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Your suggested configuration has very big downsides. Basically, your config would be an electric car which carries around a complete internal combustion engine,

by cjensen 11y ago

Your suggested configuration has very big downsides. Basically, your config would be an electric car which carries around a complete internal combustion engine, gas tank, and exhaust system just in case it runs out of battery. For simple commutes and around town, you'd be better off jettisoning the weight and cost and getting a slightly bigger battery. The hybrid car as originally conceived is genius: Small and efficient gas engines are very gutless. Add an electric motor to fix the gutlessness and improve efficiency in stop-and-go circumstances. Electric cars are wonderful too. Trying to combine the benefits of all-electric with a hybrid is questionable.

derekp7 11y ago
That's why I mentioned a low HP engine, that would be just enough to maintain highway speed, to keep the weight small. Gas tank could be small, maybe 5 - 8 gallons.
- cjensen 11y ago
  Now your low HP engine is lugging around a giant empty battery. :-) There may be trade offs to be had, but it seems to me that it's too easy to think "electric good" and not examine the tradeoffs carefully. I think that's why the original Prius did not have a plug-in option: it made no sense to people who analyzed the trade-offs. It was introduced simply because there was a market for "electric good". I think the right trade-off is either all electric, or small-battery hybrid. It also might make sense to have a five-mile battery for people who make a lot of sub-five mile trips, but still regularly go further.
6stringmerc 11y ago
Do you have an opinion on the Jaguar C-X75 concept? http://www.theengineer.co.uk/in-depth/analysis/jet-power-bladons-microjets-enable-jaguar-turbine-hybrid/1005528.article http://www.theengineer.co.uk/in-depth/analysis/jet-power-bla...
- tempestn 11y ago
  Wow, that looks really cool. Sadly it was going to be a million dollar car, and it was cancelled in 2012 after only 3 prototypes were built.
  - 6stringmerc 11y ago
    Well, yeah, traditionally the highest grade technology gets deployed in performance or luxury settings first, then makes its way down to mass production. IIRC that's what happened with airbag systems. So I don't see the genesis avenue as inherently limiting. MTT made the RetroRocket and it did the whole Hot Rod Power Tour without any significant issues, I think.
IanCal 11y ago
> For simple commutes and around town, you'd be better off jettisoning the weight and cost and getting a slightly bigger battery I think the general desire for a plugin-hybrid is for the longer journeys so you don't need two cars. > Trying to combine the benefits of all-electric with a hybrid is questionable. It's a tricky trade-off but it's an interesting comparison. For example, a 50 mile range may actually cover 80% of my travelling and so I could have a small battery and then use gas for the rest of the journeys. I don't need a 200 mile battery to get me up to 95% of my journeys. It'll depend heavily on your actual variation on use though.

by cjensen 11y ago

derekp7 11y ago

That's why I mentioned a low HP engine, that would be just enough to maintain highway speed, to keep the weight small. Gas tank could be small, maybe 5 - 8 gallons.

cjensen 11y ago
Now your low HP engine is lugging around a giant empty battery. :-) There may be trade offs to be had, but it seems to me that it's too easy to think "electric good" and not examine the tradeoffs carefully. I think that's why the original Prius did not have a plug-in option: it made no sense to people who analyzed the trade-offs. It was introduced simply because there was a market for "electric good". I think the right trade-off is either all electric, or small-battery hybrid. It also might make sense to have a five-mile battery for people who make a lot of sub-five mile trips, but still regularly go further.

6stringmerc 11y ago

Do you have an opinion on the Jaguar C-X75 concept? http://www.theengineer.co.uk/in-depth/analysis/jet-power-bladons-microjets-enable-jaguar-turbine-hybrid/1005528.article http://www.theengineer.co.uk/in-depth/analysis/jet-power-bla...

tempestn 11y ago
Wow, that looks really cool. Sadly it was going to be a million dollar car, and it was cancelled in 2012 after only 3 prototypes were built.
- 6stringmerc 11y ago
  Well, yeah, traditionally the highest grade technology gets deployed in performance or luxury settings first, then makes its way down to mass production. IIRC that's what happened with airbag systems. So I don't see the genesis avenue as inherently limiting. MTT made the RetroRocket and it did the whole Hot Rod Power Tour without any significant issues, I think.

IanCal 11y ago

> For simple commutes and around town, you'd be better off jettisoning the weight and cost and getting a slightly bigger battery I think the general desire for a plugin-hybrid is for the longer journeys so you don't need two cars. > Trying to combine the benefits of all-electric with a hybrid is questionable. It's a tricky trade-off but it's an interesting comparison. For example, a 50 mile range may actually cover 80% of my travelling and so I could have a small battery and then use gas for the rest of the journeys. I don't need a 200 mile battery to get me up to 95% of my journeys. It'll depend heavily on your actual variation on use though.