Quote:
Originally Posted by Ecky
My understanding of mild hybrids is that most of the savings come from being able to downsize the engine, which you're obviously not going to be doing by bolting on an electric motor to the existing engine. You'll be able to recover a little bit of energy that would otherwise be lost doing braking, but it might not even offset the additional weight of the batteries.
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DIY budget hybrid won't have regen capability.
Quote:
Originally Posted by elhigh
Hmm. I wonder what the dimensions of the Prius C's drivetrain are, and how well you could fit something like that under the hood of your battered old 4. That would buy you all manner of hybrid capability, ready-made.
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That's really the only way to go IMO. I think European legislation makes that sort of thing nearly impossible though. I'd love to put a Prius drive train in my Renault Van, but really I'd likely only pick up 1l/100km and lose my towing ability.