Plug-in hybrids?

[foxrun]

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...ol=969048863851

 

I read this article and found it interesting. Does this direction make sense for Ford? Is Ford already going in this direction?

[RichardJensen]

They are researching it. The official word is that the batteries in the Escape don't respond well to this, or something like it. There are also rumors that liability is a concern (people driving off with plugs in the car, etc.)

 

Also, while looking this up, I found a review written by an Escape Hybrid owner that went to Ford's hybrid clinic. Mixed up in the article was this nugget:

The way the Escape Hybrid engineers explained it to EVWorld, Ford swapped patents with Toyota, exchanging some catalyst technology it owned for the 20 patents Toyota had. No monies actually changed hands.

http://www.evworld.com/view.cfm?section=ar...5&end=2494#

[old_fairmont_wagon]

Plug In Hybrids are going to have to be developed earlier on in the cycle than just adapting an existing design.

 

for a plug in hybrid to be truly worth the trouble, it has to have a few characteristics that make it different from a regular hybrid.

 

1) Its battery capacity will have to be larger than what would be considered ideal for a normal hybrid. Larger batteries weigh more, meaning that the city cycle looses efficiency. However, if the battery capacity is sufficient to cover your entire commute, then it can result in much higher overall efficiency.

 

2) Its charging system will have to be modified to accept wall current input, protect the vehicle's systems from a surge or sag in wall power, and not overload the circuit that its plugged into to begin with. It'll also have to be designed to properly and safely charge the batteries without causing them any damage from charging either too fast or too slowly.

 

3) There will have to be a physical modification to the vehicle to accomodate the larger battery pack, safety testing to properly position the larger and heavier battery pack, and other changes to accomodate the plug in cable.

 

4) Actual Savings may vary. If you live in an area that has above average cost per KW/H for electricity, than you might wind up spending more than the gas cost difference on a plug in hybrid than a regular one. What will make it more efficient? Remember, the Plug in Hybrid will likely be heavier than a traditional one, so it will use more energy to commute than a non-plug in. Maybe there will need to be a cheaper solution to recharging your plug in hybrid, such as a home solar power station. Perhaps your garage will have its roof lined in solar panels, which will be wired to a few traditional lead-acid car batteries and a special charging station. During the day, the solar panels recharge the car batteries, at night, the plug in hybrid is plugged into the recharging station and the recharger batteries are emptied into the plug in hybrid batteries. If its all properly designed, then you could get a car that operates on incredibly small amounts of gas and doesn't drive up your electric bill.

 

There's more to it than that, but, plug ins are a ways off to be sure, and likely going to be difficult to prove themselves to be money savers.