Does down shifting (vs. braking) a hybrid recharge the battery?

Question

For a hybrid like the Toyota Camry or Prius, does down shifting to slow down recharge the battery? I want to know if I should brake or down shift to slow the car down and save energy. Thanks!

Answer 1

only the honda insight has a manual transmission available otherwise they're a cvt where there is no gears, however in a hybrid if you downshift you will save battery poweer/gas depending on what engine is running but it is not like regenerative braking it doesn't give back any power you have lost. keep on downshifting, downshifting is a very economical way to save gas and or energy. it also prolongs brake life. it i sway more economical in a hybrid because the gasoline engine doesn't speed up when downshifting because it won't be running if you notice when you're coasting you're gas engine won't be running that's so save fuel. so please keep on downshifting all the time to slow down as much as possible before needing to brake i try to stress this to evryone i know please down shift!!!

Answer 2

My friend, don't down shift, unless it's absolutely necessary to avoid a major accident. Reason for this, brakes were made to take the stress of stopping a vehicle. The transmission was not. It cost less to fix the brakes, than to replace the transmission. I see this all the time at the mechanics shop I used to work at. Particularly in standards. The brakes are there for a reason, just like the emergency brake. Think of it this way. Your going 70 mph on the highway, and you down shift, either a manual or a standard transmission, to the next gear. You are now putting the centrifical force of either the flywheel (standard) or the torque converter (automatic) at a 70 mph speed, probably around 2 -1/2 to 3 thousand rpms, to the next gear down. This pre-maturely wears out each type of these units. Automatic transmission rebuilds can cost up to $1,500 or more depending on the type. Standards slightly less. New ones can run around $3,000 or more, also depending on type. Your hybrid comes with a 600 lb. battery. The weight of about 2 passengers. It gets it's charge from a dyno while in motion. This battery is costly to replace. At one time it's cost was around $10,000, and it has to be removed with a small crane. Now the cost is lower, but not worth the headache to pay to replace it still. I hope you please take what I am stating into extreme consideration. This won't answer your question, but hopefully save you alot of money and headaches in the long run.

Answer 3

From what I understand there are generators on the wheels that are activated by applying the brakes. The generators supply power to recharge the batteries. Down shifting is defeating the purpose of the hybrid design.

Answer 4

Since the Prius and Toyota Camry hybrids only have non-conventional CVTs, there is no way to truly "downshift" They have modes which act like engine braking, while giving more regen, but the same thing can be achieved by gently applying brake pressure.

Answer 5

Down shifting will save the battery if it is a true electric because when you brake it uses energy to stop the car, while down shifting uses the tranmission to slow the car down

Answer 6

No, you want to brake to slow down. Down shifting will not add charge to the battery.

You need the pressure on the breaks.

-dh

Answer 7

braking and the motor recharge the system.. thats it. its a regenerative braking system.. i work for toyota and know it all about these cars...

Answer 8

they only come in automatic transmission. What'sa matter with you? don't downshift an automatic transmission.