We all heard it once or twice about how hybrid vehicles are the "new technology" and so "amazing"; Well I for one do not believe it's all that amazing or new technology as people call it, and here is why:

To me this is evolutionary rather than revolutionary because hybrid technology is well over 60 years old. With that being said,the very first hyrbrid was the Diesel-electric train! (this was revolutionary) Thats right the train you see go by you when you wait at the stop gate actually uses electric motors to drive the wheels of the train while a huge diesel engine turns a generator that powers the electric motors of the train. This setup in particular is called a Series-hybrid, which means a combustion engine turns a generator, and the generator is powering the electric motors.

There is another type of hybrid setup used in todays cars called the Parallel-hybrid. This means that the engine and the electric motor work together mechanically in the drivetrain to turn the wheels of the car. Lots more information is available below.


Train Info:

www.uprr.com/aboutup/history/loco/locohs03.shtml

Hybrid setups:

www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/hybrid/faq.html#5

The inventors of the two types of electric motors:

The induction (AC) motor inventor:

www.crystalinks.com/nicola.html

The DC motor inventor:

chem.ch.huji.ac.il/~eugeniik/history/davenport.html

But a standard sized, well equipped car that gets 35 mpg in city driving is pretty outstanding in my book. This hybrid tech. is just getting started. I'd like to see a commuter hybrid, run on battery at cruise and plug in at night to top off charge. Five years from now we'll be drag racing with battery assist. I can't wait.

a hybrid that only get 35 mpg is not very good but it will get better my problem is the dependance on technology, to much can be bad, i told a story a while ago about a carb that got over 50 mpg in a buick regal from the 70's so lets hope they get better real quick.

But a standard sized, well equipped car that gets 35 mpg in city driving is pretty outstanding in my book. This hybrid tech. is just getting started. I'd like to see a commuter hybrid, run on battery at cruise and plug in at night to top off charge. Five years from now we'll be drag racing with battery assist. I can't wait.


I have to disagree. Vehicle weight is an issue, and this isn't just engine weight, it's also the literal miles of wires for things like 8 way power seats, sunroofs, electric window motors, load levellers, trunk releases, etc. IF anyone doubts that miles of wires could be in a car, I helped do some work on a '91 Dodge Stealth TT a few years back. It was like a magician's handercheif trick

All those wires go to a motor, or sensor, or actuator...mostly not a needed thing. Sure, power seats are nice. But all the options come at a price

35 mpg...I could build a Chevy small block V8 that gets 35 mpg in a light car like a first generation Camaro (Car Craft did it)

With technology available, engines that get 'poor' mileage can see great gains

For example- I have a 7.5L engine in my convertible. On paper, it's over 400 hp, I've never dyno'd it. It gets 11 mpg around town and 14 on the highway by my calculations when I obey the speed limit (had this car a long long time). It's carbureted.

If I put a port fuel injection system on it (a 4,000 dollar upgrade with it's own custom manifold, not a Holley pro-jection kit), I'd see another 25 hp...and another 9 mpg. Suddenly that 7.5L V8 gets 20 mpg?! And a new hybrid car with 1/3 the hp and torque gets 35 mpg? That's not impressive to me at all.

But then again, it's one man's opinion

One big thing about the hybrid that bugs me, though- OK, the technology will improve, no doubt

But how long are the batteries good for? How much do they cost? How much do they cost top dispose of? What's the environment impact of those batteries being disposed of?

It's like a 'hidden charge' on your phone bill or credit card bill- you don't tend to consider those things

What is amazing to me is the new Corvette Z06...

505 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque (new ratings) along with all of the other upgrades and still 26 mpg on the highway. The "Base" C6 is the only 400 hp sports car with no gas guzzler tax.

Diesels can make HUGE power.