Hybrid Honda Fit - April 2007?!

[Crotchety Old Man]

Hints and rumours (http://autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060227/FREE/60227001&Profile=1041) of the lowest price and most efficient hybrid yet - The Honda Fit Hybrid.

[FastFokker]

Someone PM Canuck2005 about this wonderful Honda product. :lol:

[Piro21]

I don't see how it would make sense for such a small vehicle to be a candidate for hybridization. Bigger, heavier vehicles would gain more benefit from being a hybrid because they would naturally waste a lot of energy simply starting and stopping, whereas a smaller vehicle wouldn't waste nearly as much and would gain next to no benefit from having two motors. Is this right or am I missing something?

[FastFokker]

Is this right or am I missing something?I think you have a more than valid point.. it's very likely easy to prove scientifically as well (for those scientists on RFD who care).

One problem that comes to my mind is people who buy big vehicles with big engines, want a big vehicle with a big engine and don't want a "greenpeace hippy" hybrid vehicle.

It's a sort of social stigma.. that hybrid means weak or powerless or whatever.. it's something that will be worked out with in time. But today is today.

[otaque]

While not disproving your points, hybrids are the most beneficial in stop-and-go traffic typical in cities. That's just where you'd expect these compact cars to do best in sales.

[FastFokker]

While not disproving your points, hybrids are the most beneficial in stop-and-go traffic typical in cities. That's just where you'd expect these compact cars to do best in sales.You are referring specifically to hybrids with regenerative braking, I presume?

Otherwise, I'm not so sure about what you say.. it takes such little energy to keep a vehicle cruising at speed, that a hybrid could very well be just as beneficial to highway drivers as stop`n go'ers.

[v1perfan]

Someone PM Canuck2005 about this wonderful Honda product. :lol:

Lol. Don't poke the bear, FastFokker.

[xien0n]

Honda should realize that for people to buy Hybrids, they have to look distinctive so people will buy them to show off. From what I remember, the sales for the Hybrid Accord and Civic are less than 1/10 of the sales of the Prius. People buy hybrids to make a point to others, not just to save gas.

[gordholio]

At this point, it's not economical to buy a hybrid car.
If the price came down, it might be.

[GangStarr]

Someone PM Canuck2005 about this wonderful Honda product. :lol:
your are litterally making me LOL

[Ojam]

your are litterally making me LOL

how is he making fun of you? Did I miss something?

[gei]

You are referring specifically to hybrids with regenerative braking, I presume?

Otherwise, I'm not so sure about what you say.. it takes such little energy to keep a vehicle cruising at speed, that a hybrid could very well be just as beneficial to highway drivers as stop`n go'ers.

Hybrids do indeed show the most efficiency improvement over gasoline engines in stop and go traffic. Reason being that it takes considerably more gas to start your car moving than it does to keep it moving. Electric engines usually have a very high torque to hp ratio, and are known for providing excellent acceleration... and in a hybrid it takes very little gas to get a car moving because most of the work is done by the electric engine.

[gordholio]

Hybrids do indeed show the most efficiency improvement over gasoline engines in stop and go traffic. Reason being that it takes considerably more gas to start your car moving than it does to keep it moving. Electric engines usually have a very high torque to hp ratio, and are known for providing excellent acceleration... and in a hybrid it takes very little gas to get a car moving because most of the work is done by the electric engine.
It's all wonderful until you see the sticker price. :)