Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG
True! A torqueless FE friendly gasser that would take 20 seconds to hit highway speeds! Which almost nobody would want to drive! 
Sort of like my Firefly!
I don't have a problem with hybrids (I'd likely be modding a Prius if I had money to burn). The hybrid magic is they give you a midsize car with the efficiency of a small car. (Or a small car with the insane efficiency potential of a tiny car - Insight 1).
I just wish we could still buy the small car with the excellent small car efficiency.
/end of threadjack. Sorry Rick! That's all I'm saying on this subject. |
Though not fancy, the original Insight IMA is probably the best-done hybrid system. The motor/generator is integrated into the flywheel, so it adds no overall weight to the system, and while I couldn't get the number on the old IMA battery/controller, the new one is only 45 pounds. So for almost no weight penalty and very little cost, you get FE benefits (auto stop/start, regen and boost) that you can't get out of a straight gasser. Plus, it works with manual, automatic or CVT trannies and existing engines and gives benefits in in-town driving for pretty much any vehicle without eating into highway mileage.