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Hybrid Vehicles Hybrid Vehicles - Archived Discussions Plug-in Hybrids 
330 messages, Last post on Nov 13, 2008 at 12:13 PM
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Hmmm...never can tell when you're kidding, Lars - if you go from, say, 50 mpg to 100 mpg, you'll save 1000 gallons over 100,000 miles, right? Worth about $4000? And the kit costs between $5000 and $11,000? hmmmmmm Assumes gas will stay at $4 a gallon over the next 100,000 miles. When I bought by 2003 prius 110,000 miles ago gas was much closer to $2 a gallon. Once our market corrects and we are paying global/European prices between $8-10 per gallon (currently likely to rise in years to come). Spending $5k to save 1000 gallons will look like a better deal. Any all electric range will be invaluable once the shortages arrive and Joe Gasburner can't fill his tank.
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Replying to: gwmort (Jul 31, 2008 5:29 am) I might be prepared to roll those dice on a factory-installed version, but aftermarket? No way. Too complex of a system, to many things that could go wrong, too expensive if they do.
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Replying to: texases (Jul 31, 2008 5:45 am)
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Replying to: gagrice (Jul 31, 2008 6:23 am) I read an article the other day regarding Toyota's battery plans. They are currently pursuing their own Li-ion battery packs for their hybrids. For obvious reasons they are holding off implementing these batteries until they feel confident in their safety and longevity. At the same time Toyota is also investing heavily in zinc/air battery technology. If this pans out it could potentially deliver 3X the energy density of the best Li-ion batteries. |
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Replying to: tpe (Aug 03, 2008 3:57 pm) Tata and Chrysler sign deal to import electric Ace Chrysler's Global Electric Motorcars division (GEM) is working with Tata to import fully-assembled vehicles that meet all the appropriate U.S. regulations. The battery-operated Ace has successfully navigated the required safety tests, and they're reportedly ready for production. Tata wants to eventually export up to 50,000 vehicles to the US, but they've pegged the goal for 2008 at 10,000 units. This is definitely the year to keep an eye on Tata. 
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Replying to: tpe (Aug 03, 2008 3:57 pm) Absolutely. I look at the options being discussed, and think some combination of HEV/PHEV/EVs it the only option we have for the next 10+ years as an add-on to ICEs. The massive expenditures on hydrogen aren't going to yield anything in that time period, if ever. We already have the distribution system up, running, and tested for PHEV/EVs, unlike hydrogen. Yes, there will be some capacity constraints, but we know how to build power plants. |
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Replying to: gagrice (Aug 04, 2008 5:26 am) Does that big box in the back house the batteries? 
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Replying to: stevedebi (Aug 04, 2008 3:31 pm) I just wonder what kind of range they have. I imagine with lead acid somewhere in the 25 mile range. It would work for me if it was legal. I can live with 25 MPH running my errands. The problem is the roads are all narrow and 45-50 MPH posted. Most places you cannot pass the bike riders without crossing the double yellow lines. I can imagine getting a few folks miffed at me plugging along at 25 MPH. The nursery I use is only 6 miles and all the stores we shop at most of the time are only 3 miles. |
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Here are almost all the plug-in conversion options in the USA right now. For hybrid owners with more money than sense |
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I'm employed by the post office as a rural mail carrier in NH, and my daily drive consists of a 30 mi. interstate highway commute, a 30 mi. mail route with approximately 500 stops and some instances with speeds above 30mph, then the reverse 30 mi. homeward commute. I currently drive a late model Ford Taurus wagon and get about 9mpg on the route and about 15mpg overall. This gets expensive! I've been thinking about the practicality of a hybrid vehicle, particularly the Escape or the Prius. I've test driven the Escape (and liked it) and have spoken to Prius-owning friends. (The Escape has an advantage because of the greater interior volume). Both vehicle present some problems in conversion to right-hand operation for the route. I have had concerns as to whether a hybrid would hold up to this fairly severe duty cycle or likely be running on engine for much of the route. The discussion now about plug-in hybrids has me interested again. Does anyone know of hybrids, regular or plug-in, having been used in circumstances similar to mine? I see A123 has an operation in Watertown, MA., not far from me. Does anyone know how I can contact someone in their tech department to query them?
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