving modes of operation. The three types of modes are:

• AUTO
• EV Now
• EV Later

The AUTO mode is normal operation of the system which minimizes the use of the gasoline engine until the battery charge is sufficiently depleted and requires recharging. The EV now mode disables the gasoline engine during most driving conditions when permitted by the high voltage traction battery. The EV later mode disables the electric-only drive system and prioritizes the gasoline engine to drive the vehicle to sustain the battery charge. The electric vehicle mode does not change with ignition key cycles. If the plug in energy is depleted or a system fault is detected, the vehicle system controller will switch to AUTO mode to maintain battery charge and continue operation.