I think this is the right strategy. People lamenting the extra gas engine components and their maintenance must not be familiar with the reliability of a modern (ICE) vehicle.
But I don't see anyone mentioning how the ethanol-mix fuel, which is nearly unavoidable, can turn to shit in a few months of sitting and cause all kinds of engine issues. I'd be more worried about fuel issues over the long term if these truly become "a couple times a year" use cases.
Ethanol fuel needs to be banned, IMO.
The fuel issue is simply FUD. I’d be more concerned about BEV and range anxiety honestly. In Maine, for example, some Tesla owners reported the range being cut in half, during the winter. Simply unacceptable.
Reliability is just one part of the problems with hybrids. Efficiency and cost are also less than optimal.
A dual power train just costs more --- both initially and in terms of maintenance. There is no way around this. It is also a drag on efficiency --- for both long and short trips.
On short trips, the electric power train has to drag around the ICE components. On a long trip, the ICE has to drag around the electric components.
This strategy leaves the competition with a clear path to produce a lighter, more efficient, less expensive alternative.
Any sort of battery breakthrough will kill this hybrid strategy. Rather than promoting or leading this breakthrough, Toyota is effectively betting against it --- primarily for cultural reasons rather than technological ones in my opinion.
Based on what? A Kiro Niro PHEV is cheaper than a Kiro Niro BEV.
https://www.kia.com/us/en/niro-plug-in-hybrid
https://www.kia.com/us/en/niro-ev
The same trend exists for all other cars that have both PHEV and BEV models.
> On short trips, the electric power train has to drag around the ICE components. On a long trip, the ICE has to drag around the electric components.
The same could be said about BEV and the extra weight, amounting to hundreds of unnecessary pounds being towed, which by the way weighs more than ICE components than a PHEV. (in the case of the Kiro Niro, the plug-in hybrid components add 250 pounds compared to ICE, and the Niro BEV adds a whopping 700 pounds extra compared to ICE. In other words, the BEV differential from PHEV adds more than from ICE to PHEV).
The amount of FUD surrounding PHEV every time it's mentioned really is amazing.
Based on the simple fact that battery costs are rapidly trending downward as production ramps up --- while ICE components are not following a similar trend.
"Magic" is assuming that the added complexity of a dual power train will always be cheaper.
https://www.chevrolet.com/electric/bolt-recall
battery fires are cool tho
> Park your vehicle outside immediately after charging and do not leave your vehicle charging indoors overnight.
what a joke
also, the Hyundai Ioniq PHEV is cheaper for its class of vehicle than the Bolt EV, so looks like BEVs are still more expensive.
I won't argue against the maintenance, but pure BEV vehicles are still quite more expensive to buy than (P)HEVs.
Battery cost is declining at a double digit rate per year as production ramps up. Within the next 5 years, BEV will be cheaper.
We are one battery breakthrough away from killing hybrid and ICE autos. Even more/better recharging stations might be enough to do it.
Back to how they cost a few years ago? Also, I remember this: https://www.engadget.com/2008-06-30-tesla-motors-elon-musk-p...
> Battery cost is declining at a double digit rate per year as production ramps up. Within the next 5 years, BEV will be cheaper.
I thought we were talking about right now, and not prognosticating about the future.
even now, after price costs, a Model 3 is more expensive than nearly all PHEVs
you could buy a Prius Prime and a used BEV cheaper than a new Model 3.
Or a PHEV and save $15K or so compared to a Model 3. no matter how you think about it, BEV doesn't really make sense.
A new Prius Prime is roughly $30K
The cheapest Model 3 is now about $43K --- and it comes with a $7500 rebate.
A Chevy Bolt EV is about $27.5K.
A rebate for qualified people. There are PHEVs that also qualify for rebates...
Regardless, a rebate does that mean the car's MSRP is cheaper.