400 hp, 42 mpg

[MiataGirl]

http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=carnews&loc_code=&content_code=00305601

 

[StageLeft]

Nice, but too bad it's not even anywhere close to cost effective yet, otherwise they'd have it in regular passenger vehicles and claim half the market overnight.

 

[Migroo]

Looks good.

Would be great to be able to see what the car market will be like in 5 years time, I bet it wont be anything like what we expect it to be...

 

[Ornery]

"...batteries to power the electric motor are recharged during braking, when the electric motor converts to generator mode. As a result, the car won?t require external electric charging. "

That part sounds sweet, but those damn batteries probably cost as much as a fully rebuilt 350ci V8, or more! Not to mention it's the size of a toy

Speaking of toys, why don't you put a picture of your namesake in your sig?

 

[SP33Demon]

One word: WOW

 

[BooneRebel]

[sarcasm]It's a shame it's a chick car[/sarcasm]

 

[raptor13]

The batteries will always need some outside charging. No matter how much regenerative charging the brakes can provide, it will never be equal to the amount of charge the batteries output to get a car up to the speed it starting braking. There will always be energy loss in the system because no system is (nor can it be) perfect.

 

[edro]

Honda Owns All.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: raptor13
The batteries will always need some outside charging. No matter how much regenerative charging the brakes can provide, it will never be equal to the amount of charge the batteries output to get a car up to the speed it starting braking. There will always be energy loss in the system because no system is (nor can it be) perfect.

That would be true if the batteries were responsible for all of the vehicle power, but like the current toyota and honda cars you can buy here, the batteries are not used for that. When real work has to be done the engine gets going and if the batteries are low the engine will take over.

 

[BoberFett]

Wait a second. I'm no car genius, but do you get to just add HP like that? There's a 300 HP gas engine and 100 HP electric engine. That's a 300/100 HP car. Not a 400 HP car. How could two engines simultaneously provide drive to the same wheels?

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Wait a second. I'm no car genius, but do you get to just add HP like that? There's a 300 HP gas engine and 100 HP electric engine. That's a 300/100 HP car. Not a 400 HP car. How could two engines simultaneously provide drive to the same wheels?

Same way you can weld the crankshafts of 2 350's together and get the combined output of both.

 

[BoberFett]

Weld together the crankshafts of two V4s, time things correctly, and you have a V8.

But this says it's 300HP to the rear wheels and 100 to all four. And this thing can use either engine or both? What kind of transmission would it take to let two separate engines power the rear wheels, but only one of those engines powers the front. I'm just curious how the hell this works.

 

[dethman]

sounds awesome can't wait. he he.

 

[microAmp]

They need to start making trucks. Owned two trucks and no cars. I don't like having to get in and out of cars. But good to see something like this.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: raptor13
The batteries will always need some outside charging. No matter how much regenerative charging the brakes can provide, it will never be equal to the amount of charge the batteries output to get a car up to the speed it starting braking. There will always be energy loss in the system because no system is (nor can it be) perfect.

ummm... the gas motor charges the batteries...

 

[0roo0roo]

yup, i bet it uses any time u go relatively constant speed or downhill to recharge.

ummm... the gas motor charges the batteries...

and yea, i'm surprised someone doesn't know the basics of hybrid vehicles by now

 

[BoberFett]

Can I add the HP of my windshield wiper motor to my total HP?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Can I add the HP of my windshield wiper motor to my total HP?

well that detracts from your engine's horsepower total to begin with

 

[0roo0roo]

i wish i could slap that 100hp electric into my civic that would be a sweet mod indeed hehe the future of ricing i hope.

 

[Ornery]

The friggen batteries would weigh more than your GD Civic. They'd probably fall through it's unibody floor!

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Ornery
The friggen batteries would weigh more than your GD Civic. They'd probably fall through it's unibody floor!

Actually, since the electric motor is only used under acceleration (in effect, it's a sort of "electric supercharger" effect) it doesn't require anywhere near the amount of batteries a normal pure electric car would. I'm guessing that the batteries add 200 lbs at most. The hybrid Civic, which uses the same sort of system, is only 100 lbs heavier than the normal Civic.

ZV

 

[Shantanu]

Quite possibly, the fugliest car ever made.

Nobody is going to buy that thing. It's fuel cell/hybrid-electric/whatever technology will make it extremely expensive, and that's if buyers can look past the ugly toy-racer looks to actually consider the car. I doubt that over the car's life you'll be able to realize the fuel economy savings vs. the technology cost. And that's contingent on people buying sports cars actually giving a sh|t about fuel economy, which they don't.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Shantanu
Quite possibly, the fugliest car ever made.

Nobody is going to buy that thing. It's fuel cell/hybrid-electric/whatever technology will make it extremely expensive, and that's if buyers can look past the ugly toy-racer looks to actually consider the car. I doubt that over the car's life you'll be able to realize the fuel economy savings vs. the technology cost. And that's contingent on people buying sports cars actually giving a sh|t about fuel economy, which they don't.

It's true that anybody buying a car that pricey doesn't give a damn about gas costs and the increase in price would never pay for it, but some people will buy it just to say they have a 400 hp car with 42 mpg. Now people who don't care about that will have spent te same amount of money on a faster car and wax the acura owner's ass but that's another thing altogether!

 

[pecel]

When it's going to be available?

 

[0roo0roo]

not really, its utility is being a super car without the guilt