There are many reasons why I like the Prius Hybrid technology. One important reason is rarely discussed.
Since there is an electric motor to augment the power of the gas engine, you can put in a smaller gas engine and still get reasonable accelleration. Engines are more efficient when operating at a higher load range. Unfortunately people expect their cars to have a lot of power. When you have an oversized engine, your mpg suffers. Some big V8's deactivate some cylinders while cruising in order to increase mpg. Another way to put a smaller engine in a car is to put a turbocharger/supercharger on it. Thus, you get good accelleration values, but still have a small efficient engine for cruising. The hybrid system allows you to put in a smaller engine too, because during acceleration, you get power from the gas engine as well as the electric motor. So, you get the benefits of good mpg with a small engine, but decent accelleration because you have the added torque from the electric motor.
This feature of hybrid systems (small gas engine/motor combo) along with the regenerative braking system is on of the core reasons the system superior to any other technology. IMHO.
There will be another leap in mpg once the lithium Ion batteries are figured out. The current NiMH batteries are only about 60% efficient at storing and retrieving energy. The Lithium Ion batteries will be over 90% efficient.
When you look at the overall package of the Prius Hybrid system you see that it is truly an incredible leap of technology. Two electric motors, a gas engine that operates in the atkinson and Otto cycles, unique single speed transmission without the need for a clutch, coolant storage thermos, large passenger compartment, display tools to help you optimize mpg, variable speed ac motor, no starter, no alternator, bladder fuel tank to reduce VOC emmisions, wow.
Since there is an electric motor to augment the power of the gas engine, you can put in a smaller gas engine and still get reasonable accelleration. Engines are more efficient when operating at a higher load range. Unfortunately people expect their cars to have a lot of power. When you have an oversized engine, your mpg suffers. Some big V8's deactivate some cylinders while cruising in order to increase mpg. Another way to put a smaller engine in a car is to put a turbocharger/supercharger on it. Thus, you get good accelleration values, but still have a small efficient engine for cruising. The hybrid system allows you to put in a smaller engine too, because during acceleration, you get power from the gas engine as well as the electric motor. So, you get the benefits of good mpg with a small engine, but decent accelleration because you have the added torque from the electric motor.
This feature of hybrid systems (small gas engine/motor combo) along with the regenerative braking system is on of the core reasons the system superior to any other technology. IMHO.
There will be another leap in mpg once the lithium Ion batteries are figured out. The current NiMH batteries are only about 60% efficient at storing and retrieving energy. The Lithium Ion batteries will be over 90% efficient.
When you look at the overall package of the Prius Hybrid system you see that it is truly an incredible leap of technology. Two electric motors, a gas engine that operates in the atkinson and Otto cycles, unique single speed transmission without the need for a clutch, coolant storage thermos, large passenger compartment, display tools to help you optimize mpg, variable speed ac motor, no starter, no alternator, bladder fuel tank to reduce VOC emmisions, wow.
