Near as I can tell, the technology exists RIGHT NOW to give every car on the road 50+ electric miles - just like a Chevrolet Volt, but for a much lower cost and with a normal drivetrain. Battery costs have come down A LOT, and motors are cheaper and more powerful.
Your ICE engine would still work as a normal engine, but while cruising, the fuel injectors turn off as the IMA takes over, just like when you are going downhill in an ICE car - then you're driving in 100% full EV mode. The IMA is powerful enough to maintain your cruising speed, so 95% of your commute would be completely electric. (Civic hybrids have engine start/stop, also).
The conventional hybrid logic is: EV for acceleration, ICE for "efficient" cruising, no EV miles, expensive drivetrain
The PHEV logic is: first use up your "free" EV miles for cruising at a reasonable speed, then ICE for everything else. This is that, but cheaper. With this design, you can't make the battery any cheaper ($1500 15kWh), you can't make the drivetrain any cheaper (normal drivetrain, just requires the IMA stuff, but it doesn't require an expensive eCVT), it's the absolute minimum required for electric miles... and amazingly, the car still works fine without high-voltage battery, so there is really no worry about repair costs.
Not seeing any drawbacks here. I think this is the way to go. At least it's a way to eliminate normal ICE drivetrains forever, by always adding the option to go full-electric with the IMA. Pure EVs are great, but batteries are still $5000 or more. The GM Voltec 2 is probably my favorite drivetrain yet, but that transmission isn't light, cheap, or easy to repair/replace.
I sure as hell wish I had an IMA thing in my car. My first idea was to install a fifth wheel with a 10kWh battery pack, but an integrated motor thing would be even better.
- Honda IMA - Super cheap, single electric motor (and controller), capable of 15kW (highway cruising speed). Definitely cheaper and smaller than Voltec or Prius or anything. This is enough to do 95% of your miles on electric-only, if you have a commute on the highway.
- 15kWh battery (55 electric miles (with 85% usage and 230wh/mile)). Costs $1500 USD (cell cost) plus BMS, cooling, etc. It can do a continuous discharge at 1C (15kW) on the highway.
Your ICE engine would still work as a normal engine, but while cruising, the fuel injectors turn off as the IMA takes over, just like when you are going downhill in an ICE car - then you're driving in 100% full EV mode. The IMA is powerful enough to maintain your cruising speed, so 95% of your commute would be completely electric. (Civic hybrids have engine start/stop, also).
The conventional hybrid logic is: EV for acceleration, ICE for "efficient" cruising, no EV miles, expensive drivetrain
The PHEV logic is: first use up your "free" EV miles for cruising at a reasonable speed, then ICE for everything else. This is that, but cheaper. With this design, you can't make the battery any cheaper ($1500 15kWh), you can't make the drivetrain any cheaper (normal drivetrain, just requires the IMA stuff, but it doesn't require an expensive eCVT), it's the absolute minimum required for electric miles... and amazingly, the car still works fine without high-voltage battery, so there is really no worry about repair costs.
Not seeing any drawbacks here. I think this is the way to go. At least it's a way to eliminate normal ICE drivetrains forever, by always adding the option to go full-electric with the IMA. Pure EVs are great, but batteries are still $5000 or more. The GM Voltec 2 is probably my favorite drivetrain yet, but that transmission isn't light, cheap, or easy to repair/replace.
I sure as hell wish I had an IMA thing in my car. My first idea was to install a fifth wheel with a 10kWh battery pack, but an integrated motor thing would be even better.
