Self Charging Hybrid benefits??

Stubod

I understand the Atkinson cycle, just wondering if it is "switchable" anyway why bother with the extra complexity of a battery and additional motor?

As above, all this extra electro-mechanical complexity just adds to manufacturing costs and longer term maintenance costs. (Assuming it can be "maintained/repaired" over the longer term?)

To me it still seems to point to arbitrary targets and marketing hype.

Plus

HansOndabush said:

If you are looking at secondhand hybrids, then imho, the likely maintenance and repair costs of the extremely complex systems and poor access to components more than nullifies any economy saving from actual driving. (just like old gas boilers that go on forever whereas the new 'efficient' ones cost more in repairs/replacement than you save on fuel)

Actually, hybrids are more reliable than conventional vehicles. There are many Prius taxis that have done more than 200K miles without major repairs being needed (I think the record is about 600K miles).  The reason is that the engine is operated in that narrow range, meaning it's worked much less hard. Regen means the brakes need changing less often (although watch for rusty brake discs on early models). CVT means there's no clutch to change, there's no cambelt, no DPF, no adblue.

Somewhere around 200K (especially on a taxi that's done lots of stop-start) a new hybrid battery may be needed, but those are about £1K - that's in 'major repair' territory like a new DPF. Many cars don't get as far as 200K so this cost is not something you're likely to face in regular motoring.

Hybrids aren't Morris Minors, but I don't think they're a lot different to service compared with other modern cars. Most of the servicing is the regular stuff - tyres, oil, filters, exhausts, suspension, etc, that doesn't depend on the drivetrain.

gzoom

Stubod said:

I understand the Atkinson cycle, just wondering if it is "switchable" anyway why bother with the extra complexity of a battery and additional motor?

As above, all this extra electro-mechanical complexity just adds to manufacturing costs and longer term maintenance costs. (Assuming it can be "maintained/repaired" over the longer term?)

To me it still seems to point to arbitrary targets and marketing hype.

Toyota hybrids are some of the most reliable cars ever made, far more reliable than a TDI with turbos. DPFs and clutches.

gzoom

HansOndabush said:

If you are looking at secondhand hybrids, then imho, the likely maintenance and repair costs of the extremely complex systems and poor access to components more than nullifies any economy saving from actual driving. (just like old gas boilers that go on forever whereas the new 'efficient' ones cost more in repairs/replacement than you save on fuel)

Toyota hybrids are amounts the most reliable used cars around.

 https://www.buyacar.co.uk/cars/used-cars/1759/most-reliable-second-hand-cars