Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Rumors crop up from time to time about a RX PHEV. Toyota has been doing a Prius PHEV for a few years now, there is a Rav4 EV now. Porsche will have three soon (current Panamera and 918 Spyder) with the addition of the Cayenne PHEV. Will the new V6 Hybrid powertrain from Lexus slated to debut on the LF-LC (SC) come as a PHEV? When will we see a Lexus PHEV and what model?

Discuss!

SNiiP3R

iTrader: (3)

I'd say CT maybe?

spwolf

nope... i doubt we will see that anytime soon... maybe when new battery tech comes out.

Porsche, Audi and VW will have 20 PHEV models soon, and all of them together wont sell more than 10k a year, thats including their high volume models like Golf. They are doing it for PR reasons, not because it makes any sense.

Toyota just cancelled iQ EV launch this year because there was low demand and didnt make any financial sense.

mmarshall

My guess will probably be the CT. The Prius Extended-range Plug-in already has much of the hardware for it.

Sulu

For VW and Audi to build and try to sell a number of models of PHEVs right now may not make much sense from the business or technology (battery) perspectives, but as you said, it makes sense from a public relations point of view. When, in a few years, battery technology has allowed PHEVs to make better business sense, VW and Audi and Porsche will be able to take great advantage of the fact that they were first to have a great range of affordable, mass-market models of PHEVs.

Here in North America, Honda and the auto press are still playing it up that Honda was the first to introduce hybrid vehicles into North America (before Toyota's first Prius in North America), and sometimes wording it to seem like Honda was the first worldwide to introduce hybrid vehicles.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

How about you Sulu. Do you think Lexus will debut a PHEV in few years? If so what model?

spwolf

yeah, but they wont be really first... nor they will be affordable at all. It is just something they have to do for their investors. Something that BMW also wanted to do and then they realized how battery tech isnt really there yet.

It is likely that Prius PHEV alone will outsell all of their models combined.

It is pretty bad for business when you invest billion+ and then sell few hundred to few thousand cars per month, for major manufacturers.

Sulu

I would like to see Lexus produce a PHEV, if only to steal back some of the thunder from VW, Audi and Porsche who are developing (and bragging about) their own HEVs (hybrids) and PHEVs. But I don't think it will happen until either or both of the following come true:

1. The CT, HS or RX are updated on new platforms (not necessarily the 2015 TNGA platform) to allow for better placement of the hybrid battery -- under the rear seat and/or under the rear cargo area.
2. Battery architecture improves to allow for higher-capacity batteries that are more compact, lighter and are more resistant to heat.

But I suppose spwolf is correct. We will not see a Lexus hybrid until battery improvements allow for a proper PHEV -- lighter, cheaper, more compact battery that will allow a longer range without compromising too much passenger or cargo capacity.

spwolf

who knows, maybe they will offer more PHEVs like Prius PHEV... seems like they are going to double the EV miles of current model.

Biggest problem is that they all have to offer huge incentives to move these PHEVs, so until their costs drop significantly, they wont be really serious about it.