4 ms·

Wish we would focus on high range hybrids instead of pure EV.

by anonu 4y ago

SigmundA 4y ago
Hybrids main use are stop and go urban vehicles, on the highway at constant speed nothing beats a diesel. In gasoline vehicles you can go Atkinson cycle so that the gas engine approaches diesel efficiency with a loss of torque which is made up with electric motor. However if you're driving long distance all time might as well just go diesel like all other long haul vehicles.
- photonbeam 4y ago
  A series-hybrid is the way. Full electric drivetrain, but with a small gas generator used as a charger to range-extend when not near a fixed chargepoint, or when in motion
  - photonbeam 4y ago
    Following up, this company is trying to do this for logging trucks https://www.edisonmotors.ca/ https://www.edisonmotors.ca/
  - SigmundA 4y ago
    Math does not work out, series hybrid will be around 80% efficient while mechanical direct drive is 95%+. This is why nearly all hybrids are parallel and at highway speeds directly connect engine to wheels. Trains do diesel electric for precise traction control not efficiency, they make up the efficiency loss with low rolling resistance and aero drag.
jillesvangurp 4y ago
All the disadvantages of an ICE vehicle (emissions, maintenance, fuel cost, etc.) without most of the advantages of EVs (no emissions, lower fuel cost, less moving parts and complexity, etc.). There's a reason lots of EV only manufacturers from China and elsewhere are growing market share very rapidly at the cost of manufacturers still building hybrids and ice vehicles: they are better cars, cheaper to manufacture and you can sell them with nice juicy margins.
- SkyPuncher 4y ago
  Two notable exceptions: * eAWD is a fantastic enhancement for RWD vehicles that don't handle snow well. * Having a giant, off-grid battery. Right now, I'm limited by my battery capacity. I either need to add more batteries or install a generator.
Merad 4y ago
Yeah, I really feel like we should be pushing plug in hybrids more. If you have a 30-50 mile EV range you cover the daily commute for the vast majority of people so you can drastically reduce emissions. Meanwhile the gas engine covers the “oops I forgot to plug in” factor as well as the freedom to do long trips without being bound to charging infrastructure. Both of which would help ease the transition away from pure ICE, IMO. Hybrids might not be the sexy solution but they buy us time to build out the electric grid, chargers, etc. as well as (hopefully) figuring out better battery tech.
EricE 4y ago
Me too! I'm really hoping Mazda comes out with their rotary based range extender SUV. The power to weight ratio of rotaries is amazing, and their biggest weakness - the seals - is dramatically mitigated when the engine can run at a constant, fixed speed like it would be if paired to a generator and not mechanically linked to a drivetrain/transmission.

Wish we would focus on high range hybrids instead of pure EV.

by anonu 4y ago

Wish we would focus on high range hybrids instead of pure EV.

Hybrids main use are stop and go urban vehicles, on the highway at constant speed nothing beats a diesel. In gasoline vehicles you can go Atkinson cycle so that the gas engine approaches diesel efficiency with a loss of torque which is made up with electric motor. However if you're driving long distance all time might as well just go diesel like all other long haul vehicles.

photonbeam 4y ago
A series-hybrid is the way. Full electric drivetrain, but with a small gas generator used as a charger to range-extend when not near a fixed chargepoint, or when in motion
- photonbeam 4y ago
  Following up, this company is trying to do this for logging trucks https://www.edisonmotors.ca/ https://www.edisonmotors.ca/
- SigmundA 4y ago
  Math does not work out, series hybrid will be around 80% efficient while mechanical direct drive is 95%+. This is why nearly all hybrids are parallel and at highway speeds directly connect engine to wheels. Trains do diesel electric for precise traction control not efficiency, they make up the efficiency loss with low rolling resistance and aero drag.

jillesvangurp 4y ago

All the disadvantages of an ICE vehicle (emissions, maintenance, fuel cost, etc.) without most of the advantages of EVs (no emissions, lower fuel cost, less moving parts and complexity, etc.). There's a reason lots of EV only manufacturers from China and elsewhere are growing market share very rapidly at the cost of manufacturers still building hybrids and ice vehicles: they are better cars, cheaper to manufacture and you can sell them with nice juicy margins.

SkyPuncher 4y ago
Two notable exceptions: * eAWD is a fantastic enhancement for RWD vehicles that don't handle snow well. * Having a giant, off-grid battery. Right now, I'm limited by my battery capacity. I either need to add more batteries or install a generator.

Merad 4y ago

Yeah, I really feel like we should be pushing plug in hybrids more. If you have a 30-50 mile EV range you cover the daily commute for the vast majority of people so you can drastically reduce emissions. Meanwhile the gas engine covers the “oops I forgot to plug in” factor as well as the freedom to do long trips without being bound to charging infrastructure. Both of which would help ease the transition away from pure ICE, IMO. Hybrids might not be the sexy solution but they buy us time to build out the electric grid, chargers, etc. as well as (hopefully) figuring out better battery tech.

EricE 4y ago

Me too! I'm really hoping Mazda comes out with their rotary based range extender SUV. The power to weight ratio of rotaries is amazing, and their biggest weakness - the seals - is dramatically mitigated when the engine can run at a constant, fixed speed like it would be if paired to a generator and not mechanically linked to a drivetrain/transmission.