On 11 Jan 2017 at 18:23, Robert Bruninga via EV wrote: > Since the Chevy Volt has the longest EV range of > every one of the 15 plug-in hybrids now on the market it diserves a very > definite distinctive nomenclature. > > All the other plug-in hybrids are basically hybrids with a slightly bigger > battery and on the order of only a single local errand for EV mileage.
Although lots of folks here disagree with me, I've argued for years, I think with justification, that the term "hybrid" has been widely misused. Until Toyota introduced the Prius and Honda the Insight, "hybrid" was well understood by EV specialists and hobbyists. It was a vehicle with two or more separate motive energy sources. Usually they were and are liquid fuel and electricity, but human-electric hybrids also exist. By that definition, the Volt is a true hybrid. The other so-called "hybrids" you're talking about don't fit the original definition. The non-plug Toyota Prius isn't a true hybrid. All the energy that makes it go comes from that gasoline you pump into the tank. It's a gas car with an electric torque converter and an electric supercharger. I don't know what it should be called, but as far as I'm concerned, hybrid isn't the right word. However, the plug-in Prius IS a true hybrid, because it DOES use two separate energy sources. "Hybrid" is even further off the mark for Honda Insight and its ilk, which AFAIK are still gas cars with conventional transmissions and electric superchargers I recognize that language evolves to be stronger and more effective, but I think that applying "hybrid" to vehicles that aren't doesn't serve anyone. As for the term "Compliance Car," Roger nailed it. It's an EV produced solely to comply with minimum-EV-sales laws. It's all about the manufacturer's intent. Typically a Compliance Car will be sold only in states that have those laws, won't be advertised much, and won't be state of the art -- but those are symptoms, not the disease. IMO, Compliance Cars are a form of passive aggression. A forward thinking automaker sees EV mandates as an opportunity (or an excuse to the shareholders!) to design for the future. A backward one sees them as an odious chore to be dealt with as cheaply as possible, in the most customer- unfriendly way possible. If a Compliance Car can be designed (or forced) to fail in the market, so much the better, since that failure will support the manufacturer's pre- conceived anti-EV notions and arguments. David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA EVDL Administrator = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = EVDL Information: http://www.evdl.org/help/ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Note: mail sent to "evpost" and "etpost" addresses will not reach me. To send a private message, please obtain my email address from the webpage http://www.evdl.org/help/ . = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
