Honda Clarity switching from EV to D

First: Huh what? You can't not use "D" unless you prefer "N" and push with your feet... "EV", "Sport", and the little hybrid engine icon all have nothing to do with that.

Second: You bought a PHEV, not an EV. You can't not use gas sometimes unless you never travel more than 20-ish miles away from home. Let the car do its thing. It knows whether it needs the engine on or not.

 

Did the dealer by chance turn off Econ Mode when they did the update?

 

Again, "D" is "drive". If you're moving forwards, the car is in "D". This is not some optional thing.

You say you only bought the car in July. The interval on oil changes is supposed to be one year, from everything I've seen on this forum and my own car. Unless you bought one that was used for test drives for 6-ish months and they sold it to you as "new", something doesn't add up here.

 

Yet again, the icon that shows "D" or "R" or "N" or "P" is entirely distinct from the icon that shows "EV". They are two disparate indications, shown in separate locations on the display. Neither has anything at all to do with the other.


(image source: https://carswithplugs.com/2017/12/18/2018-honda-clarity-phev-initial-review/comment-page-1/)

 

May be it runs the ICE engine a bit more immediately after an oil change. Did they say what software SBs they updated?

 

Do you have the leaves icon above the D on the dash?

 

It looks like you need to turn Econ mode back on by pushing the Econ button above the gear selector buttons. The dash will briefly show Econ Mode On in the center display and you will get an icon of green leaves above the D in your picture.

 

My guess is that either it reset to off when they did the updates or the dealer turned it off when doing a test drive after maintenance. In Econ mode the ICE will still turn on if needed, but you have to push past the click point on the accelerator.

From the manual:
If you select ECON mode, the threshold for the engine to provide additional power is higher than it is when the vehicle is in either of the other two drive modes. Note that if the accelerator pedal is depressed past the point at which you feel a click, the engine will start in the ECON mode.

 

At least one of the updates requires a complete reboot of the system. ECON is saved across power on/off, but was reset on mine after the updates too. Without flooring the pedal, though, I never saw it cause a major difference to when the engine came on.

 

The D is for Drive and was probably always there. What you are missing is the EV and it is using more gas. I think the others are correct, one you push the Econ button the car will favor EV as much as possible.

All that being said I am a firm believer some engine use is not a bad thing just to keep things lubricated and running. In fact your Clarity or fuel age may have even be reaching some sort of time or mileage point where the car has decided to run the engine for it own good. Unfortunately we do not have all the information on all the conditions that may cause the engine to run.

Please report back. I am sure we would all like to know the outcome of your situation. We are all collectively learning about this car. In many ways the Clarity is mysterious.

 

It appears your screen display settings have changed due to the software update. It could also be a coincidence that your ice has behaved differently at the same time. So as long as it still shows ev then you're fine. Just make sure that the ice doesn't continue running when your properly charged.

 

Have you brought up the Power Flow Monitor in the DII to see where power is coming from?

 

Hi Lynn - I own a Clarity and just read your post (and totally understand what you were saying). My Clarity is doing the exact same thing. I went two years of driving only electric (EV) and now my car just randomly switches out of EV. Did you ever find a cause and/ or solution?