3 ms·

In the US a plug-in hybrid seems like the best of both worlds. Once the charging infrastructure gets fully flushed out pure EVs will look a lot better.

loeg 2y ago
PHEVs (hybrids with large battery packs) are the worst of both worlds -- weight penalty of a big EV pack, but the complexity/maintenance of an ICE engine. Additionally, rarely used gas can go bad sitting in the tank. Just get a regular hybrid if you're concerned about EV range or don't like the current limited offerings.
- lmz 2y ago
  I thought those were programmed to run the engine once in a while regardless of necessity - to prevent the gas from going bad?
  - saalweachter 2y ago
    Yes -- it's happened once or twice with my Chevy Volt. Full charge, and it pops up a dialogue and runs the engine for a mile.
- slt2021 2y ago
  PHEV fits the ideal use case of short commute to work every day on EV, and a weekend trip to national park/resort city 400 miles away. but the downside is maintenance of ICE engine and transmission and all consumables
  - loeg 2y ago
    > PHEV fits the ideal use case of short commute to work every day on EV, and a weekend trip to national park/resort city 400 miles away. IMO, EVs fit this use case just fine. There are plenty of chargers; it's not a big deal.
- lern_too_spel 2y ago
  It's not as easy as more components = more expensive. The battery pack is much smaller. A Prius PHEV is almost 500 lbs lighter than a Model 3 and only 100 lbs heavier than a normal hybrid Prius, which also has a battery pack. The MSRP is lower by almost $10k, which can cover a lot of maintenance before you resell it with less depreciation.
  - loeg 2y ago
    > It's not as easy as more components = more expensive. I never said "more expensive."
    - lern_too_spel 2y ago
      You said weight penalty and maintenance. Those things have a cost in time and money. It is less than for a comparable BEV.

loeg 2y ago

PHEVs (hybrids with large battery packs) are the worst of both worlds -- weight penalty of a big EV pack, but the complexity/maintenance of an ICE engine. Additionally, rarely used gas can go bad sitting in the tank. Just get a regular hybrid if you're concerned about EV range or don't like the current limited offerings.

lmz 2y ago
I thought those were programmed to run the engine once in a while regardless of necessity - to prevent the gas from going bad?
- saalweachter 2y ago
  Yes -- it's happened once or twice with my Chevy Volt. Full charge, and it pops up a dialogue and runs the engine for a mile.
slt2021 2y ago
PHEV fits the ideal use case of short commute to work every day on EV, and a weekend trip to national park/resort city 400 miles away. but the downside is maintenance of ICE engine and transmission and all consumables
- loeg 2y ago
  > PHEV fits the ideal use case of short commute to work every day on EV, and a weekend trip to national park/resort city 400 miles away. IMO, EVs fit this use case just fine. There are plenty of chargers; it's not a big deal.
lern_too_spel 2y ago
It's not as easy as more components = more expensive. The battery pack is much smaller. A Prius PHEV is almost 500 lbs lighter than a Model 3 and only 100 lbs heavier than a normal hybrid Prius, which also has a battery pack. The MSRP is lower by almost $10k, which can cover a lot of maintenance before you resell it with less depreciation.
- loeg 2y ago
  > It's not as easy as more components = more expensive. I never said "more expensive."
  - lern_too_spel 2y ago
    You said weight penalty and maintenance. Those things have a cost in time and money. It is less than for a comparable BEV.