[mrbonine]

I have about 1k miles on my Clarity Hybrid and need some help that I can't get from Honda (the person started reading the manual to me, which I'd already researched). I'm looking for a way to lock the car with it in "on". Dog is generally in car and AC needed potentially all year, but at least 8 months. At the dealer my partner figured out how to do it with the key in the fob, getting that out and using it regularly will make the latch holding it in fail, likely and the clever design makes it hard to hold and use regularly. I had a copy made at a very reliable locksmith for $50 (blank and laser cut). Any electronic way to accomplish this? 2nd item, when charging 240V will the charging continue after I start the car (not moving), conversely will charging begin with car still on? I like almost everything about the car, even the suede dash and rear wheel wells that I saw as garish are fine - the explanation of the benefits of reducing air drag won me over, and we'll see how the suedette holds up to puppy drool etc. So far, I do hate nearly everything handled by the center console. The navigation is glacial and locked out when moving (I realize there areb likely DOT regs and/or consent decrees applicable. The voice recognition is terrible and slow, it's generally running on or with Android 4.2, not sure if this is emulated over something else, but brief experiments with Apple iPhone is better UI and faster. I can attempt root, etc any ideas?

 

[Claire Greene]

You can always do the pre-conditioning feature on the keyfob after you lock the doors.

 

[mrbonine]

Claire: Yes I understanding that is available, but I believe that feature which the Android app calls "Climate" will run a maximum of 30 minutes, then it must be activated again. In addition, it seems to attempt to get to the setting temp setting already in the car - the app reports back there in car temp after you enable "climate" but doesn't show the set temp in the vehicle and doesn't report whether it's heating or cooling - a I'm guessing Honda had already deployed the feature on dongles or keys didn't add these needed UI items in the app - something they would implement with an app revision if supported by the API/interface.

 

[Claire Greene]

Sorry that's all I got as a suggestion. The extra metal key idea seems to be a solution and would have been my second suggestion but you already thought of that. You could try turning on the car while hooked up to 240v but i think the car will not turn on while it is hooked up to a charger.

 

[BridgerRufus]

From where you have got the extra metal key, can a locksmith be able to make it?

 

[leemell]

From what I found, none of the electric vehicles will allow you to charge them with the car on. I believe it is a safety feature and probably mandated by the Feds.

 

[obermd]

From what I found, none of the electric vehicles will allow you to charge them with the car on. I believe it is a safety feature and probably mandated by the Feds.

The Volt will charge while the car is on. What EVs won't do is shift out of Park with the charging port connected, so we shouldn't have any of this:

 

[obermd]

From what I found, none of the electric vehicles will allow you to charge them with the car on. I believe it is a safety feature and probably mandated by the Feds.

Had my Volt plugged in, running, and defrosting while I scraped the ice off it today. The charging station still had the "charging light" lit. EVs will definitely L1 and L2 charge, but they may not be able to DCFC charge while running due to how the power is routed in and out of the traction battery.

 

[obermd]

@leemell and @Kerbe,

It appears the Clarity PHEV won't L1 (120V 12 amp) charge while the car is on. If this is correct then this would be a design decision by Honda's engineers, and a poor one at that. Leaving the car plugged in while preconditioning would allow the car to pull part of the power needed to precondition the cabin from the wall.