In the slow road ahead to making hybrid is taking the time it needs for technology to catch up to people’s expectations. So what’s in store?
The gist is that the road to full electric vehicles, EV sometimes seems so slow and long. We have to wait for mainstream manufacturers to work out the kinks from their current crop of hybrids, HEV while consumers, rightfully so wait for even better performance, there is only so much you can get from a mild parallel hybrid.
Parallel Vs Series. An electric motor that shoulders the burden with an internal combustion engine, ICE can only do so much. It seems the basic EPA estimates are around 40mpg. While some hypermilers have pushed the limits to above 100mpg with plug-in hybrid, PHEV kits, in every day driving conditions, with the way most people drive, we are lucky to see 35mpg. Still, 35 isn’t enough. Considering European and Asian cars not imported in the U.S. achieve better mileage with traditional ICE, we should be doing 50mpg with HEVs.
Series Systems Ups The Performance. Until we have pure EV, series HEV will be a better performance. When an HEV runs off of an electric motor, using a tweaked ICE, usually on an Atkinson cycle, we will see improved performances. So why are car makers dragging their feet when startups can already make them?
While it is hard to answer this question thoroughly, it really depends on many factors. The global economic crisis has pulled the plug on many advanced hybrid projects but at the same time, car makers all want to position themselves better in this ever changing market. In the meantime, we might be forced to wait for more efficient series HEV, until plug-in hybrids, PHEV make their official debut and we can finally do away with polluting engines and “generators”.