Quote:
quote:Originally posted by strangelove
It's wierd how over 600 people have read this thread yet not very many people have an opinion on this subject. Is this such a crazy idea that nobody wants to respond to it, or are people just reluctant to chat about technology they are not accustomed to chatting about. Since I am not a treehugger, nor am I much of an environmentalist, I'm not sure why there are not more PT Cruiser owners that want to modify their PT's to go faster with a new technology. 0-60 in 4 seconds, can't dismiss those numbers.
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i think both fritz and i have already answered the question. the technology is too new and expensive to be put to practical use. like we said, it would cost more than maybe your cruiser is worth to do any type of hybrid upgrade with the current systems, nevermind something in a race prototype evo.
also, consider that current hybrids that are more performance minded(the accord, the lexus RXh) do not show any significant gas mileage increase, and produce about the same emissions. in the case of the cruiser, why make a turbo charged car that requires premium fuel for best performance a hybrid, what is the benefit? you would still need to pay premium prices and would never make up the cost of installing a hybrid system. as for performance, dumping a 40 hp electric motor (the size of the prius one)in a blown engine sounds like pissing on a forrest fire, it may help but not much. you would need the 40 horses to overcome the significant weight of the battery and motor, and all the other radio shack parts to make it work. if you want 0 to 60 in 4 seconds, it would be cheaper and easier to add a NOS system.
i think hybrids are a great idea and agree that the technology needs to be supported. but we are at the start of the technology, there needs to be time to see what works best and what is cost effective. i doubt that we will soon see a bolt on hybrid kit for any car (toyota introduced the new camry a year early so they could get a hybrid one on the market, since the cost of retrofitting the system onto the previous generation was too much). my wife wanted a hybrid, but there are none out now that were practical enough for our family and still delivered better fuel economy. we purchased a mazda5 with the hopes that in three to five years there will be a better (and cheaper) hybrid solution.