Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Nobody understands the point of hybrid cars [video]

youtube.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

131–140 of 230 posts

Re: Nobody understands the point of hybrid cars [video]

#131

Post by wtallis »

roelschroeven wrote: post #32
justin66 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't get it. I put my Toyota hybrid in neutral while going through a car wash all the time. I just googled this. I had no idea this was a thing some people worry about. I guess it's a problem if the hybrid battery runs out while the car is in neutral, but there's a meter right there to tell you how much charge it's got if you're really worried about it.

What surprised me in the video is that Alec was telling how his engine can charge his battery while in the car wash. I had a 2016 Auris which I had to put it in neutral in the car wash, and in neutral the engine couldn't charge the battery. That was never a problem, I never had an empty battery in the car wash or even came close to it, but it does seem different from Alec's experience (unless I misunderstood).

The car wash in this video is a box with a solid floor and doors that close at the ends before the wash cycle starts. There's no reason for the car to be put in neutral for this car wash; it's not doing anything to move the car around. You park your car in this kind of car wash.

Re: Nobody understands the point of hybrid cars [video]

#132

Post by cbdevidal »

vkou wrote: post #123
cbdevidal wrote: post #104

My whole draw to hybrids is low overall cost and longevity. Just two days ago I bought my son a 2007 Prius with 194k miles for $6k; and three weeks ago, a 2008 with 225k miles for my sister for $2.5k. Both should last another 200k if they don’t abuse them. And if gas goes over $6 I’m buying one for myself, too. I sleep in my car twice a week for work, and being able to run the AC on hot Florida nights will be the che…

My 2010 Prius has out of the blue started burning oil last year, like it's going out of style. It's a common problem with them. But otherwise, it's a very reliable car.

Yeah 2010-2015 all had that issue—or I should say it is far more common in that generation. In 2016 they finally fixed it and the fourth generation is really the best one, though the fifth might prove to be as good or better given enough time.

Re: Nobody understands the point of hybrid cars [video]

#133

Post by the_gastropod »

bluesquared wrote: post #128
MegaDeKay wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another consideration is your local climate. It can get down to -40C here. Both ICE and EVs pay a range penalty in those conditions, but it compounds the problem with charging station density that EVs have + the time it takes to charge. And at least with an ICE, all that engine heat can be put to good use trying to keep the interior warm.

The cold problems are not as overblown as most people who live outside of these environments think. Yes, for most commutes the reduction in winter (sub-freezing temperature) range when home-based charging is available is not significant. For my anecdote, my (occasional) commute distance is enough that I need to change my driving habits to have enough range/safety margin to make it back home during this cold period. I…

Your 150 mile daily commute seems like a much bigger factor in this dilemma than the cold temperature range reduction. That’s over 3x the average American daily commute distance! For the huge majority of Americans, the cold weather thing just will not be a factor at all. And yet, it’s probably the #1 fact they know about EV’s.

Re: Nobody understands the point of hybrid cars [video]

#134

Post by MegaDeKay »

margalabargala wrote: post #112
luplex wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having a heat pump for heating is then really important, as compared to a simple resistive heating element

Heat pumps work up to a certain temperature delta. They don't heat so good in -40.

Yep. I put a heat pump in my house last year. It doesn't function at all below "only" -30C and doesn't make economic sense vs my natural gas furnace until around 0C. I got it instead of a plain air conditioner only so I had a backup to my furnace.

Re: Nobody understands the point of hybrid cars [video]

#135

Post by MegaDeKay »

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #117
MegaDeKay wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another consideration is your local climate. It can get down to -40C here. Both ICE and EVs pay a range penalty in those conditions, but it compounds the problem with charging station density that EVs have + the time it takes to charge. And at least with an ICE, all that engine heat can be put to good use trying to keep the interior warm.

at -40C you need to start plugging a block warmer into the ICE when you park, something that an EV doesn’t need, although it can benefit from the same plug for the block warmer into Fairbanks parking lots.

Yep, I know all about block heaters. But that's a separate issue from range.

Re: Nobody understands the point of hybrid cars [video]

#136

Post by roelschroeven »

wtallis wrote: post #131
roelschroeven wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What surprised me in the video is that Alec was telling how his engine can charge his battery while in the car wash. I had a 2016 Auris which I had to put it in neutral in the car wash, and in neutral the engine couldn't charge the battery. That was never a problem, I never had an empty battery in the car wash or even came close to it, but it does seem different from Alec's experience (unless I misunderstood).

The car wash in this video is a box with a solid floor and doors that close at the ends before the wash cycle starts. There's no reason for the car to be put in neutral for this car wash; it's not doing anything to move the car around. You park your car in this kind of car wash.

Aha, that's what I missed. That explains it all. Thanks.

Re: Nobody understands the point of hybrid cars [video]

#137

Post by jghn »

harrouet wrote: post #88
tedggh wrote: post #50

I have all three ICE, EV and hybrid at home. I was hesitant at first when getting the EV because we already had the hybrid, but we needed a second SUV to carry kids. After two years with the EV it became evident to me the hybrid doesn’t make sense. It has some of the gas savings of an EV but you still deal with the inconvenience of maintaining a ICE. My EV has received zero maintenance other than cleaning the cameras…

I have a plug-in hybrid and, although it was not my initial opinion, I came to think that it is the most adapted tech to my usage: - I do 90% of my kilometers to commute to work: 2x40km / day - I need my car to drive 7 hours roughly 4x or 5x per year In my case, I can drive electric to commute to work, as I can charge sporadically (can't do it at home). When driving long distance, I get to use the ICE while charging…

Why not rent a car for those 4-5x/year?

Re: Nobody understands the point of hybrid cars [video]

#138

Post by amanaplanacanal »

oogali wrote: post #100
KPGv2 wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm willing to bet they didn't mean to carry kids that don't fit in two SUVs. Probably meant that logistically, they need two SUVs available. If you aren't American—or are, but don't have kids—you might not be aware that even two kids past 10yo and a sedan is a pretty bad experience. And I'm saying this as someone who loves his sedan, hates large cars, passionately hates SUVs, and definitely never wanted one. I have…

This. All of this. I strongly dislike SUVs but due to transporting the kids around and their friends, my wife and I have switched vehicles during the week: she drives my sedan, I drive her SUV. Being able to transport my oldest's friends around has resulted in improved relationships for both the kids, and the parents. "Last minute sleepover after the game? No problem, I'll take your son and his gear in my car. We'll…

We used to have station wagons for all that. But auto makers couldn't call them "trucks" to get around the mpg requirements.

Re: Nobody understands the point of hybrid cars [video]

#139

Post by sieabahlpark »

KPGv2 wrote: post #85
graemep wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How many kids do you have that you need two SUVs to carry them all? its not common.

I'm willing to bet they didn't mean to carry kids that don't fit in two SUVs. Probably meant that logistically, they need two SUVs available. If you aren't American—or are, but don't have kids—you might not be aware that even two kids past 10yo and a sedan is a pretty bad experience. And I'm saying this as someone who loves his sedan, hates large cars, passionately hates SUVs, and definitely never wanted one. I have…

[dead]

Re: Nobody understands the point of hybrid cars [video]

#140

Post by OptionOfT »

kube-system wrote: post #71
bee_rider wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On a completely tangential note, has anyone ever tried a hybrid that was like a diesel-electric train? The engine just charges the battery. IIRC it can be much simpler, no need for gearing at all, the engine just runs at a constant speed and the battery handles delivering variable amounts of power.

The Chevrolet Volt and Honda’s recent hybrids work this way. They are mechanically even more simple than Toyota’s drivetrain. The engine doesn’t run at a constant speed though, it responds to the amount of electrical power needed.

And the BMW i3. It had a 2-stroke engine that allowed you to charge the battery.

However, in the USA, in order to get EV status, it was nerfed where it was only allowed to use its engine to charge the battery once you went below a 30% state of charge, and next to that, the fuel capacity was electronically limited.

A neighbor of mine had one, and the engine couldn't keep up with charging the battery to move the car on the freeway + running the AC, because it wasn't powerful enough.

In the EU version, this wasn't a problem, because you could set up the motor to run to maintain a charge (instead of only allowing it to run below 30%).

Edit: 30% state of charge, not 10%.

Post reply on HN