Is there any disadvantage to leaving the Clarity in READY mode? As long as you don't accidentally put it in Drive or Reverse, it's essentially the same as being in Accessory (ON) mode, isn't it? There's actually an advantage to ON mode because keeps your 12-volt battery charged while you listen to the radio.
Having a driveway moment? Just leave the car on till the story/song ends.
Because the 12v battery doesn't crank-start the gas engine like a regular car, the beefy HV battery does that, the 12v battery is smaller with less capacity than a regular car. Safe advice=don't use ACC mode for more than a few minutes; best to keep it ON so not only does the 12v keep getting a charge but the HVAC works (if needed) and one can turn the Auto lights to OFF if that is preferred (kills DRL's). I used to do this while waiting for the kids bus returning from school trips.
Yes, and this is one of my favorite features of the car. If I turned on my gas car in a parking lot to run AC I'd feel bad, but depending on conditions would do it anyway. With this car, one can completely silently turn on the car, and with no emissions run the climate control (in most all cases).
Also if I'm sitting in passenger seat and can't reach the break pedal, I've learned a double-tap of power button turns on the car without pressing the break.
Be aware that "On" mode (two presses of the power button without the brake) will drain the 12V battery,
Be aware that "On" mode (two presses of the power button without the brake) will drain the 12V battery, even more so than "Accessory" mode (since fans come on and draw even more power; actual AC and heat probably don't). I actually measured this with a volt meter on the battery terminals...
But's that's the problem DRL's are always on in READY mode, even if the headlight switch is set to off, unless someone knows how to turn them off. For that reason if I'm sitting in a parking lot at night listening to the radio and I don't feel like attracting attention I switch to ACC. Unfortunately no heat or AC available. Switching to ON provides fan but also turns on DRL's.Safe advice=don't use ACC mode for more than a few minutes; best to keep it (in READY) so not only does the 12v keep getting a charge but the HVAC works (if needed) and one can turn the Auto lights to OFF if that is preferred (kills DRL's).
But's that's the problem DRL's are always on in READY mode, even if the headlight switch is set to off, unless someone knows how to turn them off.
But's that's the problem DRL's are always on in READY mode, even if the headlight switch is set to off, unless someone knows how to turn them off. For that reason if I'm sitting in a parking lot at night listening to the radio and I don't feel like attracting attention I switch to ACC. Unfortunately no heat or AC available. Switching to ON provides fan but also turns on DRL's.
I had thought about the parking brake and even tried it but I only tried setting the parking brake after the car was running and that didn't turn the DRL's off. You are right you have to turn the car off with the parking brake set then turn it back on.If you start the car to READY with the parking brake set, the DRLs shouldn't come on while you sit like that. They will come on when you turn off the parking brake, and they won't turn off if you set the brake again unless you shut off/start the car again.
I had thought about the parking brake and even tried it but I only tried setting the parking brake after the car was running and that didn't turn the DRL's off. You are right you have to turn the car off with the parking brake set then turn it back on.