View Single Post
Old 06-24-2012, 04:11 PM   #29 (permalink)
cfg83
Pokémoderator
 
cfg83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,864

1999 Saturn SW2 - '99 Saturn SW2 Wagon
Team Saturn
90 day: 40.49 mpg (US)
Thanks: 439
Thanked 532 Times in 358 Posts
redpoint5 -

Quote:
Originally Posted by redpoint5 View Post
Is the Volt series, parallel, or both? I've seen both mentioned in this thread. It seems outrageous to add the complexity and cost of a turbo to a vehicle that already has electric motor(s?) and a battery.

...
I've always wanted to see a "pure" series hybrid in large scale production (aka the ICE running at the BSFC-peak RPM or not at all), but it never seems to come through. Series/Parallel background :

Hybrid vehicle drivetrain - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think all commercial hybrids are "impure", and the Volt is no exception. The Prius is an "electric dominant" parallel hybrid. The Hondas are ICE dominant parallel hybrids. Since the Volt can shine in urban environments with short distances (stuck in traffic, not much freeway), I would call it a plug-in hybrid along the lines of the plug-in Prius.

CarloSW2
__________________

What's your EPA MPG? Go Here and find out!
American Solar Energy Society
  Reply With Quote