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Featured eAssist - it's back

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Trollbait, Feb 29, 2016.

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  1. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    The annual average is closer to 15k, and a work truck will likely be driven more than that.

    A full hybrid system will also cost 3 to 5 times more.;) Up to this date hybrid trucks have had lower payload and towing limits than the ICE model. So when truck buyers see hybrid, they think high cost and less capable. Like with the Malibu eAssist, GM will avoid the hybrid term in marketing.

    Mazda's regenerative brake system increases the Mazda6 city numbers by almost 2mpg without start/stop. eAssist adds both. Ford charges $295 for their start/stop, and that is the lowest. $500 is the norm. GM is charging $700 for this.

    A full hybrid would be better, but will also cost more. Two mode got those beasts' city mpg up to 21mpg from the 15mpg or so of the time. Yet that wasn't attractive to buyers in light of the hybrid's increased price.
     
    #21 Trollbait, Mar 22, 2016
  2. UsedToLoveCars

    UsedToLoveCars Active Member

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    I find this unlikely in a heavy truck. The prius is in a sweet spot.

    Let's take regenerative braking: you can only stuff so much energy into a battery per time unit. With the low mass of a prius (4000lb gvwr), probably most if not all of the normal braking energy can be put into a prius-sized battery. I bet they're pretty close to the maximum charge rate during braking. A truck with 2x the mass (pickups are what, 8,000lb GVWR?) is going to be generating 2x more energy (f = ma) from braking. You would probably need more cells to be able to capture it all without blowing up the battery.

    Now you've gone from a +$3000 full hybrid system like in the prius, to a +$11,000 system like in the rx450. Even then, the rx450 only makes 4mpg better than the rx350 on the highway. 12 better in city.

    Now add an extra 12,000lb towing capacity. How's that e-cvt and planetary gearing going to hold up to that? (rx can tow 5800 pounds, so any gearing would have to be more robust = more $)

    How many people are going to want to spend $11,000 more for their pickup truck that already pushes $50,000?

    For that kind of money, it might make more sense to have a plugin hybrid truck rather than just a full-hybrid.

    700 bucks for 2mpg doesn't seem like a bad deal.
     
    #22 UsedToLoveCars, Mar 22, 2016
  3. telmo744

    telmo744 HSD fanatic

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    #23 telmo744, Mar 22, 2016
  4. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    The Highlander Limited (lowest trim available for the hybrid) carries a $5100 hybrid premium in a like to like comparison. The hybrid has a 3500# tow rating, while the ICE model has a 5000# one.

    The Silverado 1500 Crewcab, with the ICE that this eAssist is being tested on, has a conventional tow rating of 6100# to 10,800# depending upon the differential ratio. IIRC, the two mode model had a tow rating of 6000#, while the ICE model of that time had ratings similar to today's truck.

    eAssist is just a mild hybrid, but not being integrated into the drive train means it likely won't require a tow rating down rating like all full hybrids have up to this point. Saving more fuel doesn't matter if it won't pull a person's trailer, and even then, the potential buyer might pass on it if it is a few thousand dollar upgrade. The eAssist is under a grand on these trucks.
     
    #24 Trollbait, Mar 22, 2016
  5. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    This may be an evolution, CARB compliance, marketing thing, or who knows what...but until they give people "that need" 1/2-1 ton pick-ups realistically better mpg, with the same work capacity for the same price...they won't bother.
     
    #25 frodoz737, Mar 22, 2016
  6. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Even when gas prices were high, people didn't see the value in the two mode trucks.

    I do not hold out hope that this test will be extended out to the entire line up. This will likely just be a chapter of development with owner feedback. The CAFE targets will be going up sooner than later though. That is when I expect this to be seen nationwide.
     
    #26 Trollbait, Mar 23, 2016
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