Quote:
Originally Posted by Logic
Here automatic cars are few and far between and unpopular.
Everyone just drives manuals as they have been since they 1st learned to drive and no one evr complains about a manual car being a terrible experience.
So it's...interesting to see them considered a "dreadful commuting experiences" 
BYD
Seems to be doing all the things people do or wish for here:
Serial Plug-In Hybrid with direct to ICE top gear.
12 volt battery is lithium.
auto grill shutter.
etc
ICE is 46.6% efficient too.
They probably don't sell any of them in the USA due to import duties and the love of humongous vehicles with 45 liter engines, but worth a look none the less. |
Where can I read about BYD's engines and hybrid systems? We have some of them for sale here, but only the EVs have really had any market penetration.
Regarding the OP's idea, Honda kinda did something like this with their latest hybrid drivetrain. Kinda.
In order to push the car around without the gasoline engine (EV mode), you need a big enough electric motor to move the car on its own. Honda put the electric motor at the differential, with the engine behind a clutch and a reduction gear. The electric motor is capable of driving the car exclusively.
However, Honda also judged having a set of gears to be extra weight, cost, and complexity, so they removed all of that except the clutch. A "1 speed manual" so to speak, with an electric clutch, that only engages when the car is moving fast enough that the engine is in an efficient RPM range.