Monkey
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2022
- Threads
- 3
- Messages
- 552
- Reaction score
- 557
- Location
- Somewhere in the mountains
- Vehicles
- '23 Lightning, Tesla Model Y, and more...
- Occupation
- Semi-retired electrical/computer/software engineer
Yes, hybrids are not the marvels of efficiency they are portrayed to be. It’s the melding of two powertrains into one big compromise. Hybrids will disappear from this world as battery capacities increase and prices continue to decline. At this time, our battery capacity/price ratio still provide room for hybrids to exist and even seem attractive to many buyers.the ultimate issue I see with 'hybrids', no matter what type you are referring to, is the impracticality of now carrying around not only what is already a heavy EV battery, and multiple motor sets, but now add to that a GAS TANK, muffler, ENGINE, transmission(if so), and now also all the 'legacy' maintenance and requirements that go with that... such as also now having stop at gas stations. Even if the engine is 'only' for charging the battery pack, which would take forever on its own, anyway, you still have the same issues.
I was like this. Even with my last F350, it was diesel and had 37 gallon onboard tank with an additional 30 gallons in the base of a combo toolbox/fuel tank unit in the bed. I could drive from my place west of Denver to Albuquerque, drive around town for a couple days, then drive all the way back home and still not have to worry about fueling up for another day or three. Or I could drive from my place to my parents’ place in Phoenix with fuel to spare. But going to the pump and filling the truck, then filling up the auxiliary tank is a shitty process. It takes time, it’s expensive, it’s inconvenient. Not to mention, I still have to stop and stretch my legs, grab some lunch, the dogs inevitably have to pee as well, along with the wife. So, there is no glory in being able to drive 1000 miles on a single tank of fuel. It was nice when pulling heavy trailers though….My brother-in-law does the same: he has modified his diesel with another 70 gallon auxiliary tank in the bed, so he 'never' has to stop... he'll never be an EV owner, no matter what Stellantis or anyone else does.
Versus the regular fuel pump visits, I’ll pick the EV every day of the week over that. Because that EV is charged up and ready to go for me every morning and I haven’t had to stop at a gas station for anything. Only have to deal with stopping to charge outside of home when on a road trip. And the couple extra charge stops and bit more time it takes on that trip is worth the everyday convenience the rest of the time.
People who can’t charge at home…. I don’t know how you’ll ever convince them an EV is better. Most DCFC out there is just as expensive or more vs. filling up with gas and it takes a bit longer and you don’t go as far. Sure, I still think an EV would be better with its lower maintenance and superior performance, but it’s difficult for people to quantify those things. And lower maintenance rings hollow when it’s still a fact of life that many EVs still end up needing service of some sort.
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