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Hi.

I have a 2004 HC hybrid. I am curious if other owners have noted that the power regeneration system seems 'wacky/ inconsistant'? There are times when the car is warm (middle of the gage), the engine is running about 1.5K rpm, the battery is half charge, and when I coast or use the break (gently) the regeneration system does not engage. I can cycle several times with no change and then it will spontaneously start to work. I have not been able to see any pattern and it really doesn't effect things very much, but it just bugs the heck out of me. Any thoughts on what's going on (the dealorship was not helpfull- no direct experience with hybrids).

 
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i am pretty sure it only uses regeneration to charge the battery packs. so if they are well charged, it does not use the system for that. or also you may need to actually brake harder, i know coasting and light braking do not produce much energy. just let it do whatever it needs to lol. i bet it would work better if you get on the gas and deplete the batteries a little.

 
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how long have you had the car?? has there been a change in how it behaves since you've been driving it??

 
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I am sure that it only charges when they are low, which is why I looked at this when it was half-charged. I also tried several times and either breaking or coasting ... no go. But several minutes (~15) later it did regenerate when I coasted towards a red light. The truth of it is that maixmizing fuel economy and recharging the battery serves to entertain me while driving.

 
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I have had it for 4 years. I don't know if it has changed, or maybe I am just being more observant about how it works. As I said before, I try to maximize the economy mostly to entertain myself while driving. I'd like to have more control over the regeneration system, since the computer doesn't know how I drive or what sort of conditions I'll be encountering (i. e. I'll be driving in town with the battery below half-full and it will recharge will driving on a straight-away, while I'd like to wait until I hit the down-hill part of the drive that comes in a few minutes).

 
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while it would be cool, i don't think there's any way you're going to control it. you would have to have a means of controlling the computer. my original question was intended to imply that were there a change while you've owned it, it's possible something is malfunctioning. if it concerns you, consider having it looked at by a dealer who is more familiar with the hybrid model. it may be some time before any of the few hybrid owners on this site post in this thread.

 
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more than likely if something went wrong with that complex system, i have a feeling you wouldnt be able to drive it lol.