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19 Dec 2007, 19:16 (Ref:2092160) | #26 | |
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hmmm... that thing looks like it just escaped from the seventies! Sorry, not convinced!
The Toyota Volta (come ON?!!!) looks mildly interesting until you see the design of the side: To be fair it's mostly just a design feature or two which ruin it. If it were to drive well then it could be interesting. |
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19 Dec 2007, 19:46 (Ref:2092178) | #27 | ||
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With today's news of ever lower targets for manufacturers, ( a figure of 130g/km across a manufacturers range ), It seems to me that over the next four years the change to new types of motive power will accelerate. After some research, I don't think the diesel hybrids will prove significantly more economic as the energy required to restart a high compression engine will mean it runs longer than a low compression petrol as used in petrol hybrids..
However, to believe these type of vehicles will not become more popular because they are less economic than diesel is to miss the point as to why we may all be driving them soon. As a company car, they are offering lower and lower costs to the employee each year, whilst Diesels are being increased. As aprox 65% of all new cars are company cars, the market will probably go this way. The shape of these cars is driven by aerodymaics and low drag much as early eighties cars such as the sierra and Mk2 astra. And if your driving it you can't see it. I've still got to decide but i'll be testing a hybrid early next year, |
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19 Dec 2007, 19:57 (Ref:2092186) | #28 | |||
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Quote:
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19 Dec 2007, 22:56 (Ref:2092330) | #29 | |||
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Quote:
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There are 10 types of people in this world... those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
20 Dec 2007, 09:48 (Ref:2092519) | #30 | |||
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Quote:
The biggest car sub 120g is a Citroen C4 1.6HDi with a "DPFS electronic gearbox" whatever that is. I still plan on the BMW 118d in about a years time - gives me time to see if all this regenerative energy production is reliable. |
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Alasdair |
7 May 2008, 10:21 (Ref:2195859) | #31 | |
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I was the pround owner of a Honda Insight for four years.
Basically, if you could live with the fast that it had only two seats, it was an excellent car, returning an average of over 80mpg throught the 70,000 miles I owned it for. I even did a couple of solo's in it, getting a 3rd place overall. |
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7 May 2008, 11:18 (Ref:2195919) | #32 | ||
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There's a british company around which has developed a hybrid version of the BMW Mini - 4 wheel drive, 640+bhp and an 800 mile range.
It's sort of inverse from the norm though, It runs on battery as it's default setting, but then starts up a small petrol engine if the batteries get low. This means it's more like a petrol-electric system, where teh engine doesn't directly drive the wheels. Even so, something with 640bhp, in something the size (and only slightly heavier than) a Bini is going to be fun! |
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8 May 2008, 14:45 (Ref:2196916) | #33 | ||
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That sounds interesting Stiggy, I'll do a quick google....
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There are 10 types of people in this world... those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
8 May 2008, 14:47 (Ref:2196919) | #34 | ||
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There are 10 types of people in this world... those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
14 May 2008, 11:19 (Ref:2202015) | #35 | ||
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Join Date: Aug 2003
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Plug in hybrids seem like a good move environmentally. There you get the dual engine, shut-off during stop and regenerative braking as well as being able to charge up the battery off mains overnight.
Shouldn't using energy from the 'mains' be more efficient given that even less environmentally friendly power plants are more efficeint than an ICE (particularly petrol one)? Plus, depending on where you live, that power can be from Wind, Hydro, Solar or Nuclear. I do have a question about the petrol engine 'shutt off' ability of a hybrid when you're stoped or going slowly. Does a control system monitor the temperature of the engine and the emission control systems? If they get too cold, their performance would be likely to drop and end up being worse for the environment as well as a potential for thermal stress/lubrication issues. |
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15 May 2008, 02:07 (Ref:2202676) | #36 | ||
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A Reply
My personal physician has one. He is a semi-car nut. Likes cars but is technologically dis-inclined. He bought it on a `whim', has about 30k miles on it in 18 months. Does not complain about gas mileage but I am sure it is not `as good as advertised'. He has a once a week 50 mile each way commute on a motorway.
Not for me, thanks. |
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