Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/04/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Simon Ogilvie wrote: >On 4/22/05, Jacques Bilinski <jbilin@axionet.com> wrote: > > >>This only makes sense if you do a lot of short trips. I've heard the >>total energy storage of the Prius' battery is equivalent to only 1/2 >>pint of gasoline. >> >> > >The batteries in the Prius are charged by the braking system, or from >the petrol engine. The electric engine is most efficient at low revs >ie. for starting up after having stopped, or just after braking. (The >petrol engine is least efficient at low revs). So the batteries don't >need to store a lot of charge as they get what charge they need just >before they need it. > > > Yes, what you say is true. I was responding to the statement that some people are plugging their hybrids to the mains to charge their batteries. My point is that with the Prius doing so only adds the equivalent energy of 1/2 pint of gasoline when the battery is totally discharged, which it usually isn't.