Post by Jane GaltPost by NeoPost by SMSThose purchasing electric cars and hybrids are not doing so based on
economics.
This is true of "hollow" hybrids but not necessarily true for all
hybrids.
?
Post by NeoAn inexpensive hybrid which gets over 40mpg (e.g.
2010 Honda Insight, 2010 Toyota Prius) can makes
economic sense if ownership is over 15 years,
if gasoline prices double or triple over the
life of the vehicle, and if the annual average mileage is
significantly high enough.
What if gas prices dont move much? It seems like the more oil we look for,
the more we find.
Post by NeoAlso using hypermiling techniques, it is much
more easier to raise the fuel efficiency of a hybrid
than that of a conventional gasoline/diesel vehicle
using a regular instrument panel.
A hybrid is
often the car of choice for a hypermiler.
Using hypermiling techniques a 2010 Toyota
Prius and a 2010 Honda Insight can easily increase
their overall mileage by 20% if not more without
any special equipment, e.g. Scangauge II.
?
Using hypermiling techniques, for a stock 2010 Toyota
Prius with an EPA overall rating of 50 mpg can see
an improvement of up to 70 mpg. In past hypermiler
competitions, the first genation of a stock Honda
Insight hybrid (which have bee rated by the EPA at
about 55 mpg) can achieved over 90 mpg.
Hypermiling techniques can be used to increase
the fuel efficiency of any car, but hybrids
like the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight are
easier to use because they automate certain
Hypermiling techniques for the driver.
For example, A hybrid will automatically shutdown
the gas engine when the vehicle is stopping at a traffic
light to save gas. In a conventional car, a
hypermiling driver would have to manually
turn off the engine at the red traffic light
and then manually restart the engine when
the traffic light turned green. Hybrids also
are guaranteed to have Instanteous Fuel
Efficiency (MPG) gauges which help a driver
dynamically monitor the vehicles's fuel efficiency.
When Hypermilers drive a conventional gas
car, they often use an after market device
called a Scan Gauge II to help them dynamically
monitor a vehicle's fuel efficiency. Every ICE
vehicle has a "sweet spot" where it runs most
efficiently (as expressed in RPMs) wrt to MPG..
Post by Jane GaltPost by NeoPost by SMSPlus you forgot to include the cost of electricity to charge
the batteries.
Initial reports suggest that BEV (e.g. Nissan Leaf) and PHEV
(e.g. Chevy volt) are getting about 100 miles per 23 kwh.
Via deregulation, the cost of electricity is trending upward
to pay for upgrading the electric utility infrastructures
and because local governments are taxing electricity
to gain revenue. In MD the cost of electricity has
risen from about 12 cents per kwh to about 18 cents
per kwh within the last year. If the price of
electricity increases faster than the average
price of gasoline - the energy cost advantage of
a BEV will start evaporating unless one can
independently generate electricity
Or get the government off our backs and tell them to stop the taxation.
US government regulation of electricity kept the prices down.
US government deregulation of electricity has lead to dramatic price
increases
as well as market manipulation and speculation (e.g. Enron Scandal).
US government deregulation of Wall Street lead to the Global Economic
Financial Meltdown and our current recession which in turn has
forced
state governments to look for new ways to raise revenue and
taxes
Post by Jane GaltPost by NeoToyota started making a limited number of 2010 Plug-in Prius
but sold only bulk for fleet sales. The car has a fast charge
5 prong plug and a Li Ion Battery Pack ( twice the size of the
current NiMh battery pack) . Initial reports of the PHEV Prius
suggest a range of 10 to 15 miles with Toyota's current
battery management system (which is used to extend the
life of the battery pack over 8 years).
Whoo hoo! 10-15 miles! I'm speechless! LOL
The all electric range is the sexier performance spec but
is curiously the least important cost factor.
When purchasing a PHEV or BEV the more important
practical and cost factor will be the lifespan of a Traction Battery.
Tesla's BEV Roadster 990 pound Li-Ion battery is warranted for
7 years and cost about $36,000 dollars to replace.
Tesla says that after their Li-ion battery pack should be
able to still hold 70% of its original charge after five years/50,000
miles.
The cost to replace a 2000 Toyota Prius (1st Generation Prius,
NHW10 and NHW11) 100 pound NiMh battery pack ( which had an 8 year
warranty, 10 years in CA) cost about $3000 dollars. The actually
average
lifespace of a 1st generation Prius is looking to be about 10 to 14
years. Toyota engineers believe that the 2nd and 3rd generation
Prius battery packs will last even longer than the 1st generation..
The estimated cost to replace the Chevy Volt 400 pound Li-ion
battery pack has been quotes to be around $15,000 dollars.
The cost to replace the 2010 Nissan Leaf 660 pound Li-Ion battery
pack is likely to be about $12,000 dollars. The cost of the
2012 PHEV Toyota Prius 330 pound Li-Ion battery is likely
hover around $6000 dollars. The Chevy Volt Warranty for the
Li-ion pack is 8 years ( CA will require it to be 10 yrs).
BTW
A Tesla Roadster is rated at about 100 miles/ 25khw (input charging
power) and 100 miles/22khw (stored battery power).
Early reports suggest that the 2012 PHEV Toyota Prius will
to get about an overall EPA rating of 75 mpg.
.