Toyota Highlander EV 3 row SUV

[gzebrick]

Pretty sure the VOLT, which by many accounts was a decent first-attempt at an E_REV was programmed to run the ICE occasionally just to make sure nothing got stale, got the lubrication going, etc. It wasn't often, and it wasn't for long, but the VOLT owner didn't need to know nor care.. the ICE got its exercise as needed. Seems like a simple programming function for any decent eREV to include.

I agree that any ICE would best need to be periodically run. I've a Miata that sadly doesn't get much drive time in these days. I still make it a point to take it out every month for at least a 1/2 hour to get the oils up to temp and give it a little love.

 

[Snakebitten]

I'm guessing that there will be engineering for EREV to address fuel age concerns. Similar to the example that was just given regarding the Volt.

I wouldn't be surprised if there are onboard settings and choices for the driver to choose to run the generator ICE intentionally, even when it might not be necessary?

 

[gzebrick]

I'm guessing that there will be engineering for EREV to address fuel age concerns. Similar to the example that was just given regarding the Volt.

I wouldn't be surprised if there are onboard settings and choices for the driver to choose to run the generator ICE intentionally, even when it might not be necessary?

Our Ford Escape PHEV has options to go EV first, EV later (for driving into a city where there may be restrictions), or EV auto (mostly EV but goes gas under highway load/speeds). I think E-REVs would also have something similar.

 

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

I think commodorebob mentioned that their explorer got 500 miles and the switch to 300 of the Toyota would be disappointing. I was assuming he was talking about battery range. I did hybrids, but I’m done paying for gas these days.

 

[thum]

I understand the concept of E-REV. It sounds pretty reasonable, but gas goes "bad" after a period of time. The additives that one can use to extend the life of the gas don't last forever. Is there a long term solution for the storage of the gas that powers the generator for a person who plugs in the vast majority of the time and doesn't use the generator often?

That’s where even an EREV isn’t for everybody. If you never drive more than 100 miles then an EREV isn’t a good idea. I would also prefer only a 10-15 gal tank so I can go through it in a few months. I rarely go more than a month or two without a 300+ mile drive.

 

[gzebrick]

That’s where even an EREV isn’t for everybody. If you never drive more than 100 miles then an EREV isn’t a good idea. I would also prefer only a 10-15 gal tank so I can go through it in a few months. I rarely go more than a month or two without a 300+ mile drive.

Seems to me if you 'never' drive more than 100 miles, but say more than 20 a day, the e-rev is actually perfect.

To me, the best selling point of an e-rev is that there's NO range anxiety -AND- NO charging anxiety as long as you have at least a 120v outlet where you can top off nightly (say adding 40-60 miles a day). No need to add a $$$ 240v level-2 (though it's good if you can get it),.

There's no hassle with level-3 charging/apps, and never a worry if you do one day need to go to work, go to the store, go to the dr. Life happens, and a worry-free EV should be more accessable than a full-bore EV with the much larger (3x?) battery pack, especially if you can only have ONE ride in the stable. With an E_REV, you still drive a displaced-emission vehicle at a lower cost per mile than gas for nearly all your drives, but without the hassles of going full EV for everything.

 

[Snakebitten]

Imagine a scenario where some genius invented a paint that collected solar energy, and it was so efficient at doing so that if you equipped an EV with that solar paint, it could charge the EV battery at a rate that it could extend the range of the EV as long as there was enough sunlight to backfeed the HV battery at about 1/2 the rate you were consuming it.

That would technically be an EREV, right?

Would you want it over a pure EV?

How about if it added to the price of the EV the equivalent of the price an ICE-generator does? And pretend it adds similar weight?

My point being is that I think some of the objections to the current EREV design is just an objection to ICE/petrol. Which is fine, of course, but be honest and admit that's the negative.

The concept of traveling down the road and having the ability to backfill (charge) the HV battery in an EV is awesome! It's just that currently we are limited to the method(s) of version 1.2(?) of doing so.