Manual trans hybrid idea
 

We all remember the G1 Insight Hybrid.

Great car for many situations, but terrible in stop and go traffic because it has no electric only mode.

What I'd like to see is a G1 type hybrid with the motor on the output of the trans which would allow electric only operation. It would also save clutch and left calf muscle wear and tear.

Another way to do it would be to add a rear motor/diff/axles kinda like Toyota does these days with their AWD hybrids.

Or how about this idea....

Take a modern RWD performance car and add front wheel electric drive.

It would be a low power system used primarily to take care of stop and go commuting. It would improve efficiency a bit through regen.

Such a system might convince many manual trans fans to not give up on them because of dreadful commuting experiences.

This combines all three ideas: the Toyota Allesandro Volta concept.

https://www.mad4wheels.com/img/free-...2004-thumb.jpg
https://www.mad4wheels.com/img/free-...2004-thumb.jpg

Hybrid Synergy drive with a V-6 and electric motor in back with an electric front axle. The Highlander/Lexus RX 400h drivetrain turned backward.

Supercar three-seat interior.

Maybe the current setup of the Lexus RX, which got rid of the HSD e-CVT setup to use a regular AT, maybe fitting a manual transmission to a hybrid wouldn't be impossible at all. But full-hybrids seem to be easier to integrate with ATs, even though some mild-hybrids still feature manual transmissions.

Terrible in stop and go traffic because it's a manual. Acually, I have that car right now and it's not too terrible in traffic with it's light clutch, but a Prius or Corolla Hybrid is much more pleasant and gets nearly the same gas mileage. I can't think of any electric mode manual cars that were sold.

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.

Ain't there too many traffic jams in South Africa?

The big cities are terrible.
Look updriving in johannesburg Gauteng traffic

I DON'T do traffic if I can possibly help it. Had it in square chunks and the roads are getting BAD!

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.

The BYD Shark is big on YouTube atm.

A quick search for:
BYD engine efficient

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/2024...202%2C100%20km.

https://kr-asia.com/whats-the-secret...-hybrid-system

https://carnewschina.com/2024/05/29/...-announcement/

I see a considerable amount of BYDs back here.