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Hybrid Vehicles Lexus RX 400h Lexus RX 400h
2334 messages, Last post on Oct 11, 2009 at 10:42 AM
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Replying to: erc66 (Aug 22, 2007 12:10 pm) |
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Replying to: cyclone4 (May 31, 2007 12:32 pm) I keep seeing this comment or similar and what is NOT being taken into consideration is the "next generation" prius would only get the greatly improved mileage if it is a plug-in Hybrid. Meaning they will use smaller, lighter battery packs to allow much more storage capacity. They will be charged from a wall outlet and your first so many miles (60miles? 100 miles?) will run off of battery alone. The engine would only kick on once the battery power ran low. This is how you would get an overall average of 100+mpg. People are already doing this conversion on Prius with the current battery technology, but it adds substantial weight and takes up a lot of room. The next generation of battery technology is mainly to allow for more batteries with the net effect of higher speeds and longer ranges from battery-only. The much talked about 100+mpg numbers are not from standard non-plug-in hybrids. To me, and many others, this is the ultimate solution and I see no reason it couldn't be applied to larger vehicles like the RX. Most days, you'll never run the engine. But it's nice to know you are not bound by a limited range of 100 miles or so. If you go on a long trip or just forget to plug in one night, you aren't stuck looking for an outlet. You just put in a dab of gasoline and keep on truckin'.
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Replying to: chadx (Sep 13, 2007 6:13 am) Of course you can apply technology to different vehicle sizes, but as the vehicle gets heavier, the engine size increases, and the cross-section increases (all three of which affect the RX), the efficiency of the technology goes down. In other words, adding plug in to an RX400 would not provide nearly the improvement (as a percentage) as it would to a small custom built hybrid like the Prius. There is already a small hybrid SUV that can get 35 MPG - the Ford Escape. If Lexus wanted to improve the MPG on the RX, they could do so by moving to a smaller engine. Toyota has chosen to stay with the V6 for all their SUV applications...
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Replying to: stevedebi (Sep 13, 2007 9:46 am) Yes, and by doing so they are showing their ULTIMATE STUPIDITY. The I4 has now even been dropped from the HEAVIER HL line. The Atkinson cycle cannot be used with a V6 because of the "out of sync" intake and compression cycles. Mazda overcame that problem by using an SC. IMMHO Toyota should wise up and go to a smallish Miller Cyle I4 with an e-CVT concept engine driven variable speed positive displacement SuperCharger..no intake "throttle". 50MPG...???
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Replying to: wwest (Sep 13, 2007 11:35 am) The I4 has now even been dropped from the HEAVIER HL line. " Toyota is catering to the customer desires (or their perception of customer desires). The view is that an SUV driver wants good power and acceleration. To get that in an SUV that weighs over 4500 lbs, one needs either an enhanced I4 (SC or Turbo) or a V6. It would be expensive to develop an I4 just for the hybrid SUV application. They would rather bask in the glow of having SUV hybrids without having said vehicles get really good MPG (for an SUV). The Ford website does not list the weight of the Escape (hybrid or ICE). I think it weighs around 4000 lbs in hybrid form, which is considerably less than the HH or RX. And in any case the FEH has "adequate",not stellar, acceleration. Another issue is the towing, which really requires a V6. I would not tow ANYTHING with an FEH. Of course, many people would say that a hybrid SUV is kind of pointless anyway (due to the higher weight and cross-section of the SUV). The current system provides a modest increase in MPG over the ICE only model; an I4 could double that increase. |
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Replying to: stevedebi (Sep 14, 2007 9:30 am) For quite a few years now I have suspected that the towing package for these vehicles was developed for other reasons, yet another SECRET "protect the drive train effort" at the customer's expense. When I bought my '01 AWD RX300 I was told that the only way I could get one without the tow package was with a special order. Say WHAT...??!! So I now suspect, strongly so, that the use of the Camry transaxle in the RX300 required a few design measures to help extend the transaxle life. Obviously a failed effort for the '99 RX series.
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Replying to: wwest (Sep 15, 2007 8:31 am) People drive a vehicle, play around with some creature comfort they didn't know they wanted, but go for it because it is 'neat' and/or "it only adds $9/month to my payment". In the case of a tow package, probably only $1/mnth. Yep. I think it probably has more to do with dealer profits than reliability. Why would a dealer care about a possible super slim improvement in reliability between a tow package vs. a non-tow package vehicle? After all, if it breaks or wears out, you pay them to fix it or you buy another vehicle!
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