Posted by The ambivalent dbu. on May 4, 2006, 11:33 pm
> >
> >
> >>
> >> I think the biggest drawback to a hybrid diesel is cost. Both the diesel
> >> powerplant and hybrid power plant cost more than a conventional gasoline
> >> (etrol) engine so a diesel hybrid would have a double cost disadvantage
> >> to
> >> overcome.
> >
> > I would speculate that one problem with a diesel hybrid would be the
> > extra power needed to crank the engine, remembering that this will
> > happen quite frequently in a hybrid. This may mean more batteries
> > (and hence weight) and a heavier engine anyway, meaning that the
> > engine will need to run more frequently than it would in a petrol
> > powered hybrid.
> >
>
> A hybrid already has extra batteries so having the power to crank a diesel
> is not a problem. The hybrid controller would have to be programmed a
> little differently to allow for the additional power needed to crank a
> hybrid engine.
>
> > The hybrids that I have seen have clearly been designed to minimise
> > weight, even perhaps compromising braking and cornering performance by
> > fitting narrower tyres. With present technology, it is even possible
> > that the extra weight required by a diesel engine would cancel out the
> > gain in fuel economy compared to a petrol engine.
> >
>
> A diesel engine doesn't weigh THAT much more than a petrol engine. A diesel
> hybrid is technically feasible but it is not necessarily something that a
> consumer would pay 2 premiums for. There is a premium to build a diesel
> powerplant and there is a premium for a hybrid system, and it is unlikely
> that a consumer would pay over $,000 more for a diesel hybrid.
>
> As I mentioned before
>
> > The one thing that would really make hybrids irresistable would be a
> > means of charging the batteries from the mains. That way, even less
> > fuel would be burned (at least by the car). But I doubt the oil
> > companies would allow that to happen.
> >
>
> There are a lot of totally ridiculous conspiracy theories floating around
> that the oil companies control the technology that goes into consumer
> vehicles. Since consumers buy a lot more cars than oil companies, the
> automakers have a lot more to gain by producing something consumers want
> than what oil companies want.
>
> Again, the factors that make charging the batteries from household current
> are practical;
> - the hybrid system has the capacity to charge the batteries as necessary so
> an additional power source is not needed with the current battery capacity.
> - Adding additional battery capacity costs more money to build, adds weight
> to the vehicle, and reduces cargo and/or passenger space in the vehicle.
> Some enterprising do-it-yourselfers have fitted external chargers and
> additional battery packs at a cost roughly equal to the cost of the hybrid
> vehicle and they have had to use all of the cargo space in the car to do it.
What is the physical size of the battery pack in the Toyota Pirus?
I do wish Toyota would change the name, I have a hell of a time with the
spelling.
--
Posted by Ray O on May 5, 2006, 4:44 am
<snipped>
>> Again, the factors that make charging the batteries from household
>> current
>> are practical;
>> - the hybrid system has the capacity to charge the batteries as necessary
>> so
>> an additional power source is not needed with the current battery
>> capacity.
>> - Adding additional battery capacity costs more money to build, adds
>> weight
>> to the vehicle, and reduces cargo and/or passenger space in the vehicle.
>> Some enterprising do-it-yourselfers have fitted external chargers and
>> additional battery packs at a cost roughly equal to the cost of the
>> hybrid
>> vehicle and they have had to use all of the cargo space in the car to do
>> it.
> What is the physical size of the battery pack in the Toyota Pirus?
> I do wish Toyota would change the name, I have a hell of a time with the
> spelling.
> --
According to the information on this site
http://www.cleangreencar.co.nz/page/prius-technical-info there are 228
batteries roughly the size of a D-cell battery. There is a picture of the
battery pack on the site.
--
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
Posted by The ambivalent dbu. on May 5, 2006, 10:50 am
>
> <snipped>
>
> >> Again, the factors that make charging the batteries from household
> >> current
> >> are practical;
> >> - the hybrid system has the capacity to charge the batteries as necessary
> >> so
> >> an additional power source is not needed with the current battery
> >> capacity.
> >> - Adding additional battery capacity costs more money to build, adds
> >> weight
> >> to the vehicle, and reduces cargo and/or passenger space in the vehicle.
> >> Some enterprising do-it-yourselfers have fitted external chargers and
> >> additional battery packs at a cost roughly equal to the cost of the
> >> hybrid
> >> vehicle and they have had to use all of the cargo space in the car to do
> >> it.
> >
> > What is the physical size of the battery pack in the Toyota Pirus?
> >
> > I do wish Toyota would change the name, I have a hell of a time with the
> > spelling.
> > --
> >
>
> According to the information on this site
> http://www.cleangreencar.co.nz/page/prius-technical-info there are 228
> batteries roughly the size of a D-cell battery. There is a picture of the
> battery pack on the site.
Thanks, bookmarked for later consumption. I'm told by the service
manager at my dealer the battery pack is surrounded by computers and not
user serviceable. Amazing technology and I think it will only get
better.
I have a friend who has a hybrid Highlander and likes it. He just
checked mileage in city driving and it was 36 mpg city driving. Not bad
for a vehicle of that size and weight. I just had my 04 Sienna on a
road trip this week and I checked the mileage, 27.63 MPG, also not bad
for a 4400 lb vehicle, gas only. I'm a prudent driver which helps.
--
Posted by Michael Pardee on May 6, 2006, 12:23 am
> Thanks, bookmarked for later consumption. I'm told by the service
> manager at my dealer the battery pack is surrounded by computers and not
> user serviceable. Amazing technology and I think it will only get
> better.
Close enough description, I think. Don't touch it, you'll break it. Sit back
und watch der blinkenlights.
Mike
Posted by perfb on May 5, 2006, 7:27 pm
yeah, I wonder what the corporate image makers were thinking with that
name? Is it supposed to suggest anything at all?
The only association that 'Prius' brings to my mind is 'Priapus', but
maybe that's just me?
XML site map
> >
> >>
> >> I think the biggest drawback to a hybrid diesel is cost. Both the diesel
> >> powerplant and hybrid power plant cost more than a conventional gasoline
> >> (etrol) engine so a diesel hybrid would have a double cost disadvantage
> >> to
> >> overcome.
> >
> > I would speculate that one problem with a diesel hybrid would be the
> > extra power needed to crank the engine, remembering that this will
> > happen quite frequently in a hybrid. This may mean more batteries
> > (and hence weight) and a heavier engine anyway, meaning that the
> > engine will need to run more frequently than it would in a petrol
> > powered hybrid.
> >
>
> A hybrid already has extra batteries so having the power to crank a diesel
> is not a problem. The hybrid controller would have to be programmed a
> little differently to allow for the additional power needed to crank a
> hybrid engine.
>
> > The hybrids that I have seen have clearly been designed to minimise
> > weight, even perhaps compromising braking and cornering performance by
> > fitting narrower tyres. With present technology, it is even possible
> > that the extra weight required by a diesel engine would cancel out the
> > gain in fuel economy compared to a petrol engine.
> >
>
> A diesel engine doesn't weigh THAT much more than a petrol engine. A diesel
> hybrid is technically feasible but it is not necessarily something that a
> consumer would pay 2 premiums for. There is a premium to build a diesel
> powerplant and there is a premium for a hybrid system, and it is unlikely
> that a consumer would pay over $,000 more for a diesel hybrid.
>
> As I mentioned before
>
> > The one thing that would really make hybrids irresistable would be a
> > means of charging the batteries from the mains. That way, even less
> > fuel would be burned (at least by the car). But I doubt the oil
> > companies would allow that to happen.
> >
>
> There are a lot of totally ridiculous conspiracy theories floating around
> that the oil companies control the technology that goes into consumer
> vehicles. Since consumers buy a lot more cars than oil companies, the
> automakers have a lot more to gain by producing something consumers want
> than what oil companies want.
>
> Again, the factors that make charging the batteries from household current
> are practical;
> - the hybrid system has the capacity to charge the batteries as necessary so
> an additional power source is not needed with the current battery capacity.
> - Adding additional battery capacity costs more money to build, adds weight
> to the vehicle, and reduces cargo and/or passenger space in the vehicle.
> Some enterprising do-it-yourselfers have fitted external chargers and
> additional battery packs at a cost roughly equal to the cost of the hybrid
> vehicle and they have had to use all of the cargo space in the car to do it.