Hybrid battery charging time? Experiences please

[nielshm]

My Corolla is in the garage for a paint job. So this week I a got a Yaris for replacement. 

I'm very surprised to see how fast the Yaris can charge the Battery using the engine. A few minuttes or so, and the Battery is up by 3 bars. 

In my Corolla, things are different. If the Battery gets to 3 bars in city driving and I gets out on a open road with cruise control set to 55 mph, it takes forever to charge. It can take up to 5 miles (8 km) to charge it from 3 to 4 bars. Bar no. 5, 6, 7 comes more quickly. It often takes 6-7 miles to get the hybrid drive enabled, if I use cruise control all the time. 

[Catlover]

One thought, technology has moved on from the time the Corolla was designed and manufactured compared to the Yaris. I am pleasantly surprised  at the reports from users of the latest Yaris hybrid compared to the previous.  model……. Something major has changed.           
Re cruise control. so at 55 mph you may be running on engine, thus charging the hybrid Battery, or running on hybrid Battery, thus not getting more bars. It is no doubt more complex then my thinking, but certainly something to look for ward in future models if Yaris technology can be transferred to other models

[bewA]

I wouldn't worry about how fast or slow the hybrid Battery charges, the hybrid system is pretty clever and will just whatever it needs to do based on the demands of driving style etc.

The Corolla is a different car to the yaris and they both have different requirements and needs so that would explain the disparity between them.

[TonyHSD]

Hi, yes charging time will depend of Battery power demand and driving conditions. In some cases Battery will charge fast but in others it might take longer time., when you just had drained your Battery and taken onto the motorway it may take ages to see battery charge indicator goes up and you may feel the car slightly slower and engine noisier, obviously ice running harder to recharge the battery and drive the car at the same time. 

[Gray86]

If you are comparing an older-gen Yaris to a new Corolla - they are very different as to how they manage their energy. The latest gen prefers to use the electric motor as a support to the ICE, and therefore keeps the Battery levels lower in normal driving. The previous gen seemed to store more energy for more prolonged EV running