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For years I have though that a system that used an electric motor to get up to cruising speed, then a direct drive ICE with no trans was the way to go. Very simple and a good deal cheaper than the multiple input space age trannies used by most of the hybrid makers.
Good to see Honda getting back to their old motto, "we make it simple".
Lets see this system scaled down to a first gen Insight type vehicle.
Make it light. Ignore the idiots who think that all vehicles must reach 60 in under 8 seconds. An engine in the 600 cc range should do. It could be light enough to not need a very large battery pack to get to a 15 mile EV only range.
Such a vehicle ought to be doable for not too much more than 20K.
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