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I'm not wild about either hybrids or turbos. Given the choice, for FWD, I'd take a transversely-mounted conventional, non-turbo V6. For RWD or AWD, a non-turbo, longitudinally-mounted V8.
And, as far as trees are concerned, IMO, most of the time, cars and trees don't mix LOL.
I agree. Plug in tech for Toyota products, but none for Lexus? Head of Lexus in Europe said that the brand sees the tech as more of a "stop-gap than a solution."
I'm not wild about either hybrids or turbos. Given the choice, for FWD, I'd take a transversely-mounted conventional, non-turbo V6. For RWD or AWD, a non-turbo, longitudinally-mounted V8.
And, as far as trees are concerned, IMO, most of the time, cars and trees don't mix LOL.
I'm not wild about either hybrids or turbos. Given the choice, for FWD, I'd take a transversely-mounted conventional, non-turbo V6. For RWD or AWD, a non-turbo, longitudinally-mounted V8.
And, as far as trees are concerned, IMO, most of the time, cars and trees don't mix LOL.
Then how about longitudinally mounted biturbo V8? I don't drive fwd car so it does not matter.
I agree. Plug in tech for Toyota products, but none for Lexus? Head of Lexus in Europe said that the brand sees the tech as more of a "stop-gap than a solution."
I think so. In extreme cold weather the battery capacity decreases No much energy saving there.
Then how about longitudinally mounted biturbo V8? I don't drive fwd car so it does not matter.
Like I said, I'm not into turbos. Especially with a V8, that would be way more power than I ever need. A few transverse V8s, over the years, have been tried with FWD, mostly from GM (Cadillac Northstar, FWD Chevy Impala SS, Pontiac Grand Prix, etc...)...but the effects of torque steer were never overcome.
I agree. Plug in tech for Toyota products, but none for Lexus? Head of Lexus in Europe said that the brand sees the tech as more of a "stop-gap than a solution."
Seems to me that Lexus made a mistake not offering the plug in. I have noticed Lexus print marketing has changed to "Always charged" when they describe the hybrid Lexus models.
I am not a tree hugger, but after 4 years of driving my ES Hybrid, I could not go back to a "normal" car. While I wait for an electric vehicle with a solid-state (or some other powerful and high capacity, yet light and quickly recharging) battery, I am satisfied with the Hybrid.
The Hybrid, with its electric drive motor, gives me smooth, immediate, powerful off-the-line acceleration.
The engine runs only when it needs to. It shuts off when idling and in ideal circumstances, the engine can shut off, allowing me to drive up to 70 km/h (40 mph) on electric drive only without the gasoline engine running; this is a great feeling in stop-and-go commuter traffic knowing that I am able to drive with no emissions, while all around me, everyone else is spewing noxious fumes. The hybrid vehicle is in its ideal conditions in stop-and-go longer-distance commuter driving.
I save on fuel: the large ES sips only as much fuel as my much smaller Corolla did. I am also driving a very clean, low-emissions car.
And with the parallel electric motor drive, I am also putting less wear on the engine and less wear on the brakes.
With these benefits, I don't mind paying a premium over a "normal" car. To me, the Hybrid drivetrain is just another drivetrain option and I am willing to pay a bit extra for the benefits it gives me.
As much as I like the Hybrid, I do not like current plug-in electric hybrids. I do not care that the German luxury automakers may offer PHEVs but Lexus does not.
Current-technology PHEVs are neither fish nor fowl, and have shortcomings of both the normal internal combustion engine drivetrain and the electric drivetrain. When driving in electric mode, the electric vehicle is dragging along a large, heavy engine, and when the battery runs low, the hybrid vehicle is dragging along a large, heavy battery. How much extra electric range could be added if the weight of the engine were replaced by an equivalent weight in batteries?
If battery technology is not enough to give me at least 200 km (~120 miles) of range without the need to recharge on-the-go, give me a true extended-range electric vehicle that runs in electric mode all the time, with a small-as-possible on-board recharger (small enough to only have to recharge the battery, without also having to drive the car, like a normal hybrid has to do). No such sedan, wagon or crossover (yet) exists.
You are not saving anymore trees or doing much of anything for the environment by buying a hybrid or electric. Gasoline cars don't run on trees nor do they knock them down to get oil. You are just trading pollution sources with hybrids or electrics. To build windmill farms, solar farms may mean lots of trees get knocked down.
08-24-18, 12:25 PM
Tree Hugger vs Gas Burner...Which is Right For You?
