What I Have to Say about Hybrid Cars

I take a pro-environment but critical and scientific and open-eyed look at hybrid cars, with a focus on the Toyota Prius, since it's like "the" hybrid car.

A number of experimental tests are done as well as an analysis through theory on gas milage, production, breakeven energy, and more.

The Canadian energy coordinator worked for Greenpeace.

(Song is Mozart's Requiem "Lacrimosa" (K . 626))

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• hybrid
• car
• cars
• electric
• hydrogen
• gas
• oil
• clean
• global
• warming
• climate
• change
• lesbian
• environment
• damage
• prius
• hummer

[0sebas00]

dude more distance from the camera plz :S 05:17

[thecaster]

Maybe you shouldn't sit so close to your end of the screen :P

[f1nuts]

Does this dim wit even realize that the EPA test were revised in 2007 and that all car fuel consumption #'s dropped?

Does he realize the Sudbury open pit mine has been open for 100years?

Does he know nickel is used in the production

of all cars?

Does this boy know that this is the first step only and that the batteries will be lithium in the next generation of Hybrids?

Is he unaware that Prius production has been relentlessly improved since moving to the U.S.?

God, I could go on and on.

[f1nuts]

Purely electric vehicles, even if their power comes 100% from a coal fire electric station, will get the rough equivalent of 140miles per gallon! This boy needs to do a little research.

[FireFlamesrocks]

Pedal faster!!!!

[f1nuts]

All electrics are on there way. The Tesla/Toyota Rav4 is complete and will be in full production by the end of 2011. All hybrid/energy recovery systems are leading us into a better automotive future.

Why does this boy think we like looking up his nose?

[mtb416]

@f1nuts Lithium will not be widespread anytime soon. Dim wit.

[trident3b]

I'll get back to you. Right now I am relocating from backward primitive UK to mainland Europe. Have next to no internet at the moment. I seem to have way different stats re consumption etc than you do, chiefly from the German mag "auto motor und sport". Compares all hybrids including hydrgen etc etc ina test from south of Germany to the North. Must be about 1000Km. Will be in touch again.

[bobsixtyfour]

One last thing.

the 2010 VW Golf Diesel is currently rated at 42mpg on the highway.

The 2010 Toyota Prius is currently rated at 48mpg on the highway.

The Golf is rated at 30mpg in the city.

The Prius is rated at 51mpg in the city.

How exactly is the prius not winning? It's beating it in all categories of fuel economy.

Coupled with the fact that diesel has more energy per gallon when compared to gas.

I don't care which wins to be honest. As long as conventional cars go away.

[bobsixtyfour]

At that site, if you look at how the engine is setup BETWEEN the electric motors, you will find the electric motors are pretty much always being used.

It's also interactive. Try it out.

The prius transmission uses the electric motors as basically an electric torque converter.

How would you define "large conventional ICE"? 2 liters? 4 liters? 1.4 liters?

What's a small conventional ICE?

half a liter? 150 cc? 50cc?

The prius engine is -in my opinion- one of the smallest engines out there.

[bobsixtyfour]

cont.

The prius engine can turn off completely when traveling below 41mph. Also, the rpm of the engine and the electric motors are not matched. Thus, it does not fall into the definition of a parallel hybrid.

Do yourself a favor and google: Toyota Prius Power Split Device

The first search result should be eahart (dot) com

The power of a hybrid does not determine what type of hybrid it is.

[bobsixtyfour]

Find a credible source that says the prius is a parallel hybrid. Its not.

Here's the definition of a parallel hybrid:

Parallel hybrids can be categorized by the way the two sources of power are mechanically coupled. If they are joined at some axis truly in parallel, the speeds at this axis must be identical and the supplied torques add together. When only one of the two sources is being used, the other must either also rotate in an idling manner or be connected by a one-way clutch or freewheel.

[bobsixtyfour]

Are you measuring torque at the wheel or the output shaft?

[trident3b]

I think the prius is classed as a parallel hybrid. Full series means one power source preferably electric with another source to provide the power, eg petrol driving a gen' which drives the e motors. The prius is an extremely weak parallel hybrid with either the weak electric driving or the large conventional IC (99% of the time as the electric can't hack it). The Prius will only win over a pure diesel in nox but not range. Hence the entire german car industry didn't bother & made better diesels