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Hybrid Vehicles Hybrid Vehicles - Archived Discussions How do Hybrids work? Newbie questions encouraged! 
139 messages, Last post on Aug 02, 2007 at 5:38 PM
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Replying to: enrolb (Aug 22, 2006 12:15 pm) The quick answer is for speeds below 42mph you'll find the engine is fully stopped quite often. It is always fully meshed with the drive train same as an auto transmission. However the similarity ends there because there are no slipping clutches or hydraulic torque converters employed here. What there is is just this differential gear that the engine feeds to. A small but powerful servo feeds this differential gear system also. Power takeoff to the wheels is through a third gear. It is this gear which drives directly to the wheel axle with a 4:1 stepdown. If the wheels are turning and the engine is not required then the Prius computers will instruct the small servo to rotate precisely at the right speed so that the crankshaft can remain stationary. But how does it do it is a whole other question ! If you want to know more, first take a look at the line dwg on Post #470 on the Toyota Camry Hybrid board. That top drawing is your car. See the planetary gear in the centre ? Well it's not clear from the drawing, at least not as clear as it could be, but the crankshaft of your engine is connected to the planetary carrier which supports the planet gears which race around the sun. The sun gear itself is driven by a hollow shaft from the smaller servo (if you can call 30kw (42Hp) small ! ) commonly referred to as MG1. Now here's the tricky part. In order for the crankshaft to meet the planet carrier it has to go through the hollow center of MG1 and its shaft and then proceed through to the other side of the side of the planetary assy where it can then join rigidly to the carrier. The third part of a planetary gearbox is the outer ring gear. This is the internal tooth gear the planets run around inside. It also connects directly to MG2, your main 67Hp traction motor. And eventually the wheels as the diagram shows. T2 |
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I'm thinking about buying a Camry Hybrid. I'm in sales and during the summer, in between sales calls, I will sit in my car for 1/2-1hour, with the airconditioner running. My question is, will I be able to do this in the Camry Hybrid, or will it ruin the battery?
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Replying to: ellen4 (Feb 19, 2007 9:32 pm) No, the engine will come on to charge the battery when needed. You will use up gasoline, of course... are you sure you will have enough cargo room for your sales stuff? I actually think the Prius may be a better choice for carrying cargo.
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Replying to: stevedebi (Feb 21, 2007 1:25 pm) 
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| I recently test drove the Nissan Altima, Toyota Highlander, and Lexus RX400h hybrids. On the Lexus (which was very quiet usually) I noticed a marked increase when decelerating which the salesman said was due to the regenerative braking. I didn't notice it in the other hybrids, and he didn't think it was excessive, or that it would lessen as the car is broken in. What should one expect with the sound of regenerative braking, particularly with the RX400h (the one I will probably buy)? Thanks. | |
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Replying to: mojavegreen (Apr 18, 2007 2:07 pm) |
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Replying to: mojavegreen (Apr 18, 2007 2:07 pm) You cross shopped a Nissan Altima with a Lex RX400h ? And didn't try the 2007 Camry hybrid when it's been out a lot longer than the Altima ? The Camry is less complex than the Lexus but more advanced than the Prius. T2
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Replying to: toyolla2 (Apr 20, 2007 12:44 pm) But, the only magnetostiction we heard was on the Lexus. Is it usually that noticeable in hybrids? It wasn't on the other two we drove.
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Replying to: mojavegreen (Apr 20, 2007 2:34 pm) Something to remember is that hybrids have some pretty expensive parts in them and they are exclusive to the dealership so it's prudent in this case, with an emerging technology, to negotiate a price on an extended warranty. There are some other important differences to note. The RX400h vehicle will have been out about three years in October so these vehicles will have been fully debugged by now and any frequently troublesome parts will be stocked in the dealers service department. Your new Altima hybrid is now in its first model year, it will be a strange animal to Nissan mechanics, and if there is a problem you will be in a loaner till parts come in from Japan. These are important "firsts" and a basis for some questions you should raise at point of sale. Quite frankly I would pass on the Altima, right now, I would not be an early adopter, until they've proved they've got their vehicle and act together. Edmunds boards are good for that. On the subject of leasing hybrids. Toyota wasn't leasing Priuses here until recently and then the financing rates offered were miserable. It was obvious they they wanted you to pony up for the early adopter risk. I am not connected with them, by the way, but I've bought three products from Toyota 'cos Life's too short you could at least try out the Camry just to see if it makes the same sounds in regen and kill two birds with one stone. It may be easier to get a deal on the Altima than the Camry right now. My buying experience with Lexus is, if you have to have new, they have attractive financing deals on Lexuses towards September to clear out the 2007s plus you'll also have a chance to see some off leases coming in at the same time. I test drove a few and was surprised to find that three year old vehicles felt and drove as well as new vehicles. At my local dealership they don't stay on the lot a week and by the time I was ready to pull the trigger they were gone ! I gave up and went for Plan B which is to buy new and hold for ten years or so, that way you'll find a Lexus isn't that much more expensive to own than a Corolla. The strategy works because Toyota paint jobs really last, I didn't see any rust for nearly twelve years with the Corolla and the city uses any excuse to drop salt on the road here. But that's enough ranting. On a more technical note It also has an auxiliary input jack (MP3) on the radio. They're a good idea, I'm hopeful XM and Sirius will take a hit with these MP3 plugins and bring their $14/month service down to a more reasonable level. T2 |
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I haven't test-driven any hybrid yet (I hate going to dealerships!). I've read specifically about the Ford Escape Hybrid. It seems the electric motor is on initially and then the gas engine will start when you reach a certain speed. I often drive in stop-start freeway traffic. The last time I checked, I went between 0 and 30 several times within 5 miles. If the speed that traffic is reaching makes the gas engine start, will the engine continue stopping and starting as you speed up and slow down with traffic? Is that bad for the motor and engine? It would seem to be a lot of wear and tear.
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