Time-The big boys are starting to show their toys
Popular Science, MAR 98,pg 72 "Hybrids Get Real", Car & Driver, MAR 98, Toyota Prius Minitest, Motor Trend, APR 98, Trends pg 20, Intrepid ESX2 pg 52:
Toyota Prius (on sale in Japan now) 68mpg. gas/electric reduces emmissions by 90%. climbs hills very slowly. Loses fuel efficiency with air conditioner on. Gas engine kicks in at above 12 mph. Poor braking in the rain and braking is difficult at all times, but Toyota says this will be improved. Car & Driver test resulted in 61 mpg at constant 62 mph cruising speed. mpg dropped to 21 mpg at 93 mph on hilly roads. Price 17,000 US, Toyota plans to make 1000 per month (some will be sold here and Toyota started advertising the Prius this month) and they admit that they will lose $$$ on each one sold. 91 cu in gas engine (1496 cc). Battery is nickel-metal hybide. 0-60 mph takes 14 seconds.Toyota plans on selling the model with continuous variable automatic transmission.
Chrysler Intrepid ESX2 (looks like a kidney bean and is probably not sellable as a result). Expected BUT NOT PROVEN to yield 70 mpg...even though Chrysler has a working model they have only run computer simulations (my question is why not real tests?.... unless it isn't ready). Current test model has a drag coefficient of 0.19 which most sedans have a .29- hence the funny kidney bean appearance. the engine is a direct diesel hybrid 1.5-liter, three cylinder diesel (74 horsepower), plus a 20 horse Delphi electrical . the car also employs an impractical moveable chin spoiler to achieve its aerodynamics. The electrical motor is fueled with a 133 lb nickel-metal hybride battery motor. Chrysler is working on costs and expects to sell the new Intrepid for $35,000 US, the current production costs are substantially higher. Chrysler is looking at plastic, few piece bodies to lower costs. The car weighs 2250 instead of the usual 3450 of the 98 Intrepid. Chrysler uses a 5-speed transmission because an automatic would lose 7% more energy loss. 0-60 mph is computer estimated at 12 seconds.
Ford P2000, Honda J-VX continued.
The Alaskan |
