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Plug in Hybrid

I see the new Toyota hybrid is on the horizon. Remember the point of a hybrid, isn't to drive on electric but to use the energy thrown away during braking to get the car up to speed again, (Like KERS on an F1 car.) This makes the car as efficient as if it was running at constant speed. The new car. Engine 1.8 litre. Price (est) £25,000. Power 134 bhp.

0-62 mph 13.7 seconds. Top Speed EV mode 62 mph. Top Speed Hybrid mode 112 mph. Economy 108.6 mpg. CO2 g/km 59 Further the car does 12.5 miles on electric alone and unlike the Volt will recharge it's battery every time you brake.
Reply to
Clive
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Not only that, but to use the engine's maximum capacity as much as possible. That includes using the engine to spin up to its most efficient speed, even when road speed doesn't call for that, and store the extra inside the batteries. That can be much more efficient than simply letting the engine run the wheels at less than its best efficiency.

Reply to
Elmo P. Shagnasty

Right there, a major feature that blows the Volt away.

Cheaper, faster, company with a better repution....

Reply to
Canuck57

The Volt has regenerative braking and also has a "mountain" mode that will recharge the batteries while driving.

-- Ron

Reply to
Ron Peterson

Is there a link for this "mountain mode"? How long will it do mountain mode?

Reply to
Jim_Higgins

See

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It should do "mountain" mode indefinitely.

I am not sure if the Volt has gasoline engine braking like the Toyota hybrids.

-- Ron

Reply to
Ron Peterson

The Volt has regenerative braking and also has a "mountain" mode that will recharge the batteries while driving.

-- Ron

**** That wont help a lot down here in the Texas plains. Maybe if anybody buys this thing, they ought to tow a horse behind it.
Reply to
hls

The Volt was originally planed as a nitch vehicle and was going to build only 30,000 2011 Volts, but has upped the production 45,000 because of the high number of dealer orders being received.

Reply to
Mike

I don't think the Volt would be able to tow a horse trailer, I don't think that the Ford Escape Hybrid or the Prius could tow it either.

-- Ron

Reply to
Ron Peterson

Been on to the web site following the link above. Listened to the full

50 minutes of blurb. The geezer taking questions was not giving any answers at all. He refused to give any type of energy consumption figure, (Battery or Petrol usage, "mpg".) though he hinted at not using the battery to heat or cool the vehicle saying it took more juice to heat the car than it did to drive it. Sport mode was mentioned and is obviously the same as maximum output and therefore depleted battery life. Mountain mode just means that instead of the battery depleting to 30% before the engine starts, it would deplete to a lesser extent, making a bit more power available for hill climbing. He refused to be drawn on how far up a mountain you could go before depletion of the battery leaves you with just the output of the small engine. To sum up, he made several suggestions about what might be expected (Typical sales pitch.) but nothing he could be tied down to. Many hints and no substance whatsoever.
Reply to
Clive

Thanks for the warning.

I don't think that the Volt is a good solution for my driving needs compared to my THH.

The Honda hybrids seem to lack sufficient battery power and electric motors to capture the full advantage of hybrid technology. At least the Chevy Volt doesn't lack in that regard although it would be nice to put an electric motor in for the rear wheels.

-- Ron

Reply to
Ron Peterson

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