Featured All Volvos launched from 2019 will be hybrid or EV

Sometimes we have to patiently let the market decide. My engineering understanding is that 48V risks failing customer expectations. Worse, USA EPA testing is a hard test thanks to the VW cheat.

Bob Wilson

 

If a car already has a high price tag, no one will bitch about additional $2,000 for 48V system. And at least S&S feature will work normally with 48V system, maybe even AC system when stationary?

 

Probably will depend greatly on the customer. There is a HUGE segment that, for a lack of a better descriptor, is "anti-hybrid" due to various reasons. A manufacturer than can make them a "regular" car with much better city mpg that meets EPA (hwy mpg is already "OK" on many models for most customers) is probably the path of least resistance.

 

Well our family has a decade of efficient car inventory on the driveway so it won't be something I'll have to worry about right away. I remain skeptical of 48V systems because they don't address the urban driving profile BUT then I've been driving under 3% market share cars since 2005 and never looked back.

I just hope the moderators will corral them in "Other cars" and our local 48V fans will handle their questions when they ask,"How come I'm not getting Prius mileage?" I've done that already.

Bob Wilson

 

I wonder what the overall impact is on the EU gasoline/diesel market.
Sounds like more gaso and less diesel, which could be hard to reconfigure the diesel-centric refining system over there.

 

That's easy, "Does it have a Prius like fuel economy rating?"

The current eAssist is less powerful than the first system to bear that name. The battery is also smaller. Though there are a couple of supercapacitors illustrated on a first responder pamphlet. One is most likely back up power for the braking system, but I haven't seen any technical explanation for them.

 

It would be hilarious if Dodge, etc... adopted this philosophy and made all the coal rolling Pickup trucks hybrids

God forbid red neck owners couldn't cover the truck with "Hybrid Repellent" and "Prius Repellent" stickers any longer!

 

GM is already test selling eAssist pick ups in California. The numbers sold don't appear to be public knowledge though.

For more info on 48v systems.
Everything You Need To Know About The Upcoming 48-Volt Electrical Revolution In Cars

 

whoa! what just happened there?

 

i wonder if they'll still go a million miles without a repair.

 

Fixed it, but no idea why it did that. Jalopnik asked me to turn off the ad blocker earlier. Don't know why or if that would cause problems.

 

I knew about them but the numbers were pretty small. I don't think they followed through with them as a standard option. Perhaps someone in California might scrub the GM web pages to see if they are still available?

I have no problem with the justification of more accessories needing power marginal for a 12V system. My problem is with:

There will be an effect but these numbers are more than a little optimistic. Sure 48V will allow more 'engine off' time under partial power such as stopped and accessory loads like turning the A/C compressor. But I don't see the size of these claims as credible, especially considering how the EU has been testing their cars.

Bob Wilson

 

I doubt it even has a 2002 Prius EPA rating. Call me when it has the Prius Prime EPA rating.

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