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I guess I think the i3 doesn't count since its only a 34hp engine so it can't really power the car in normal driving (without sitting and letting the battery re

I guess I think the i3 doesn't count since its only a 34hp engine so it can't really power the car in normal driving (without sitting and letting the battery recharge for a while) its just a range extender but yes it is technically a series hybrid. It also has pretty poor efficiency using gas (31 mpg combined) The Nissan e-power is interesting, having not dug deep into it before, it looked like it obviously had a engine to wheel connection through the transfer case. Thought they where pulling a Chevy and claiming series hybrid when actually parallel, but just digging deeper its very strange the engine output and drive gear are separated only by MM as though they where leaving the design open to a mechanical connection. Never the less its difficult to get highway MPG numbers on it which is why most hybrids have a mechanical connection. Electric is more efficient stop and go city driving while steady state highway mechanical transfer is more efficient. Would like to see power loss numbers and highway mpg, my guess is on the highway the E-Power would lose out to a Prius.

jasonwatkinspdx 4y ago
You are mistaken about the i3. Some friends had one and I joined them on several road trips. Driving it long distances is no different than any other car. You just stop and fill up the tank every few hours. The range extender pops on as needed to keep the battery from fully drawing down. It's important to remember it doesn't actually take that much horsepower to just keep a car putting along at reasonable speeds. Even economy engines are oversized compared to that due to the need for good low end torque in start/stop conditions. But a hybrid solves that the other way.
- SigmundA 4y ago
  Although less of an issue than I thought there are driving conditions where it cannot maintain speed due to lack of power, it was a big enough issue for class action lawsuit to be filed over it dropping to 45mph on the highway: https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1105823_bmw-i3-rex-range-extender-owner-assesses-pros-and-cons-of-limited-power-engine https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1105823_bmw-i3-rex-rang... And again my main point was on efficiency, I would hope you agree 31mpg combined is extremely poor for a 34hp engine when much larger engines get much better mileage and have no issues with providing power when needed without battery assistance. It doesn't need much hp to maintain highway speed (probably around 34hp on flat ground) which means the engine is running full throttle to do so, vs running in it most efficient range which is not where it puts out peak power. The e-power Nissan has a full size engine, but a small battery, although would be interesting to compare it drivetrains weight with a standard one, having both a electric motor and generator of equal size is typically much heavier than a transmission.
- smm11 4y ago
  I have a BMW diesel sedan, and have averaged 56 mpg over the past 14 months. Starting from a dead stop is nearly all the fuel consumption, like an Atlas rocket. On flat ground, the car gets 70-90 mpg, and if not driving like an idiot up small hills, it's in the 50s. My commute is very stop-go, otherwise I think the car would be in the upper-60s all the time. I've often wondered if there was a way to have an electric motor handle the movement of the car up to about 15 mph.
  - GeorgeWBasic 4y ago
    Which one do you have? That's remarkable fuel economy for city driving, and better than the older Volkswagens I've been considering.
    - smm11 4y ago
      It's a 328D. My earlier diesels were VW TDIs, a Jetta Wagon and then sedan. The BMW gets far better mileage, and the TDI sedan was one that was found to be in violation of emissions and was purchased back from me.
barrkel 4y ago
25hp is enough to propel a very non-aerodynamic scooter (it's about what most 250cc models produce), with the rider sitting up in the wind blast, at a continuous 130kph. An car can be more efficient at cutting through the air. What it's not enough for is much acceleration at those speeds. But a battery buffer would help hugely, as long as you aren't driving very sportily for an extended period of time.

jasonwatkinspdx 4y ago

You are mistaken about the i3. Some friends had one and I joined them on several road trips. Driving it long distances is no different than any other car. You just stop and fill up the tank every few hours. The range extender pops on as needed to keep the battery from fully drawing down. It's important to remember it doesn't actually take that much horsepower to just keep a car putting along at reasonable speeds. Even economy engines are oversized compared to that due to the need for good low end torque in start/stop conditions. But a hybrid solves that the other way.

SigmundA 4y ago
Although less of an issue than I thought there are driving conditions where it cannot maintain speed due to lack of power, it was a big enough issue for class action lawsuit to be filed over it dropping to 45mph on the highway: https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1105823_bmw-i3-rex-range-extender-owner-assesses-pros-and-cons-of-limited-power-engine https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1105823_bmw-i3-rex-rang... And again my main point was on efficiency, I would hope you agree 31mpg combined is extremely poor for a 34hp engine when much larger engines get much better mileage and have no issues with providing power when needed without battery assistance. It doesn't need much hp to maintain highway speed (probably around 34hp on flat ground) which means the engine is running full throttle to do so, vs running in it most efficient range which is not where it puts out peak power. The e-power Nissan has a full size engine, but a small battery, although would be interesting to compare it drivetrains weight with a standard one, having both a electric motor and generator of equal size is typically much heavier than a transmission.
smm11 4y ago
I have a BMW diesel sedan, and have averaged 56 mpg over the past 14 months. Starting from a dead stop is nearly all the fuel consumption, like an Atlas rocket. On flat ground, the car gets 70-90 mpg, and if not driving like an idiot up small hills, it's in the 50s. My commute is very stop-go, otherwise I think the car would be in the upper-60s all the time. I've often wondered if there was a way to have an electric motor handle the movement of the car up to about 15 mph.
- GeorgeWBasic 4y ago
  Which one do you have? That's remarkable fuel economy for city driving, and better than the older Volkswagens I've been considering.
  - smm11 4y ago
    It's a 328D. My earlier diesels were VW TDIs, a Jetta Wagon and then sedan. The BMW gets far better mileage, and the TDI sedan was one that was found to be in violation of emissions and was purchased back from me.

barrkel 4y ago

25hp is enough to propel a very non-aerodynamic scooter (it's about what most 250cc models produce), with the rider sitting up in the wind blast, at a continuous 130kph. An car can be more efficient at cutting through the air. What it's not enough for is much acceleration at those speeds. But a battery buffer would help hugely, as long as you aren't driving very sportily for an extended period of time.