Featured Hybrid and Alt Fuel Monthly Report (5/15/2016 Issue)

Curiously enough, there is a YouTube version that starts a 1:35:

Uh, don't watch any of the rest … just skip down to 1:35.

Bob Wilson

 

I saw the vertical bar in the quoted text, but not on my keyboard, and I recalled you mentioning the comma back in another thread, but already running late getting home, I decided not to experiment.

It should be possible to compare the Model S and X weights to their nearest competitor ICE models, but it leaves the variables of aerodynamics and possibly size unaddressed. So ICE to BEV version is the 'cleanest' comparison in terms of variable control.

No denying that an BEV can be designed light, but the authors point out that those means aren't EV centric. The i3's aluminum frame and carbon fiber body doesn't require an EV's traction pack to work. The i3 is BMW's mass produced(the i8 is more niche, lower sales) showcase model for their advances in lower cost mass production of carbon fiber parts. They fully intend to extend this technology to their ICE models, and the other car makers are chasing weight reduction for all their models also.

Some of the EV models examined in the paper already make use of such weight reductions over the ICE counterpart, so the weight difference can be larger if the models were truly equal.

On a personal note, I like the fortwo, and wish I lived close enough to work to make the BEV model work. As an Eurocentric brand, the reason for the smart name is mostly for the advantages its size has in European cities. Plus, the increased engine and transmission choices there, make it more of a fuel miser. In the US it will likely beat out the iQ and maybe even the Spark in fuel efficiency for many commutes.

I'd like to see towing on all cars in the US, but I think marketing will prevent such for the near future.

 

if there is more tyre and brake wear on a prius, why do my tyres and brakes last so long?

 

thanks! do you have 2015 compareables?

 

The study only looked at BEVs. The higher weight of a PHEV likely does lead to more wear, but the PiP has a small traction pack in comparison to others, and thus less weight gain. It was non-scientific sources claiming the results applied to plain hybrids.

I don't know if those sources make any claims specific to brake dust? Because of the lack of data on PM from regenerative brake systems, the actual paper assumed zero from the BEV brakes.

Do you keep your tire pressure at Toyota's recommended level? Along with reducing rolling resistance, higher pressures reduce tire wear. Toyota's recommended levels for the gen2 lead to excessive wear for the outer sides of the tire treads.

 

i run 42f, 40r.

 

Which is higher than the gen2 and other cars I'm familiar with, so probably safe to say higher than what Toyota recommends for the PiP.

 

oh sure, door recommendation is 33f, 35r.