Hybrid Cars

[Cicero]

What happens if you do not charge the hybrid car, will it not work or drive good?

So for instance the new Lincoln MKZ Hybrid gets 45 MPG. What would happen to the MPG if you don't charge it? How long can a single charge last for and how often should it be charged? How long do hybrid cars take to charge? Could you damage the engine if you don't charge the car for long periods of time?


These questions are for Hybrids in general. If you can get me specifics for the MKZ that would deserve a +rep.

[Boss...]

The batteries charge while the engine is running. The engine turns a generator that charges the battery as you drive. So there is no need to charge it, it charges its self. But the batteries will have to be replaced every few years, 5-8, and that is not cheap. It is cheaper to drive an "old" 6 cyl. and keep it running, than tring to to mantian a new hybrid or electric car.

[cianmg]

Yeah it wouldnt be cheaper to keep a 6 cylinder the hybrid pays for its self by high mpg. Also plug in hybrids like the volt need to be plugged in and charged to get the best econamy .alot of us hybrids cost a lot new but if you consider a prius lets say over a cruze they make alot of sence. Although small diesal engines are more effeciant outside town

[Infidelitas]

If you're buying a Hybrid just for the fuel efficiency, you're wasting your time. There are more fuel efficient cars out there that cost a lot less. (Ford Fiesta econetic for example)

[RElk]

We have chrarging stations at work for electric vehicles. I hear it's pretty expensive to use. I personally wouldn't drive one.

[KingDolphin]

If you're concerned about a more economical car, buy a diesel. Cars with tons of heavy laptop batteries are useless and not an acceptable replacement for fossil fuel driven motor vehicles. Some costs you must throw in to the mix are that electric car batteries must be replaced every 70,000, or 80,000 miles and they cost a few grand a pop, I don't know about the MKZ, but for the Chevy Volt you must buy the charging station which is somewhere around $5K or $6K. Of course it is up to you, I am quite biased about hybrid, and full electric vehicles because I am a car fanatic. Putting my pride aside I would also never endanger myself by driving an electric car because of the potential serious health problems that can arise from driving around in a mobile microwave, although they are rare. But like someone said before, there are better options out there if you're strictly going for fuel economy, and diesel engines have come very far.

[IAMWILL]

Not to mention that the environmental damage done by building the cars and disposing of the batteries per car is more than you will ever regain over any other car ever made. Hybrids are a scam if they are trying to save the environment. A small diesel or gas engine is a much better choice. I don't think I'll ever own a hybrid. I've accepted that I will pay for gas a lot if it means I can have a big V8 or more in my car, and I plan on being wealthy enough to afford paying a lot for gas haha.

[Steve Jobs]

There are a difference in Hybrid systems too. I'm quite a fan of the German and French systems, for example Pug's wheel-mounted electric motors hardly weigh a feather and add a good amount of torque that effectively transforms a standard front-drive car to a punchy all wheel drive... car?

I haven't been convinced about this whole Plug-in Hybrid thing. The road network obviously lacks the infrastructure for this to be even worth considering. Same with electric cars - you can't go on a road trip, and if your batteries ever fail - a lot of these technologies are essentially up-scaled from our laptop and phone batteries which tend to give up on us as soon as 1-3 years of use.

If you commute a lot and want to save gas, learn to drive better, take good care of your car. Buy a nice diesel and learn to drive stick.