Plug In Hybrid woes - episode N

[Steve]

    a repeat of an earlier disaster I must have posted about

Right now I have to be chauffeur for Mrs K for at least another week - not an issue but today I turn up to drive her home from her hair appointment and it'd running late - not really an issue.  So I listen to the radio for 15 minutes and  . . . . .

That's it the car refuses to start because those idiots at Toyota used an AA sized battery for the 12V system and if it's flat it won't engage the 200V+ serious battery which had loads of ampy volts left in it. 

The RAC said they'd be with us in between 3 to 5 hours    None of our local friends have jump leads anymore.  Neither the local taxis or Uber could get one of us home to let the cleaners in. 

And I was desperate for a slash and (cutbacks) the local toilets were locked.

Finally someone spotted our issue and had a suitable jump start pack and we could get moving.  3 hours of my life I will never get back.

So if you're ever thinking of buying a plug in hybrid ask the seller if the 12 volt battery is a proper size.

[apc2010]

 

[Barman]

  a repeat of an earlier disaster I must have posted about

Right now I have to be chauffeur for Mrs K for at least another week - not an issue but today I turn up to drive her home from her hair appointment and it'd running late - not really an issue.  So I listen to the radio for 15 minutes and  . . . . .

That's it the car refuses to start because those idiots at Toyota used an AA sized battery for the 12V system and if it's flat it won't engage the 200V+ serious battery which had loads of ampy volts left in it. 

The RAC said they'd be with us in between 3 to 5 hours    None of our local friends have jump leads anymore.  Neither the local taxis or Uber could get one of us home to let the cleaners in. 

And I was desperate for a slash and (cutbacks) the local toilets were locked.

Finally someone spotted our issue and had a suitable jump start pack and we could get moving.  3 hours of my life I will never get back.

So if you're ever thinking of buying a plug in hybrid ask the seller if the 12 volt battery is a proper size.

The KIA one has the same problem...

But they have a 'battery boost' button on the dashboard that will re-charge the 12V battery from the traction battery...

Sounds like you need to buy one of those jumper packs and keep it plugged-in to a 12V outlet...

[Steve]

  a repeat of an earlier disaster I must have posted about

Right now I have to be chauffeur for Mrs K for at least another week - not an issue but today I turn up to drive her home from her hair appointment and it'd running late - not really an issue.  So I listen to the radio for 15 minutes and  . . . . .

That's it the car refuses to start because those idiots at Toyota used an AA sized battery for the 12V system and if it's flat it won't engage the 200V+ serious battery which had loads of ampy volts left in it. 

The RAC said they'd be with us in between 3 to 5 hours    None of our local friends have jump leads anymore.  Neither the local taxis or Uber could get one of us home to let the cleaners in. 

And I was desperate for a slash and (cutbacks) the local toilets were locked.

Finally someone spotted our issue and had a suitable jump start pack and we could get moving.  3 hours of my life I will never get back.

So if you're ever thinking of buying a plug in hybrid ask the seller if the 12 volt battery is a proper size.

The KIA one has the same problem...

But they have a 'battery boost' button on the dashboard that will re-charge the 12V battery from the traction battery...

  a good move

Sounds like you need to buy one of those jumper packs and keep it plugged-in to a 12V outlet...

Oh yes but luckily last night a friend has given me one he says he doesn't need.  I've said call it a loan.

[Barman]

  a repeat of an earlier disaster I must have posted about

Right now I have to be chauffeur for Mrs K for at least another week - not an issue but today I turn up to drive her home from her hair appointment and it'd running late - not really an issue.  So I listen to the radio for 15 minutes and  . . . . .

That's it the car refuses to start because those idiots at Toyota used an AA sized battery for the 12V system and if it's flat it won't engage the 200V+ serious battery which had loads of ampy volts left in it. 

The RAC said they'd be with us in between 3 to 5 hours    None of our local friends have jump leads anymore.  Neither the local taxis or Uber could get one of us home to let the cleaners in. 

And I was desperate for a slash and (cutbacks) the local toilets were locked.

Finally someone spotted our issue and had a suitable jump start pack and we could get moving.  3 hours of my life I will never get back.

So if you're ever thinking of buying a plug in hybrid ask the seller if the 12 volt battery is a proper size.

The KIA one has the same problem...

But they have a 'battery boost' button on the dashboard that will re-charge the 12V battery from the traction battery...

  a good move

Sounds like you need to buy one of those jumper packs and keep it plugged-in to a 12V outlet...

Oh yes but luckily last night a friend has given me one he says he doesn't need.  I've said call it a loan.

 

[Steve]

Amazing though that apparently you can jump start a conventional car with a rechargeable pack smaller than a mobile phone once was.

[Barman]

Amazing though that apparently you can jump start a conventional car with a rechargeable pack smaller than a mobile phone once was.

They are incredible things! 

I should get a new one actually... The last one blew up like a balloon and I had to chuck it away... 

[Steve]

Bizarely the car does have a 'switch' that lets the traction battery charge up the 12V battery through the DC-DC converter but it's the ignition switch that doesn't work if the 12V battery is flat.   

[Nick]

I am searching for an anorak 

[Steve]

I am searching for an anorak 

Which will serve you well when this calamity befalls you one day when it's raining