Comparing the prius with other hybrids

[ThePackage]

I've had my Prius for almost 3 years and LOVE IT. Because the Prius is built from the ground up as a hybrid, it contains technical design features that other hybrids (Camry, Ford, GM) don't have. Does any one have a list of these technical inovations that the others don't have? As someone has previously said comparing the Prius to other hybrids is comparing apples against oranges.

[Patrick Wong]

I disagree with the premise that Prius contains significant design features that other Toyota hybrids lack. Camry Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid, and the various Lexus hybrids all have the same basic hybrid architecture as Prius; however the powertrain output is scaled up to meet the perceived market demands faced by the different models.

The main Prius design feature that the other Toyota hybrids lack is the fuel tank bladder in North American models. I would venture to say that most Prius owners could do without said bladder.

The Ford Escape Hybrid has similar hybrid architecture as Classic Prius.

The GM hybrids are varied. Some models are barely hybrid and don't really deserve use of that name; however the more recent SUV hybrids have an architecture that is not embarrassing to GM.

[archae86]

Patrick Wong's post suggests to me that one might more profitably ask in what ways the Toyota hybrids as a group differ from other folks' hybrids, and perhaps in what ways the Prius is unusual not directly related to its hybrid power-train.

I'll offer up one characteristic of each type, subject to extension (and correction) by others who know more.

1. I think the specific clutchless planetary-gear power transfer implementation in the Toyota hybrid systems is distinctive. It certainly is quite different from conventional automotive systems of the 1990s, and I suspect most other manufacturers use a considerably different approach even in their hybrids.

2. I think the Prius external design makes a more successful special effort to lower air drag than almost all others. Probably the original GM EV-1 (electric), and the first generation Honda Insight (hybrid) bettered its drag coefficient, and they almost certainly had lower drag (proportional to the product of the coefficient and the frontal area) because of their smaller size and capabilities. But for its combination of passenger and cargo-hauling capacity, I suspect the Prius is a real standout performer on air drag among current production vehicles.

[Patrick Wong]

Ford Escape Hybrid has an engine and transaxle design that is similar to Toyota Prius (Atkinson cycle engine, electronically controlled "CVT"). I understand that Ford and Toyota have cross-licensed each other to use similar hybrid technology.

The Nissan Altima Hybrid is basically a Camry Hybrid wannabee, again with a design licensed from Toyota.

Honda and GM have their own hybrid designs; and I'll leave it to advocates of those systems to point out what's great about them.

[Tideland Prius]

the little details like a curved roof to streamline airflow to the centre of the car, the coolant thermos, lightweight alloys (the HCH, HAH and Insight share this feature too), flat underbody... that's all I can think of.

[Rokeby]

You can go here for information on how the Honda Civic Hybrid, HCH, works:

http://priuschat.com/forums/honda-ci...does-work.html

[Shawn Clark]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

the little details like a curved roof to streamline airflow to the centre of the car, the coolant thermos, lightweight alloys (the HCH, HAH and Insight share this feature too), flat underbody... that's all I can think of.

The whole shape of the car, the more effective use of interior space (especially cargo) and such are the defining characteristics that I see. The Prius is the complete package while others are retrofits. Some are very good retrofits, but as retrofits there are compromises.

[ThePackage]

Do the other Hybrids have regenerative braking? Do they have electric A/C? I was interested in those aspects as well.

[archae86]

Originally Posted by ThePackage

Do the other Hybrids have regenerative braking? Do they have electric A/C? I was interested in those aspects as well.

I believe that regenerative braking is absolutely the norm in hybrids -- so much so that it would be rather bold to call one that lacked it a hybrid.

Electric air-conditioning however is not universal. After all, even the Prius did not have it until the third generation model. I believe the Ford escape does not have it currently, and I am almost sure that the General Motors mild hybrids will not have it.

[DeadPhish]

This is not an all-inclusive list by any means but there are benefits to each of the 4 major hybrid systems...

Honda's IMA is a very elegant and inexpensive engineering system that nearly accomplishes what the HSD does as long as the vehicle weights are kept below a certain level.

Toyota actually has two HSD systems. The Atkinson cycle system in the Prius and TCH and the Otto cycle system in the HH and the Lexus models. One for primarily for fuel economy and one for performance with a moderate improvement in fuel economy.

Ford's hybrid sytem is very close to Toyota's. It is very effective in midsized vehicles.

GM actually has two system also. The BAS mild hybrid system in the Vue, Malibu is very very inexpensive and gives a small boost to fuel economy. The 2-Mode system is something Toyota wishes it had for it's heavier vehicles today. The 2-Mode does for GM everything that the HSD does for Toyota's midsizers. It also addresses the worst characteristic of the most inefficient vehicles on the road today ( City driving by large BOF vehicles ).

All four systems as they stand today are very very good for all of us.