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336 messages,  Last post on Oct 26, 2007 at 11:07 AM

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#331 of 336 Re: prius highway fuel economy [godzillaismad] by stevedebi May 18, 2006 (9:27 am)
Replying to: godzillaismad (May 17, 2006 3:08 pm) "That's great to hear... I guess my worry is a bit on the paranoid side due to the fact that the engine is relatively small (1.3L for civic or 1.5L for prius)... just not too sure whether it would be a good idea to drive those hybrids long term in the freeway. Will the engine way wear much faster than it is designed to handle?"   I wouldn't worry about the Civic, at least. Honda has been making small engines that go a long ways for many years. The ICE Civic has a 1.7L engine, which is pretty small. But in any case Honda builds their engines to REV high and last long, provided the required maintenance is done. Replies to this message: davhan (May 18, 2006 3:01 pm) stevedebi (May 19, 2006 9:23 am) davhan (May 19, 2006 2:37 pm) and 1 more...
#332 of 336 Re: prius highway fuel economy [stevedebi] by davhan May 18, 2006 (3:01 pm)
Replying to: stevedebi (May 18, 2006 9:27 am) The HCH 1.3l engine is no ordinary motor. Like all Honda's it has variable valve timing, but in 3 levels. The first is for maximum torque at low revs, the middle is for standard cruising and the top is for maximum power at high revs...all handled automatically of course. At freeway speeds (100kph) it sits at or below 2,000rpm - very low indeed for such a small motor. This is also a function of the CVT (Constantly Variable Transmission). So all in all the engine should last forever at highway speeds. Replies to this message: stevedebi (May 19, 2006 9:23 am) davhan (May 19, 2006 2:37 pm) stevedebi (May 21, 2006 6:57 pm)
#333 of 336 Re: prius highway fuel economy [davhan] by stevedebi May 19, 2006 (9:23 am)
Replying to: davhan (May 18, 2006 3:01 pm) "The first is for maximum torque at low revs, the middle is for standard cruising and the top is for maximum power at high revs...all handled automatically of course."   That is an Atkinson cycle ICE, it doesn't have a lot of torque at low revs. Hence the electric assist.   Your description sounds the same as my 2003 CR-V; computer controlled variable valve timing. Replies to this message: davhan (May 19, 2006 2:37 pm) stevedebi (May 21, 2006 6:57 pm)
#334 of 336 Still surprisingly torquey though by davhan May 19, 2006 (2:37 pm)
Replying to: stevedebi (May 19, 2006 9:23 am) Correct. Nevertheless thanks to the electric motor assistance it has a surprising amount of low end torque. On looking at some other car manufacturer sites the average 1.8 - 2.0l engine has about the same amount of torque as the HCH...about 170nm. So it can take off from the lights quite briskly. It's at higher speeds 110kph and above where it starts to lack power. Replies to this message: stevedebi (May 21, 2006 6:57 pm)
#335 of 336 Re: Still surprisingly torquey though [davhan] by stevedebi May 21, 2006 (6:57 pm)
Replying to: davhan (May 19, 2006 2:37 pm) "So it can take off from the lights quite briskly. It's at higher speeds 110kph and above where it starts to lack power."   It depends upon the battery depletion. It supplies power at all speeds.
#336 of 336 Re: prius highway fuel economy [coalburner] by nnpptt Oct 26, 2007 (11:07 am)
Replying to: coalburner (May 17, 2006 5:01 am) 55 mpg! Wow. I average about 65 mph on traffic-free highway driving and I'm only getting 46 mpg in my 2004 Prius. I'm also having battery troubles, though... so I guess it's time for a service.   Thanks for the info! btw - I put a bunch of interesting stuff on this website. I think it's a good way to get people to see the light and drive a hybrid. Check it out:   http://comparati.com/941-Gas-Powered-Car-vs-Hybrid-Car

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