Quote:
Originally Posted by Ecky
The hybrid system allows for the use of a smaller, more efficient engine than you could otherwise put in a vehicle, because it would be dangerously slow.
|
That makes sense. Similar to the new mild-hybrid system on the new Ram trucks where the electric battery just gives added power to the engine?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ecky
Probably $5-700? The Hondata ECU plugs right in where you old one was, but you need a tuner to program it.
|
If it's that much I don't see how it would be more beneficial than just doing an engine or transmission swap.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ecky
Pretty much. It helps to look at where the losses are.
Aerodynamics - A smaller car with a tapered rear end improves highway economy. People are increasingly buying larger, more boxy vehicles, despite more aerodynamic cars sitting next to them on lots.
Weight - Smaller, lighter vehicles improve city economy, since it's less mass to accelerate and stop. People want larger, heavier vehicles.
Transmissions - Manuals are less lossy than autos (usually). Nobody wants to shift gears, manuals are disappearing.
Engines - Smaller engines have less internal friction, and smaller parasitic losses. People want faster cars, and are buying bigger engines.
Tires - Narrower, lower rolling resistance tires improve economy. People want more grip for safer, higher speed cornering, and buy bigger, stickier tires.
|
True, true. Imagine where fuel economy would be otherwise.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ecky
Hybrid systems address a lot of these things, for various reasons. You can have a smaller engine without sacrificing power. You can have an automatic transmission with low losses (read about Toyota's planetary gearset in the Prius). You can use batteries to capture some of that energy lost in braking a heavier vehicle. You can get rid of some of the more lossy components in cars, such as alternators. It doesn't solve the aerodynamics or tire problems, but it helps.
|
If only the available hybrids within my price range had better reliability. Hybrid batteries are just so expensive to replace.
Quote:
Originally Posted by California98Civic
Not only will the HX/EX Seventh gen engines and transmissions bolt up to one another, there is a chance that the manual Gen 1 Insight and the Gen 1 Civic Hybrid manual transmissions will too. See the manual transmission specs link in my signature file below. But the HX/EX swaps are painlessly simple within the 7th Gen.
|
Even better since the Insight has an even taller transmission.
sigh keep dreaming I guess.