 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Car Forum / Toyota / Prius / March 2006Plug-in feature could bolster hybrid models
Plug-in feature could bolster hybrid models http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060323/BUSINESS01/603230540/1014 -- "I have tried to live my life so that my family would love me and my friends respect me. The others can do whatever the hell they please." John Wayne > Plug-in feature could bolster hybrid models > http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060323/BUSINESS01/603230540/1014 [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > John Wayne The good old USA car manufacturers are going to be behind the curve again. They don't learn. They passed on hybrids originally. "Customers won't buy them." Until they saw customers buying Hondas and Toyotas, then Ford gets a first generation hybrid (purchased from japan) and puts it in the Escape, while we are all buying 2nd generation hybrids. Now domesetic manufacturers are saying the same thing about these plug in hybrids. They're missing the boat again. They have stupidity built into their infrastructure. End rant. > The good old USA car manufacturers are going to be behind the curve again. > They don't learn. They passed on hybrids originally. "Customers won't buy [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > They're missing the boat again. They have stupidity built into their > infrastructure. End rant. I'm hoping the 2008 Prius will have a plug-in feature. My mileage suffers only when I make the 3-mile trip to town, a trip that would then be all-electric. Now, I wonder if my power-co-op will let me wire an outlet to my off-peak panel. > I'm hoping the 2008 Prius will have a plug-in feature. My mileage suffers only when I make the 3-mile trip to town, a trip that > would then be all-electric. Now, I wonder if my power-co-op will let me wire an outlet to my off-peak panel. Why not put a solar panel on top of your Prius: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/08/solar-powered_t.php Lynn >> I'm hoping the 2008 Prius will have a plug-in feature. My mileage >> suffers only when I make the 3-mile trip to town, a trip that would then [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Lynn As a retired electrical engineer I can't get several factors out of my mind: 1. It can't be justified by the cost/benefit ratio. 2. It would have to be insured separately. 3. I park my car inside and besides, the battery is often nearly "full" when I park it so even if this fellow had engineered his system to charge while parked (he didn't) the battery would reach maximum charge quickly. 4. I can't remember a summer when hail didn't fall where I live. I do think this was an interesting project and hope it inspires more practical solutions like, for example, building the solar panels into the roof and developing batteries better suited to both hybrid and pure electric motivation. He's definitely on a good track. >> Why not put a solar panel on top of your Prius: >> http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/08/solar-powered_t.php [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > panels into the roof and developing batteries better suited to both hybrid and pure electric motivation. He's definitely on a > good track. Add more batteries: http://calcars.org/priusplus.html ! Put some lexan over that solar panel. Lynn >>> Why not put a solar panel on top of your Prius: >>> http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/08/solar-powered_t.php [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Lynn And that solves the insurance and cost/benefit issues how? > And that solves the insurance and cost/benefit issues how? No insurance available for experimental projects ! Experimental stuff usually does not have a cost / benefit analysis done until the end of the project. If we weighed cost/benefit on everything, no one would have kids ! Besides that, you wanted to drive in to town on electric alone. No cost was mentioned. The solar panel and extra batteries get you there as long as you stay below 39 mph. Lynn >> And that solves the insurance and cost/benefit issues how? > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Lynn Ok, you win. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.