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Modified Prius gets up to 180 Miles Per Gallon
shupp writes "The NY Times (free reg. required) reports in that some folks are not content with the no-plug-in rule that both Honda and Toyota endorse. By modifying a Prius so that it can be plugged in, Ron Gremban of CalCars states 'I've gotten anywhere from 65 to over 100 miles per gallon'. The article also reports that 'EnergyCS, a small company that has collaborated with CalCars, has modified another Prius with more sophisticated batteries; they claim their Prius gets up to 180 mpg, and can travel more than 30 miles on battery power.'"
The only reason I do not purchase a hybrid car, is that those things do not have the ooomph of raw gasoline powered vehicles. I remember the article posted a while back, about the electric race car, and I understand that electric motors give instant torque--but that's why you either drop the clutch or torque break your hotrod. I do not forsee a reasonable future, where an electric car, with todays technology, can be purchased comparitevly to a powerful gasoline car. Some people do not like to go fast, that's fine, many others do. While I do not make my GTO raise up like in 'Fast and the Furious', the capability assures me that I can get up and go in a timely manner. Another important factor is the fact you can dramatically increase horsepower in a gasoline engine AND reduce overall weight. To increase power in an electric car, you have to ADD significant weight countering any improvements--batteries are very heavy, carry a Sears car battery through the parking lot. Electric cars are not a viable solution, unless they can find a way to produce the electricty within the same weight of a gasoline engine (which some cars, their engines are so small and made of aluminum, that the average person can hand pick the engine out of the car.) Until then, the average electric car will always be inferior to gasoline power. Just my opinion.
It's not even Size that does it, it's more of a desire to be marketed to better than anything else. The bigger stuff is easier to market granted, but marketing is the bottom line. If Bush started driving a Prius, all the rednecks would try it out too, tricking them out for their NASCAR tracks.
Saskboy's blog is good. 9 out of 10 dentists agree.
What bollocks. I'll bet a pound to a penny you use your SUV to drive through at McDonalds and take the kids to school just like every other fat-arsed, slack-jawed American imbecile.
That was classic intercourse!
That reminds me of the old joke:
"Hitler killed 6 million jews and one clown"
"Why the clown?"
"See! Nobody thinks of the Jews anymore!"
Why are there so *many* dipsh*ts like you on /. ? If you have solar or wind power you don't need to plug into the grid. But that probably escaped your 13 yr old skull just like the remnants of your grow operation from your bong.