Toyota 1/X (say: One-Xth) concept car - curb weight 926 pounds

[DonR]

Does anyone know if any of the serial hybrids use some of the energy near the end of the battery charge to run a block heater to warm up the ICE?

I assume you need to cool the traction motors. If you use the ICE coolant system to cool those as well, it would preheat the engine for start up & help to heat the cab reducing the need for electric heating would it not?

Don

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi Don,

Those are all excellent questions, and I'm sure that if we start to see more serial hybrids (like the Volt), we will start to also get helpful refinements like these.

[MetroMPG]

That's some good thinking there, Don.

[DonR]

That's why they pay me the big bucks.

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi Don,

If you don't mind, I'm going to add your ideas to the list I've been working on:

Vehicle Efficiency Improvements | Hypermiling, Fuel Economy, and EcoModding News - EcoModder.com

The edited version appears in my blog, that is linked in my signature.

[DonR]

Feel free.

[vinny1989]

I like. Simple, small, looks good.

Anybody else wondering if the 500cc engine is of an air-cooled motorcycle design? It'd save the weight of a radiator, water pump, etc?