Quote:
Originally Posted by redpoint5
There's some point between the size of a sedan and the size of a locomotive that a series design begins to make sense. Full-sized pickup trucks with 10 speed transmissions may benefit.
Don't those enormous mining dump trucks use a series configuration?
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Honda's hybrid system is a fair compromise. Part of it might be just avoiding Toyota's patents, but in all new Honda hybrids, they're strictly "series" hybrids up to ~60mph, at which point the engine is clutched to a single speed reduction gear, allowing it to drive the wheels directly. It's light, compact, and efficient under most real world conditions.
In theory a planetary gearset allowing the engine to directly power the wheels at any speed is more efficient, but due to cost/complexity/size/weight I don't think the jury is out yet.