Let's talk Small Hybrid Cars.

Only Hybrid in Citigo sector is Yaris Hybrid.

Technically, an excellent car with many eye boggling ideas 

But, because it's a Non Plug In Hybrid, it relies on its Petrol Engine to keep the Battery charged for the Electric Motor.

Because of this, it Electric Only performance is extremely limited.

About 1.5 miles max I believe.

So, maybe 'Non Plug In' Hybrid is fatally flawed for the future unless manufactures can improve the Petrol Engine to Battery efficiency or install Larger or more efficient Batteries into their 'Non Plug In' Hybrids, they will Die.

Afterall, the Yaris 'Non Plug In' idea has been in in pruduction for over 10 years - 1st introduced on Toyota's Prius I believe.

So, apart from EV's, 'Plug In' Hybrids appear to be the way forward for all Manufactures, across the whole sector.

We just need Larger, more Efficient Batteries in them to make them a success.

Edited 2 October, 20187 yr by Ronn

Have you driven any Hybrids, light hybrids or EV's yet?

What was wrong with your thread last week on Citigo vs Yaris?

 

No new technology has come in in the last week?

 

You now have small light petrol engine cars with GPF's that you can fill the tank and go maybe 400-600 miles and they  cost new from £9,000 - £16,000

or 

Small heavier EV's that can go maybe 140 miles on a charge and Cost £22,000 upwards. (Renault Zoe £18,000 ish & upwards.)

Or some Petrol Hybrids that can run on electric for a few miles in polluted areas & from about £13,000.  (Yaris)

Fill the fuel tank and go from 400-600 miles or whatever.

 

 

 

Edited 2 October, 20187 yr by Offski

In my opinion small hybrids are a waste of money; & way too complex for their own good. Modern petrol engines are pretty good these days.

Small Petrol engines like the Ford 1.0 Ecoboost 2012-2015.

So reliable that Ford will recompense you 100% for any failures you had to pay for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 2 October, 20187 yr by Offski

Offski!

Yes I have driven both.

How do you know no new tech has 'come In' in the last week.

Do motor manufacturers inform you personally of their developments?

Have you got a 'Hot Line' to them?

Edited 2 October, 20187 yr by Ronn

Offski!

My previous thread was Citigo v Yaris Hybrid.

My latest thread is titled 'Small Hybrid Card'.

1st was a comparison!

2nd is purely Yaris Hybrid!

Ronn,

i just follow the motoring press, the Motor Show releases and the spin from the VW Group.

 

So a new smaller than a Zoe EV coming from Renault & more Hybrids.   The future is bright, the futures seems to be hybrids as well as EV's and as we were with petrols.

Offski,

Thanks for the info a also thanks for the Vid.

Very helpful to me.

Ronn. 

The Yaris Hybrid will work well in certain environments and conditions and less so in others.

Good where there is lots of urban or hilly conditions with ample opportunities recoup braking or downhill energy into the batteries for assistance with acceleration and uphill sections.

Good in stop/start traffic where there is lots of small movements forward without having to resort to starting the engine every time.

In those circumstances the hybrid is likely to be more economical and in traffic a more relaxing drive.

Open highways then I think the economy balance will swing to an economical small car like the Citigo which will not have to lug the extra hybrid complication around.

That is a simplification of course since even small cars are now expected to be more than just transport, with hifi, climate controlled environments and even some sort of performance capability.

Whether the extra costs of the hybrid justify its purchase will depend on your driving environment, price of fuel etc.

 

Personally I don't think it currently stacks up. I'm not really interested in a performance excess so I'm more interested in concepts like the VW XL1, or the Riversimple project, or even Mazda's thinking about the way forward with plug in hybrids and miniature range extender engines with briefcase sized ****el engines running on liquified gases. If they could be produced at a cheap enough price of course.

Our 2nd car is an original 2003 Toyota Echo/Yaris with a 1.3L engine and manual transmission. Looks terrible with peeling clearcoat and scratches, heading toward 200k km and worth nothing in value, however it is in good mechanical condition, has sound bodywork and still capable of matching its claimed official consumption (overall average on Fuelly is 5.7L/100 or 49mpg). It provides really cheap motoring but If it died I could be tempted by a 2nd hand Up! since the Citigo is not available here.

 

Currently I am happy to save fuel as best I can by minimising unnecessary vehicle use and then driving as economically as my skills and the traffic permits, or using a bicycle, even (god forbid) using public transport when it suits since I can now travel free.

 

 

 

8 hours ago, Gerrycan said:

 briefcase sized ****el engines

 

Alright since I cannot use '****el' then substitute 'rotary engines'