I think they only charge when slowing don't they?, using energy that would otherwise be lost. If they are actually charging whilst regular driving, that really is some truly retarded engineering at work!
Doesn't the software decide when to burn gas depending on who's looking?
Based on what I'm reading on this forum, and with this new Bill in the kitchen, I think we all owe it to ourselves to really understand Hybrids and exactly why they don't make sense, Pros/Cons, myself included. This is going to be a family debate that we can't screw up. Hybrid OEMs will likely present charts of best case scenarios and attempt to make Tesla look like we are hogging the mining industry and global battery supply. It's a possible scenario anyway, possibly getting ahead of myself, but quite worth thinking through.
Basically, the more I read here, the more I laugh on the design. I did have a ride in one years ago, and my friend floored it and it felt like I was riding on a disney-train slow. Are they still that way? The HP says so.
From Quora, this has a good explanation, but lots of stuff out there:
Can a hybrid car run without gas?
Key Points:
- Not all Hybrids the same, so I tried to generalize here.
- The gas engine has really low HP, as low as 10-50HP. Think riding mower size.
- At speeds above city streets or during peak demand, gas kicks in since the battery is too small.
- At even low freeway speeds, both gas and electric are needed together since wind drag increases exponentially with speed.
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They do charge the battery from the engine while driving (not always) which is a inefficient energy exchange (converted twice).
- This added waste is offset by the higher savings in other modes of driving. Obviously, driving behavior matters.
- Using the Engine to charge is needed because, if the load is too light, the Engine would need to slow but that becomes less efficient. So instead it maintains a steady RPM and kicks in the generator at the same time. It tries to keep the engine RPM in the most efficient sweet spot on the power curve.
- Yes, a monotone engine. Hmmm... No vroom-vroom.
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These engines can last up to 500,00 miles because they always have relatively light load, mechanical parts are not stressed.
Conclusion: (IMHO)
This is too complicated for the average consumer who will fall for the lower prices and efficiency, all with good intentions. Their marketing will be really easy as it all sounds good, affordable, and plays into the battery shortage narrative. Some TSLA caution is prudent despite the tailwind for Tesla credits and additional revenue. I referenced a paper yesterday here that went into detail on the actual charging behaviors of about 5,000 owners, and it explains why people don't charge as intended (some do as pointed out on TMC). I didn't find a %, maybe someone has a current source.
In the end, gas usage with PHEVs is sustained over a longer period (as compared to BEV directly), and in a vehicle having a longer lifespan than a regular ICE (but the maintenance will certainly shorten that life expectancy). As these tiny PHEV batteries become weak or die, gas usage will increase as the engine will have nowhere to put the extra power at slow or idle, again not all apply. High costs for batteries is an obvious barrier to repair. I'd love to know how long the batteries last, maybe OEMs can at least get that part right.
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