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Didya read the letter in Popular Mechanics

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by mootsman, Sep 19, 2006.

  1. mootsman

    mootsman New Member

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    They published a letter stating that the Prius would actually get better mileage if Toyota dropped the battery, the electric motor, and all hybrid associated equipment -- implying that it was all marketing.

    Hmmm, if we run the lighter vehicle on a 75hp gasoline engine alone we'll get great mileage -- DU...UH
    Of course, I could out run it up a hill.

    Stop the madness -- I'm weary of the misinformation on this vehicle...it's outa control.
     
  2. wilco

    wilco New Member

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    Ok, this one is easy. The Yaris has the same 1.5L engine as the Prius, none of the hybrid components, is smaller, lighter, (but less aerodynamic), yet it consumes more fuel per mile. Case closed.
     
  3. ScottY

    ScottY New Member

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    sigh~
    Have they look into how the PSD works? If they understand, they would not make a statement like that.
     
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah.. reminds me of what Jeremy Clarkson said about the GS450h. He wonders how much faster and better it'd be if the GS450h doesn't have the battery and motors etc etc.

    Here I am thinking.. um... isn't it called the GS350??? (coming stateside and Europe in 2007)
     
  5. BobZ

    BobZ New Member

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    Stop the madness -- I'm weary of the misinformation on this vehicle...it's outa control.


    I'm with ya on that. I'm getting a little tired myself of answering all dumb questions and correcting the misinformed MANY :angry: :angry: :angry:
     
  6. cleverlever

    cleverlever New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(wilco @ Sep 19 2006, 04:40 PM) [snapback]321880[/snapback]</div>

    Quite a bit of difference in saying it has the same engine and saying it has the same size engine.

    Note you didn't say how much difference there was in the mileage and then compare that to the difference in cost of the vehicles.

    Now if the Yaris had the Atkinson engine with a different implementation of the variable valve timing scenario you could get better hiway mileage due to the decresed weight and you could increase the low speed torque which would only leave you with the regen factor for increased mileage in town driving.

    This is info on the alternative valve timing scenario http://modifiedatkinsoncycleengine.blogspot.com/
     
  7. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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  8. wilco

    wilco New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cleverlever @ Sep 19 2006, 07:10 PM) [snapback]322029[/snapback]</div>
    It does have the same engine, the 1NZ.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cleverlever @ Sep 19 2006, 07:10 PM) [snapback]322029[/snapback]</div>
    That's right, I didn't, because that's not what the OP said. I agree that the Prius doesn't beat the Yaris on total cost of ownership.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cleverlever @ Sep 19 2006, 07:10 PM) [snapback]322029[/snapback]</div>
    Well, without reading the white papers referred to, I'm a little skeptical of anything in an anonymous blog, but even taken at face value, you would still have a very low power engine, you'd just get the power lower into the rpm range. However, you wouldn't achieve Otto cycle power numbers. You can't get something for nothing.

    Since it takes very little power to maintain highway speed, your idea would work fine, but the minute you got off the highway, it would be a different story. If drivers would accept the idea of a car that took 30 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph, we could radically increase the fuel efficiency of all cars, but until that happens, the hybrid system is a pretty good way to get 'normal' car acceleration from a relatively small amount of gasoline.