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Priuses are with the dual drive train. Chevy Volts are not, the generator is much simpler than a normal car engine. You are trading a normal ICE for an electric

Priuses are with the dual drive train. Chevy Volts are not, the generator is much simpler than a normal car engine. You are trading a normal ICE for an electric + generator combination, which is mechanically simpler (transmission is basically non-existent, for example). Not as simple as an EV, but can be simpler than a normal ICE.

davidgould 8y ago
Chevy Volts are not serial hybrids as you describe. They have a complex transmission that merges the gasoline engine and electric motor power in several modes for optimal efficiency. Nice car but not simple. Perhaps you meant the Chevy Bolt which is fully electric with no transmission or gasoline engine?
- perl4ever 8y ago
  Honda has multiple hybrids now that have essentially no transmission - either the engine charges the battery, or it is connected to the wheels as if in top gear. I haven't spent a lot of time driving one, but it seems elegant on paper. Perhaps not quite as smooth as the Toyota hybrid transmissions because it has the clutch engaging or disengaging the direct drive.
photojosh 8y ago
It would seem to me that doing it this way is ideal, because you can run the ICE at one specific optimised RPM. Would the losses from from charging the battery would be less than those from running an ICE in inefficient ranges? Is the only downside that you can't get a combined peak power from ICE+electric that's higher than the electric on its own? Am electrical engineer, not mechanical, so I'd be interested in someone who knows about these things chiming in.
jdietrich 8y ago
You've still got two complete power systems, electric and gasoline. The BMW i3 is available with a range extender option (a motorcycle engine with a generator), but it adds about $4,000 to the base price and significantly increases the servicing costs. That's not a dealbreaker on a $40,000 car, but it does become a significant issue if we're aiming to get EVs down to the price point of a Honda Civic.

davidgould 8y ago

Chevy Volts are not serial hybrids as you describe. They have a complex transmission that merges the gasoline engine and electric motor power in several modes for optimal efficiency. Nice car but not simple. Perhaps you meant the Chevy Bolt which is fully electric with no transmission or gasoline engine?

perl4ever 8y ago
Honda has multiple hybrids now that have essentially no transmission - either the engine charges the battery, or it is connected to the wheels as if in top gear. I haven't spent a lot of time driving one, but it seems elegant on paper. Perhaps not quite as smooth as the Toyota hybrid transmissions because it has the clutch engaging or disengaging the direct drive.

photojosh 8y ago

It would seem to me that doing it this way is ideal, because you can run the ICE at one specific optimised RPM. Would the losses from from charging the battery would be less than those from running an ICE in inefficient ranges? Is the only downside that you can't get a combined peak power from ICE+electric that's higher than the electric on its own? Am electrical engineer, not mechanical, so I'd be interested in someone who knows about these things chiming in.

jdietrich 8y ago

You've still got two complete power systems, electric and gasoline. The BMW i3 is available with a range extender option (a motorcycle engine with a generator), but it adds about $4,000 to the base price and significantly increases the servicing costs. That's not a dealbreaker on a $40,000 car, but it does become a significant issue if we're aiming to get EVs down to the price point of a Honda Civic.