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We are in the same boat. Had a _lot_ of plane travel plans that are basically all on indefinite hold now. We are likely going to accelerate plans to purchase a

by zrail 6y ago

We are in the same boat. Had a _lot_ of plane travel plans that are basically all on indefinite hold now. We are likely going to accelerate plans to purchase a more road-trip worthy vehicle (minivan, either with tow package or hybrid, can’t have both).

gambiting 6y ago
Btw, as an owner of a PHEV - benefits of a hybrid rapidly approach zero on very long journeys, potentially dipping into a negative past a certain point. If you're looking for a vehicle to take on road trips then skip the hybrid. It's absolutely fabulous if you're driving around 30-60 miles between charging though.
- michaelt 6y ago
  What if you want a vehicle for daily commuting, plus occasional road trips?
  - gambiting 6y ago
    Then yeah, I guess it works fine - I mean that's exactly what I'm going to do with mine, I drive on pure electricity for my commute, but I'm planning a 2000 mile round trip once the entire lockdown ends. I'm just saying that I'm well aware that on that longer trip the hybrid system will do exactly nothing to improve my fuel economy, or in fact make it worse because I'll be carrying around a quarter tonne battery pack that sits there and does nothing.
    - Tade0 6y ago
      I drive a regular hybrid and it's great on hilly terrain with many ups and downs. I would buy a PHEV just so that it wouldn't switch from regenerative to engine braking mode so soon.
  - ken 6y ago
    You don’t have to buy one vehicle to do everything, and that’s difficult if your tasks are so different. Buy a commuter, and rent a van for road trips. Otherwise, you’re taking a road trip sized vehicle to work every day, or a commute sized vehicle on a road trip.
- zrail 6y ago
  The specific vehicle we'd be getting is a PHEV Pacifica. The pricing can actually come in lower than the equivalent non-hyrbid version depending on the exact incentives in play. Our primary use case is moving kids and groceries, all of which is less than 30 miles round trip. On the highway it still gets ~10mpg better than the gas version.

by zrail 6y ago

gambiting 6y ago

Btw, as an owner of a PHEV - benefits of a hybrid rapidly approach zero on very long journeys, potentially dipping into a negative past a certain point. If you're looking for a vehicle to take on road trips then skip the hybrid. It's absolutely fabulous if you're driving around 30-60 miles between charging though.

michaelt 6y ago
What if you want a vehicle for daily commuting, plus occasional road trips?
- gambiting 6y ago
  Then yeah, I guess it works fine - I mean that's exactly what I'm going to do with mine, I drive on pure electricity for my commute, but I'm planning a 2000 mile round trip once the entire lockdown ends. I'm just saying that I'm well aware that on that longer trip the hybrid system will do exactly nothing to improve my fuel economy, or in fact make it worse because I'll be carrying around a quarter tonne battery pack that sits there and does nothing.
  - Tade0 6y ago
    I drive a regular hybrid and it's great on hilly terrain with many ups and downs. I would buy a PHEV just so that it wouldn't switch from regenerative to engine braking mode so soon.
- ken 6y ago
  You don’t have to buy one vehicle to do everything, and that’s difficult if your tasks are so different. Buy a commuter, and rent a van for road trips. Otherwise, you’re taking a road trip sized vehicle to work every day, or a commute sized vehicle on a road trip.
zrail 6y ago
The specific vehicle we'd be getting is a PHEV Pacifica. The pricing can actually come in lower than the equivalent non-hyrbid version depending on the exact incentives in play. Our primary use case is moving kids and groceries, all of which is less than 30 miles round trip. On the highway it still gets ~10mpg better than the gas version.