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Originally Posted by eeyore  you could get a very stylish push bike 
joking aside i can see your point - the design consultants obviously had the day off when the prius was conceived. Part of the problem is that hybrids need to accomodate serious battery storage and an electric drive system alongside the petrol engine which needs a lot of space and thus compromises design away from sleek and stylish. It also tend to do away with convertibility because the space the roof would fold into is taken up by battery.
that said you could fit a hybrid system into a retro jag shell or something like that , they dont because i would suspect the target market for hybrids isnt that style conscious. |
Check out a Honda Civic! The batteries are fitted into the rear seat backrest and take up no extra space. The electric motor is only 60mm wide and sits on the end of the crankshaft. Also, it's not just about Engine or Battery. Lift your foot off the gas pedal and the valves close, letting the engine 'freewheel'.
Here's a brief description..........
Keith.
The i-DSI engine uses three-stage i-VTEC valve control to achieve a combination of responsive driving and fuel economy. The valves are controlled by three hydraulic pathways, which couple/uncouple five rocker arm assemblies. During deceleration idle time, combustion in all four cylinders is stopped and each pot is sealed shut. This means the engine is not working as hard to pump fuel or air, so it's immediately more efficient. When the car comes to a halt, the engine stops. Take your foot off the brake — the engine starts, and away you go.
Also, while the car is slowing down the Civic Hybrid's electric motor recovers energy generated through braking and uses it to charge the on-board battery.
The technology used to shut the cylinders, VCM (which stands for Variable Cylinder Management), is also used to shut all four cylinders when only little torque is required — during low speed cruising, for example. In this mode power comes from the electric motor only, with the pistons running idle.