Warming up a hybrid in winter, remote start?

[ExtraSlow]

It's been well established that I'm soft as hell, and whenever it's cold outside, I remote start my car so it'll be warm inside.

I'm not shopping for a new vehicle, but my normal use-case is lots of short urban trips, so a hybrid (preferably a plug - in one) would make a ton of sense.

But but but, how's that work with me still being soft as hell and wanting to step into a warm car on a - 30c morning?

I guess wanting to idle my car for hours a week, and wanting to buy less fuel, is kind of opposing goals, but come on, I don't feel like this is that unusual.

How's that work? Does everyone with this attitude just have indoor parking?

[killramos]

I mean with an electric car you can pre warm it? Do hybrids have the same electric heating?

[ExtraSlow]

I mean with an electric car you can pre warm it? Do hybrids have the same electric heating?

I don't know. If it was a plug in hybrid, and it had the electric prewarming feature, that would be ideal for anywhere you could leave it plugged in.

[rage2]

I mean with an electric car you can pre warm it? Do hybrids have the same electric heating?
My hybrid doesn't, no electric heaters (aside from seat) so actual heat is still from engine residual heat. I use my remote starter quite often outside of house/work.

[max_boost]

The skinnier you are, the more you hate the cold. After suffering the last few years without a remote starter it has now become a deal breaker. I'll glad waste gas so I can get into a warm car. Fk the environment.

[Sentry]

Toyota hybrids have, well basically, a thermos bottle for engine coolant to dramatically cut down warm up times (because cold starts are bad for emissions). When you shut the car off it pumps hot coolant into this tank where it can stay hot for up to 3 days. When you power the car back on it pumps the hot coolant back into the engine to bring it up to temp fast.

[ExtraSlow]

Toyota hybrids have, well basically, a thermos bottle for engine coolant to dramatically cut down warm up times (because cold starts are bad for emissions). When you shut the car off it pumps hot coolant into this tank where it can stay hot for up to 3 days. When you power the car back on it pumps the hot coolant back into the engine to bring it up to temp fast.

That sounds really smart. So you (me) would just remost start it a few minutes early and it'd have heat pretty fast. Sounds best if you park without plug-in available.

[bjstare]

Regardless of whether you're driving a hybrid or not... you could get one of those little cabin heaters, put it on a timer just like a block heater. That's what my wifes dad does, cause he does lots of short trips during the week and wants a warm cabin but doesn't want to idle his truck every day. He swears by it.

[ExtraSlow]

Regardless of whether you're driving a hybrid or not... you could get one of those little cabin heaters, put it on a timer just like a block heater. That's what my wifes dad does, cause he does lots of short trips during the week and wants a warm cabin but doesn't want to idle his truck every day. He swears by it.

Those used to be really common when I was a kid, but haven't seen one for years. Guess it would make a lot of sense.

[Sentry]

On a lot of hybrids if the car is turned on but just parked, the ICE won't ever run. Not sure if remote starts can force them to run. :dunno:

Call up Mobile Solutions, they're the best audio/aftermarket electronics guys in Calgary, they would know.

[killramos]

My hybrid doesn't, no electric heaters (aside from seat) so actual heat is still from engine residual heat. I use my remote starter quite often outside of house/work.

Your “hybrid” haha. I figure that hybrids that can run electric mode only have electric heaters in them no?

Heck I am pretty sure my bmw had an electric preheater for the winter and it was as ICE as they come.

[rage2]

Still a hybrid haha.

It's pretty comical that I one pedal drive the car and am rarely on the brakes in my regular commute. When off throttle, it will completely free roll most of the time. If the radar detects a car in front, the electric motor regens to slow the car down to maintain whatever min distance I've set to the car in front before free rolling again. It also uses GPS data to determine if I need to slow down because of a curve in the road/exit lane, and will regen to match that speed for the corner.

On the downside, my infrequent visits to the gas station has left me with a much dirtier car. Going 1+ week between gas and washes now.

[killramos]

Sounds like a sweet ride.

[Xtrema]

Here are PHEVs that can preheat. Not sure if function is available in Canada.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO_B_bgdLGY


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDWcXUUaurg

But since you have to invest in a L2 charger, it pretty much means your car is probably indoor anyway.