[SnowbordrWRX]

I was just reading an article on MSN Carpoint that talked about hybrid vehicles and that the electric motors in hybrids provide torque immediately...what do you think about a hybrid WRX STi? You'd have low end torque and you'd also have a much cleaner vehicle and better fuel economy...just imagine an STi that would get 30+ mpg!

Your thoughts?

 

[graunie]

I'm not trying to rag on you but that is insane! For starters $$$. More cost at start up. Second the batteries on electric/hybrid cars suck. Once again costly to replace. Anyway, the weight of an electric motor and the battery would be huge. Just think... lots and lots of 12V car batteries. Electric motors are spooled copper wires, very heavy too. Another thing is the space it would take under the hood. There is probably more but I'll let someone else have a stab at it. Good to be thinking different but that just won't work in my opinion.

 

[SnowbordrWRX]

I wouldn't want a pure electric WRX. The article I read off of MSN talked about hybrids, and it still would have the internal combustion engine, but AIDED by an electric motor. The industry has come a long way from those huge batteries of the first electric cars...but I'm talking about gas-electric hybrids, like that civic...you don't plug it in. For example: "In Honda's front-wheel-drive Insight and Civic, for example, the electric motor provides the torque for the front wheels right at the start of acceleration from a standstill. As the car picks up speed, the internal combustion engine kicks in, and at top highway speeds, the gas engine alone provides the power. " - see article at http://carpoint.msn.com/advice/standardart.aspx?contentid=4020586&src=News

It may be unreasonable right now, but what about in a few years? I would like to see Subaru come out with a hybrid (though I think they ought to start with the Forester or Outback and work out the kinks before attempting to make a WRX hybrid...

 

[SnowbordrWRX]

not electric

I was also wondering if this would do anything for turbo lag (also excerpted from that article):

"Officials at DaimlerChrysler said the hybrid Durango and Liberty have been shown to achieve up to 30 percent better fuel economy—22.3 miles per gallon combined city/highway driving for the Durango HEV compared with 17.1 miles per gallon for a comparable conventional V8 Durango.

Yet the hybrid Durango's power, acceleration and performance are similar to that of a V8 Durango. In fact, in testing the hybrid has a quicker 0-to-60-mph time than does a Durango with 5.9-liter V8.

The reason? Electric motors can provide immediate torque as a vehicle begins to move, while an internal combustion engine has a torque curve that requires a certain rpm level to be reached before high torque is achieved. "

 

[Agent Chobos]

How 'bout this?

http://www.dodge.com/inside/concept_vehicles/charger_rt.html

A blown 4.7L V8. Running on compressed natural gas. 325 HP with zippo emissions! Yeah!

I wish they would start building this stuff already...

Chobos

 

[chawklit]

yes, me too. i'd like a 500 HP AWD electric twin-turbo v12 that runs on natural gas, gets 100 MPG, and shoots out different flavored O2 aromas including but not limited to: wild strawberry, spring breeze, lavender kisses, and vanilla essence. oh yeah, it'd go 0-60 in 3 secs, 70-0 in 50 ft, have a road holding of 5.17 g's, and be able to comfortably fit 7 full size adults and this week's groceries.

 

[Vanya]

Re: lifetime of the turbo charger?

Now, if only it could toast a bagel and fold my laundry on the way to work, it would be perfect! :lol:

The vanilla essence-scented exhaust would be nice, I must say.

 

[graunie]

The next thing that will happen as far as a fuel revolution is the hydrogen fuel cell. I've done some research and it looks good. Far away though, lots of development. One of the big three actually sold a bunch of this technology to the chinese. They plan to implement it from the start. They are going through their industrial revolution now so it will be easier to start from scratch. I assume the plan is to eventually learn from them. As far as why it's going to take so long they are looking for volunteers to ask the oil companies to stop selling their oil. Hehehehe...
I sound pesimistec (so what I can't spell worth crap) but I think this will eventually be the next thing. The military is doing their own develop as well. If I wasn't saving for my STi I would buy stock.

 

[SnowmanFX]

They already have Hydro Busses. I saw them on TV it sounded really cool and we will never run out of it. They also showed the next space shuttle that will stay in space and never run out of fuel cause space is like all Hydrogen so it just suxs it in and makes it go really fast.

I think they have a huge plane to phase it in. 8)
Raise gas Prices so people start buying electric and then when eveyone is used to electric they will start charging you a arm and a leg for electricity and then Hydro cars will sound great. :-?

 

[TiTaNiuM sAMuRai]

Space doesn't have a heck of a lot of hydrogen out in the open, but there have been for a while 'ion drives' that do work on somewhat the same principle.

 

[MKIVSupra]

Until they get the performance of a gas engine vehicle, no one will want one. I am not talking about concept cars and what they supposedly can do. Look at the couple on the market now. They are like zero to 60 in a day and have a low top speed. All the pickup and SUV drivers would not want that. Imagine the batteries and such it would take to power a big ass escalade or expedition... it will be a LONG time before we see any of that as the norm.

 

[Agent Chobos]

Space doesn't have a heck of a lot of hydrogen out in the open, but there have been for a while 'ion drives' that do work on somewhat the same principle.

Heh heh... TIE Fighters = Twin Ion Engine...

Maybe the Empire isn't so dumb after all.

Chobos



Use the Forced Induction, Luke!

 

[chawklit]

as soon as we run out of fossil fuel is when we will switch

 

[graunie]

We're way off-topic, but anyway we'll never run out out of fossil fuels. Just kidding. Our expecting supply gets bigger when we find new sources of oil. So the estimate of how long we last gets bigger and/or changing. But if everyone in China drove a car how fast would we use our supplies?[/img]