I think this is the right strategy. People lamenting the extra gas engine components and their maintenance must not be familiar with the reliability of a modern (ICE) vehicle.
You're probably right about them not being aware of the reliability of ICE engines.
But I don't see anyone mentioning how the ethanol-mix fuel, which is nearly unavoidable, can turn to shit in a few months of sitting and cause all kinds of engine issues. I'd be more worried about fuel issues over the long term if these truly become "a couple times a year" use cases.
There are stabilizing fluids you can add that extends the life to years. If owners can’t be bothered to do that the car could be programmed to use fuel every 6 months to prevent the negative side effects (in the case of cars like the Pacifica PHEV and Prius Prime, this is what happens)
The fuel issue is simply FUD. I’d be more concerned about BEV and range anxiety honestly. In Maine, for example, some Tesla owners reported the range being cut in half, during the winter. Simply unacceptable.
There are also, depending on the state, still gas stations that sell ethanol free fuel. The station up the street from me sells it but it is about 20 to 30 cents per gallon more expensive.
It is a strategy that is subject to being superceded very soon.
Reliability is just one part of the problems with hybrids. Efficiency and cost are also less than optimal.
A dual power train just costs more --- both initially and in terms of maintenance. There is no way around this. It is also a drag on efficiency --- for both long and short trips.
On short trips, the electric power train has to drag around the ICE components. On a long trip, the ICE has to drag around the electric components.
This strategy leaves the competition with a clear path to produce a lighter, more efficient, less expensive alternative.
Any sort of battery breakthrough will kill this hybrid strategy. Rather than promoting or leading this breakthrough, Toyota is effectively betting against it --- primarily for cultural reasons rather than technological ones in my opinion.
The same trend exists for all other cars that have both PHEV and BEV models.
> On short trips, the electric power train has to drag around the ICE components. On a long trip, the ICE has to drag around the electric components.
The same could be said about BEV and the extra weight, amounting to hundreds of unnecessary pounds being towed, which by the way weighs more than ICE components than a PHEV. (in the case of the Kiro Niro, the plug-in hybrid components add 250 pounds compared to ICE, and the Niro BEV adds a whopping 700 pounds extra compared to ICE. In other words, the BEV differential from PHEV adds more than from ICE to PHEV).
The amount of FUD surrounding PHEV every time it's mentioned really is amazing.
Based on what? A Kiro Niro PHEV is cheaper than a Kiro Niro BEV.
Based on the simple fact that battery costs are rapidly trending downward as production ramps up --- while ICE components are not following a similar trend.
ok then. I look forward to the $15K brand new electric cars in 5 years (per your other comment), lol. I've saved your comment here. it'll be nice for a laugh in 2028.
I don't need to wait 5 years to laugh --- electric cars don't have to cost $15K to be cheaper than PHEV. A Chevy Bolt EV is already cheaper than some Toyota PHEV.
ICE cars had an electric motor, a battery and an alternator since the earlier 20th century. Without those they were not very practical and required the driver to manually crank to start the engine. PHEV do not add a second power train, they just have a beefier electric system than a regular car and a charger.
no you're wrong. Tesla is cutting their prices because their margin is the highest and therefore they have fat to cut. I guarantee you the cheapest ICE will be cheaper than the cheapest BEV. Even right now the cheapest ICE is half the cost than the cheapest BEV. If you think BEV is going to go down half in cost in the next 5 years IDK what to say.
even now, after price costs, a Model 3 is more expensive than nearly all PHEVs
