Hybrid Tech's future

[lurch70]

Was having a chat this weekend with a few family members who are all in the market for cars / trucks in the immediate and near future and mentioned to them that I am wanting to pickup a Hybrid Maverick.

One of them posed an interesting question ... while hybrid tech has been around for quite awhile now, not many automakers have jumped on it and is there even a future for it with the 100% electric everything revolution in full swing?

For me it would make sense as 90% of my driving is under 25mph in congested NYC and would give me great fuel economy but it got me thinking
What is the future of hybrid if any once electric prices creep down.

What are your thoughts?

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[Red Ryder]

I'm not ready (as are many) to deep-dive into all-electric. If I choose a spontaneous drive to the coast, I don't want the logistical issue of planning charge stops. Nor do I want to install home charging infrastructure now as I believe it is still non-standard and evolutionary - subject to rapid change.

IC vehicles are here for a while, the Maverick is a way for me to dip my toes into the electric vehicle world without the plunge.

 

[BobThaBuilder]

I think Plug In hybrids will become popular until people are ready for the full electric. If you don't need to tow things, the full battery electrics are much more convenient than most people think. I've had gas, diesel, hybrid, plug in hybrid, and full electric. Plug in hybrid would put most people on 100% electric 95% of the time. I only put gas in mine a couple times a year. I'm now full electric and don't find any downside. I'm here waiting for Ford to release a full electric version of the Maverick. It would be their best seller, easily.

 

[BobThaBuilder]

I'm not ready (as are many) to deep-dive into all-electric. If I choose a spontaneous drive to the coast, I don't want the logistical issue of planning charge stops. Nor do I want to install home charging infrastructure now as I believe it is still non-standard and evolutionary - subject to rapid change.

IC vehicles are here for a while, the Maverick is a way for me to dip my toes into the electric vehicle world without the plunge.

I think this is where a lot of people are. It is a decent stepping stone that has some benefit to gas costs. Related note: unless you are driving more than 30 or 40 miles every day, a normal 110 outlet covers 95% charging-- it isn't a popular opinion, but I'll tell you that I've had an electric for 2 years and still haven't bothered putting in a higher amperage outlet. Best bet, if you ever do, is to just install a welding or dryer outlet. You can get chargers or adapters from that to any electric on the road.

 

[ThisWas]

while hybrid tech has been around for quite awhile now, not many automakers have jumped on it

That's a good point!

Not too many automakers make hybrid vehicles, except some of the smaller manufacturers like Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, etc etc etc.

 

[lurch70]

Oh I agree with most of you and this is why I am leaning hybrid also ... gas savings while dipping toes into electric driving without the need to charge.

My question is more about the future of the hybrid technology? Do you think it has a future, as it seems it didn't have much of an uptick over the years in automakers adopting it.

 

[Red Ryder]

I think this is where a lot of people are. It is a decent stepping stone that has some benefit to gas costs. Related note: unless you are driving more than 30 or 40 miles every day, a normal 110 outlet covers 95% charging-- it isn't a popular opinion, but I'll tell you that I've had an electric for 2 years and still haven't bothered putting in a higher amperage outlet. Best bet, if you ever do, is to just install a welding or dryer outlet. You can get chargers or adapters from that to any electric on the road.

Right. I work in a techy department of 12, of which there are six Teslas. Helped on one of those charger installs.

 

[Area51BS]

I’ve always said the easy to use and fuel vehicle has already been invented. What we are seeing now is attempts although good at replacing ICE. But I don’t think what is being done now is the future. Hybrid is out according to most because they say ICE is on the way out. I’d go for a hybrid. Not all electric at this point for me. I don’t want to sit in a parking lot of and hour charging.

 

[mleugene]

When I lived in a big city, I thought an all electric would be a great idea. The lower maintenance costs for a daily commute of less than 50 miles. I thought, the prices will eventually come down (they haven't) and they will become affordable. Then I moved back to rural Kansas and spent three years driving six miles to work, and 250 miles to get my parents to their doctors in the nearest metropolitan area. As gas prices continue to rise, a hybrid, for most of us in the middle of the US, is the middle ground.

 

[lurch70]

That's a good point!

Not too many automakers make hybrid vehicles, except some of the smaller manufacturers like Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, etc etc etc.

haha ok mr. sarcasm ... of course they are out there but will there be further investment in the hybrid tech?
For some vehiles like the Maverick it returns big fuel economy gains but in something like the F150 it still only gives you 23pmg tops.

 

[Snax]

The only benefit of gas over electric is driving range and “recharge” time. In other words, longer trips that require refueling. Since most people use the vehicles for shortish trips to work, errands, etc., electric is usually the best fit. I love my EV for 95% of my driving. But what to do about longer trips? I like what BMW did with the i3, where they added a gas-powered electric generator to extend range. Alas, it’s not that powerful, and range is still pretty limited. Until batteries can be charged quickly, which will probably eventually be a thing, I think that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles will be very popular. I would love a PHEV Maverick.

 

[lurch70]

The only benefit of gas over electric is driving range and “recharge” time. In other words, longer trips that require refueling. Since most people use the vehicles for shortish trips to work, errands, etc., electric is usually the best fit. I love my EV for 95% of my driving. But what to do about longer trips? I like what BMW did with the i3, where they added a gas-powered electric generator to extend range. Alas, it’s not that powerful, and range is still pretty limited. Until batteries can be charged quickly, which will probably eventually be a thing, I think that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles will be very popular. I would love a PHEV Maverick.

There is pretty fast charging already on the Hyunday ioniq 5 ... they claim 18 minutes to 80% ... I am sure there are some variables to that time, but still pretty damn impressive.

For me it's still the charging infrastructure in place for fully considering an electric vehicle. It's so odd because a place like NYC should be full of chargers everywhere but it's not. We have a house but no driveway so I can't even install one on our property.

 

[OleFordGuy]

If i was to guess I would think Hybrid future would be fine for quite awhile, at least it gives you options. For total electric, I'm not even remotely interested due to the state of charging infrastructure and the time it takes for recharging and the travel range. There's got to be some major improvements to battery technology to extend range at a reasonable price, weight, etc. Not interested in loosing my freedom to travel across our great country and not being constantly concerned am I going to be able to make it to the next charging station and then sitting there for hours to get to 80%. To He** with that, I can put appropriately safe gas cans full of fuel in the bed for times when there just not a gas station in remote areas. And I sure don't have any faith in our government to get charging stations blanketed throughout the country as they say. That's BS

 

[TSAINTS1115]

I would like to see a Hybrid than does all the driving on it's electric motor(s) but with a hyper-efficient fuel powered generator to charge the batteries when needed. That way mileage would be unlimited.
This current electric vehicle range and then needing a charge harkens back to the days before the building of the major highways when travelers would drive a few hundred miles and then call it a night. That's not me. If I'm am going on a trip to a specific destination I'm hammer down and rolling up the miles. 1000 a day is not uncommon and I've done much more than that at times.

 

[JBnorthTX]

I think Plug In hybrids will become popular until people are ready for the full electric. If you don't need to tow things, the full battery electrics are much more convenient than most people think. I've had gas, diesel, hybrid, plug in hybrid, and full electric. Plug in hybrid would put most people on 100% electric 95% of the time. I only put gas in mine a couple times a year. I'm now full electric and don't find any downside. I'm here waiting for Ford to release a full electric version of the Maverick. It would be their best seller, easily.

I agree about plug-in hybrids. If they offered Maverick version that's the way I would go. I'm out on EVs until the charging time and charging infrastructure improves.

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