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The Volt worked best as an EV with an ICE range extender. As an EV, the 40-52 mile range was sufficient for 90+% of daily driving. Adding more range would have

The Volt worked best as an EV with an ICE range extender. As an EV, the 40-52 mile range was sufficient for 90+% of daily driving. Adding more range would have little true benefit. It was a series hybrid, but it was mediocre as a hybrid due to the added battery weight. Nissan has the E-power hybrid that is the pure series hybrid that you describe. AFAIK it is not as efficient as a regular, parallel hybrid. The advantage is in cost as running the gas engine as a generator uses fewer components than running it in a parallel hybrid system. https://www.nissan-global.com/EN/INNOVATION/TECHNOLOGY/ARCHIVE/E_POWER/#:~:text=The%20Technology%20of%20e%2DPOWER&text=In%20conventional%20hybrid%20systems%2C%20the,electric%20motor%20like%20an%20EV https://www.nissan-global.com/EN/INNOVATION/TECHNOLOGY/ARCHI....

gimmeThaBeet 3y ago
I got my honda partially because it has the closest thing to nissan's e-power (in many ways the same, but with a couple twists). At low speeds (< 45 mph) it's either off the battery the whole time, or the motor runs and directs power to the traction motor or the battery. One wrinkle is that the motor assembly has a clutch that can engage the engine direct to the wheels, but like in city driving, the engine isn't going to be connected to the wheels. But I def would say that at least Honda's hybrid doesn't feel as simple as e-power. Now this probably isn't really accurate, but architecturally I think I like it because the only thing keeping it from being a BEV is the battery size (only a couple kWh); the electric motor is strong enough to be usable on its own. I think Toyota has increased the power on the normal prius, and definitely on the prime, but it used to be as part of the power split system, the electric drive motor wasn't sized to be enough on its own.
- Tagbert 3y ago
  Yes, that was one of the limitations of the Honda Clarity. The EV motor wasn't big enough and it was all too eager to switch to the gas engine. Looked like it was a comfortable car, though. GM setup the Volt to alway have full power in EV mode and the vehicle would never automatically switch to gas unless the battery was discharged.

gimmeThaBeet 3y ago

I got my honda partially because it has the closest thing to nissan's e-power (in many ways the same, but with a couple twists). At low speeds (< 45 mph) it's either off the battery the whole time, or the motor runs and directs power to the traction motor or the battery. One wrinkle is that the motor assembly has a clutch that can engage the engine direct to the wheels, but like in city driving, the engine isn't going to be connected to the wheels. But I def would say that at least Honda's hybrid doesn't feel as simple as e-power. Now this probably isn't really accurate, but architecturally I think I like it because the only thing keeping it from being a BEV is the battery size (only a couple kWh); the electric motor is strong enough to be usable on its own. I think Toyota has increased the power on the normal prius, and definitely on the prime, but it used to be as part of the power split system, the electric drive motor wasn't sized to be enough on its own.

Tagbert 3y ago
Yes, that was one of the limitations of the Honda Clarity. The EV motor wasn't big enough and it was all too eager to switch to the gas engine. Looked like it was a comfortable car, though. GM setup the Volt to alway have full power in EV mode and the vehicle would never automatically switch to gas unless the battery was discharged.