Which is why the "correct" way to build a hybrid vehicle is an electric vehicle with an optional gas powered range extender. Im not sure why this isn't more common.
Why would I want to change the oil on the range extender, deal with emissions tests, and so on? That's a bigger pain than just renting an ICE car for the 1-2 times a year when we take a road trip.
Every time I've rented a car it's been a substantial hassle, and I've felt anxious about how much it might cost me if something happened to the car while I was responsible for it.
Different people have different ideas about what's a pain.
If you already own and know everything you need, yes. Most regular people don’t own a jack capable of lifting the car high enough. Most people don’t own jack stands to make getting under the car safe. Most people don’t own an oil filter wrench. Most people in cities can’t just do all this on the street without getting their legs run over. Most people don’t know how to dispose of motor oil. Most people don’t know or are not allowed to know which oil to buy and how much (my car’s manual doesn’t say that).
I get full service 5W20 oil change (with fluids top up, oil disposal while no effort and have the assurance that the job will done impeccably) in under 20 minutes for $29 at my local mechanic. I do this 3 times a year, and it's $87.
Whereas I were to do it myself, I'd have to invest in $274 worth of equipment, and the 5W20 itself is about $15. It'll take about 20 oil changes to break even (roughly 6 years) and then after you'll really only be saving $42 a year, not to mention the time cost and oil disposal hassle.
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a27169631/how-to-chang...
Can't argue with your bottom line, though. Even if I consider my time free, I don't really come out ahead.
But - I like changing oil in my car. I get to see the oil as it drains out, the color of it, if it's the amount I expect to see, or if the car's burned some since the last change. It's an excuse to look around under the car and notice if there's any unexpected damage. It just feels good to personally take care of a piece of the infrastructure I depend on.
I think there's one other big advantage of your way, though: you're maintaining a relationship with a mechanic who you trust.
It's way more efficient to build the a hybrid with the gas engine as part of the drivetrain than only use it power electric motors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jofycaXByTc Conceptual explanation of the system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O61WihMRdjM Weber Auto giving an extensive hands on explanation.
It's just that the no-gas range of a hybrid is something crazy low, like 4 miles or something, since it has a very small battery. The plug-in hybrids improve that situation just by adding a larger battery, not by changing the mechanics of how the drive works.
The claimed mileage is similar to Toyota's planetary power splitting thingie, no idea how it works in the real world.
You could also say that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are series hybrids, since the fuel cell mostly charges a battery, which is much more flexible in what power it can provides and can be recuperated into, unlike a fuel cell which is one-way.
I don't every want a 100% electric car. We're a 1 car household so I really want the flexibility of going wherever without having to plan around the charger network.
Is this how we are re-branding internal combustion engines?