Electric Cars: Chev Bolt seems to be the first practical one.

[IslandTractor]

I think Egon or someone else previously compared that MB with a locomotive. IIRC, back when the Volt was debuting in the automotive press, it was described as a series hybrid- like a locomotive. The ice solely ran an alternator to feed the electric motor. They contrasted this with a parallel hybrid where the ice drives the wheels directly sometimes and charges the battery as well. (Prius, for example) There might have been some discussion about a series hybrid ice can run at a fixed rpm and therefore tweaked to be efficient at that particular speed, rather than over a range of speeds required in a parallel hybrid. Again, IIRC.

I think you are describing the Volt not the MB. The Volt when in hybrid mode uses an ICE to generate electricity which is ten fed to the wheel motors.

The MB has a single large electric motor in line behind the engine so it drives the rear wheels just like the ICE does.

The Volt motors are linked directly to wheels I believe while the MB electric drives through the "normal" drivetrain.

 

[jmc]

I think you are describing the Volt not the MB. The Volt when in hybrid mode uses an ICE to generate electricity which is ten fed to the wheel motors.

The MB has a single large electric motor in line behind the engine so it drives the rear wheels just like the ICE does.

The Volt motors are linked directly to wheels I believe while the MB electric drives through the "normal" drivetrain.

I must have dozed off when the salesman was flogging the cellphone controls.

 

[vvanders]

If I am not mistaken MB uses Tesla motors and inverters and possibly batteries also.

Yup, at least back in '13: Mercedes unveils Tesla-powered electric car - Mar. 27, 213 but ya know Tesla obviously couldn't design a good product .

Just rolled home from 310mi roundtrip of 7.5hrs on the road, aside from the awful traffic in Tacoma everything was smooth sailing.

 

[houstonscott]

Yup, at least back in '13: Mercedes unveils Tesla-powered electric car - Mar. 27, 213 but ya know Tesla obviously couldn't design a good product . Just rolled home from 310mi roundtrip of 7.5hrs on the road, aside from the awful traffic in Tacoma everything was smooth sailing.

I think the only tinny all electric MB is powered by Tesla electric motors. I don't think that model is sold in USA. The new C Class and E class hybrids have no tesla parts, but a Tesla is full of MB parts, mostly interior stuff.

 

[Egon]

I think Egon or someone else previously compared that MB with a locomotive. IIRC, back when the Volt was debuting in the automotive press, it was described as a series hybrid- like a locomotive. The ice solely ran an alternator to feed the electric motor. They contrasted this with a parallel hybrid where the ice drives the wheels directly sometimes and charges the battery as well. (Prius, for example) There might have been some discussion about a series hybrid ice can run at a fixed rpm and therefore tweaked to be efficient at that particular speed, rather than over a range of speeds required in a parallel hybrid. Again, IIRC.

One system I'd envision is just electric motor drive from a battery with the battery being charged with a set rpm ICE for charging. It would allow the recharge engine the best rpm for recharge. Lots of variables involved which take technical knowledge to design.

 

[IslandTractor]

One system I'd envision is just electric motor drive from a battery with the battery being charged with a set rpm ICE for charging. It would allow the recharge engine the best rpm for recharge. Lots of variables involved which take technical knowledge to design.

I think you just described the Chevy Volt. The only difference is that the main propulsion battery can also be charged by plugging in to either 110v or 220v. The ICE on a Volt is literally a generator and not linked to the drivetrain at all except electrically.

 

[houstonscott]

I think you just described the Chevy Volt. The only difference is that the main propulsion battery can also be charged by plugging in to either 110v or 220v. The ICE on a Volt is literally a generator and not linked to the drivetrain at all except electrically.

agreed. Volt is gas electric car. Different from a locomotive though because gas engine is not coupled to motors directly, it only charges batteries, motors only pull power from batteries, never from ice generator directly. If you like volt and are looking for a better volt, used car, look at the Cadillac version, now cancelled but a much higher quality car, and a real head turner.

 

[California]

Several years ago I read that Ford's first generation hybrid Escape wasn't ideal for going up a boat ramp because only the electric motor pulled at ultra low speed, the gas engine wouldn't assist. The A/T version Escape had a lot more torque to the wheels from a standstill. On the other hand these are widely used as NYC taxicabs where the quick acceleration from a standstill is an advantage.

Has anyone here owned one? What sort of real-world mpg did it provide? Can the hybrid tow the same weight as the A/T version?

 

[IslandTractor]

Several years ago I read that Ford's first generation hybrid Escape wasn't ideal for going up a boat ramp because only the electric motor pulled at ultra low speed, the gas engine wouldn't assist. The A/T version Escape had a lot more torque to the wheels from a standstill. On the other hand these are widely used as NYC taxicabs where the quick acceleration from a standstill is an advantage.

Has anyone here owned one? What sort of real-world mpg did it provide? Can the hybrid tow the same weight as the A/T version?

I don't know anything about the Escape but I can tell you that with my CMax I need to be careful accelerating from a stop as I'll spin the tires (fwd). Remember that an electric motor's torque is maximal just as it starts so better than ICE. If anything it sounds like an electric powered awd would be ideal for pulling a boat up a wet inclined ramp.

 

[MossRoad]

... The ICE on a Volt is literally a generator and not linked to the drivetrain at all except electrically.

I don't think that's accurate.

At times, depending on driving mode, clutches engage and the gas motor directly turns one of the electric motors, in essence, direct drive with battery assist.

Here's a pretty good video that shows how it works...