The hybrid vehicle world seems to be advancing at a gathering pace now.
On CNN's news website a report states that Ford intends to increase its production of hybrids ten-fold by 2010, to 250,000 units. By then it hopes to offer hybrid versions of half the models in its range.
Toyota has already announced that it plans to offer hybrid options throughout its range. Presumably that would render the Prius redundant.
Recently I overheard a Toyota Prius owner in a car park telling an interested passer by that it did 60 mpg.
I think hybrids will initially replace automatics, since they do the same thing - they provide a gearless, clutchess drive. Autos and hybrid transmissions are both costlier than manual gearboxes but whereas the conventional planetary + torque converter auto uses more fuel than a manual, the hybrid uses much less except in most conditions.
Cheers, Sofa Spud
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Makes sense to use hybrid's in town - even more sense if they had an optional mains charge utility. If you're using a hybrid in town it's entirely probable you would only need the electric motor, doesn't make sense using the engine to charge the battery.
I've always been aware that conventional auto's are hugely inefficient (take a look at the CO2 emissions for the same car/engine with manual and auto boxes).
I'm impressed with the VAG DSG box though, best of both worlds although it is costlier than a manual box.
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One has to add, the driveability of hybrids is much better as well.
Near silent around town, smooth with good take off and acceleration when running on volts.
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In the USA some keen owners have set their Prius and Insights to charge from the mains overnight and have changed the software so that they can control when the petrol engine will cut in.Idea being that the car will run on battery for more time.
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Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that some manufacturers have finally introduced some radically different technologies onto the market, but I?m personally not convinced.
The cheapest Prius is £17545 and will apparently do a combined MPG of 65
The cheapest Corolla is a mere £11695 but will only do 42 mpg.
Is the hybrid technology really worth that much?
For an extra grand (and 14 mpg) you could have the Corolla diesel.
Environmentally too, they're not that far ahead. The Prius only pumps out 24g less that the diesel Corolla (but a more weightily [sigh!] 55g less than the petrol) and what about the extra batteries when the vehicles reach the end of their useful life?
In a nutshell, I don?t see the technology as bringing results which are leaps and bounds above what we already have, although I can see why you would want one. Granted, the only hybrid vehicle I?ve been on is a bus, but the levels of refinement seem markedly improved over petrol and diesel vehicles. Is that right?
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If, as they intend to do, Toyota introduce a hybrid option on all their models, it's difficult to see much of a take-up if it's a £6000 option. Perhaps the economy of large-scale production of hybrid components will bring down the cost.
Cheers, SS
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Office now owns a Honda Civic hybrid. Brlliaint car. Tad underpowered, beautifully made, best handling fwd I've driven. Giving someone a lift (into Central London BTW and avoiding CC) the other day, they thought it was an Audi ! Returns near 50 mpg despite being hammered, brill ! Oh for a Type R though.
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I love economical cars, but I hate hybrids!
Surely they're worse for the environment? I would have thought that the extra environmental damage caused during the production must be more than the benefits during the running of it. You've not only got the production of the petrol engine, but you've also got the cost of the electric engine, and the bits to recharge it. You've then got to service and repair all of the parts.
I beleive the batteries cost a fortune too, and need replacing every few years, which must have a huge environmental impact!
You've then got the engine which will only kick in when you need to accelerate, and it will probably be cold. So you'll be abusing the cold engine.
Anyway, the new 107/C1/Aygo should easily beat 60mpg!
Any comments?
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I've heard a possible 10 year battery life for hybrids mentioned. If this is the case, given an average car life of 15 years, maybe a cheaper, shorter-life reconditioned battery might see a hybrid through to its final journey.
Does making the electrical bits hurt the environment any more than making clutches and gearboxes, I wonder?
Ultra-capacitors are being investigated as energy storage devices to replace batteries for hybrids, as are hub motors which are more efficient 'regenerators'.
Also, I'd imagine, hybrid-specific engine designs might evolve.
Since the engines work at optimum, near constant speeds (except in Honda types), low speed torque and engine flexibility are less important. Also no drivetrain to transmit vibration, only engine mountings. So maybe 3-cylinder engines might be sufficient for Golf sized cars.
Cheers, Sofa Spud
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