Because it's been hijacked by nonsense.

 

but I am being 100% serious. I seriously want to have martin's baby

 

Marmaduke: I actually AM gay. I find your recent posts offensive. I think it's high time for the moderator to suspend your profile.

 

I just think they need to eliminate the posts that are NOT on topic for god sakes...

I am here to talk about serious stuff and the thread goes to hell by people that just want to gabber.. goto the general topics please, no one cares if they are highjacked, but I am trying to talk about serious issues.

Max

 

but why, I AM GAY TOO!!

At least I am not ashamed of it like you appear to be.


Rainbows forever

 

Now that it looks like some of the "children" have been put to bed , I guess it's safe to resume the Volt topic -- which, I might add, it probably the most interesting concept car I've ever seen.

Does anyone know how a Volt concept would compare to a real-world modified P2 with the extra PHEV batteries? For that matter, anyone know how a theoretical P3 would compare to a Volt?

Personally, I'm just hoping that my venerable HCH (w/110k miles) lasts long enough so I can get a 3rd generation hybrid.

 

Ultimately, they should converge subject to:

1) rolling resistance
2) coefficient of drag * cross section area
3) thermodynamic efficiency

These three pretty much sets the expected MPG. If you add these two, we can look at handling:

1) mass
2) traction HP

Bob Wilson

 

I'd love to buy a used P2 and convert it to PHEV. My drive to work is just 4.1 miles! The trouble is, a Prius just won't depreciate! A 4-year-old Prius sells for almost the same price as a brand-new one. Go figure!

Maybe my car will last long enough to get a P3 or a Volt. Then I wouldn't have to jury-rig the car.

 

could you techies use english??

 

The way I understand it (although I'm an investigator, not an engineer) is this:

-- Rolling resistance: How much the transmission tends to slow the car down when you're not pressing the gas pedal.
-- Drag coefficient: How much the shape of the car slows down the vehicle when it drives through an atmosphere. For example, a "teardrop" shape (like a Prius) has a smaller drag coefficient than a "cube" shape such as a tractor trailor.
-- Mass: This is similar to, but not the same as, weight. Things weigh less on the moon, but the mass is always the same. It takes more power to "launch" a massive vehicle (such as a Highlander) than a less massive vehicle (such as a Fit).

The MASS problem is one of the limiting factors in hybrids. The more batteries the car has, the more power reserve the vehicle has at its disposal. But, the mass also increases when you increase the number of batteries. There is a point of diminishing return. Eventually, you would reach a point where the batteries are just pushing batteries around. That's why all the carmakers want there to be a way to make LiIon batteries inexpensively and in quantity. LiIon batteries wouold cut out a lot of mass.

The other stuff... well... maybe an actual engineer could explain it!