Newer Vehicles and Technology
- Thread starter Beth Gallagher
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Tony Nathanson
Well-known member
Since retiring, I only drive 6,000 miles/year. I bought my first hybrid five years ago - Honda Accord. At first, I thought about the batteries not being charged enough & being stuck somewhere but after reading the manual, I learned that can't happen. When the batteries get too low, the car automatically switches to gas only power & keeps the charge high. There are 10 square indicator bars on the dash that indicate the charge level. When it gets down to two bars, the car automatically switches to gas only. I have gone 4 days without driving & the indicator always shows 3-4 bars. On gas only, the MPG goes down to 45. In city driving, I average 52 mpg in warm weather, 48 mpg in winter. Impressive for a mid-size car.
Hybrids are really the way to go. The push for EV-only has an agenda that has nothing to do with fuel or the environment.
My daughter bought one of the Mini-Coopers, which is a hybrid, and she just loves it ! Now, it has been sitting in her garage since she is still working in the Netherlands, but whenever she is home, it is always ready to go.
It can plug in to charge, but also charges when she is driving and using gasoline for fuel, at least that is what I think. It is small, and a perfect size for her.
She has had it for several years now, but ordered it specifically with the color she wanted and everything she wanted it to have.
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Beth Gallagher
Well-known member
Of course the battery is getting charged while the engine is running. My issue is that I drive about 2000 miles/year so the engine isn't running very often. It is not good for any vehicle to sit too much, and the newer vehicles have too much computerized stuff that puts parasitic drains on the 12 volt battery. Hybrids are wonderful for people who need them. I don't need them.
Beth Gallagher
Well-known member
The difference is the plug-in hybrid versus the regular hybrid. My CRV was a regular hybrid.
"A standard hybrid uses a gas engine and small electric motor to maximize fuel efficiency. It self-charges through regenerative braking. A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) has a much larger battery. It can be plugged into a power source to drive 20 to 50 miles purely on electricity before defaulting to standard hybrid mode."
That is the main reason I keep a conditioner on my monthly-driven truck. Then when I had some electrical work done on the truck, I was driving it as my primary vehicle during the warranty period and the battery in my Mazda died. So I bought a conditioner for it as well. A subordinate benefit is that conditioners greatly extend the life of lead acid batteries.
I know that Mazda came out with an EV that included a small gas powered wankel motor charger that was solely used to keep the batteries charged. I have no idea how it worked, how much gas it consumed, if there were range limitations, etc.
Beth Gallagher
Well-known member
It seems that Mazda's hybrids use Toyota technology, or at least they used to. Toyota was the leader in hybrid tech for many years and they still are considered the best.
My current Honda has an AGM battery, as did the Cadillac I bought in 2024. I bought the CTEK battery charger/maintainer that has a setting for AGM batteries. I believe all new cars with the auto start/stop have AGM batteries, which I know nothing about.
Toyota owns about 5% of Mazda stock. They have had a long-term relationship, with--as you said--Mazda using Toyota's EV technology. They recently opened a joint manufacturing facility in Alabama (Huntsville if I recall correctly.)
AGM batteries are Absorbed Glass Material. So rather than the electrolyte floating around as it does in the old style lead acid batteries, it's contained in the AGM, like a sponge. This means that AGM batteries can be mounted sideways and the electrolyte will not leak out. I read about this stuff when researching conditioners and wondered if they make conditioners for multiple-battery hybrids/EV...but those are lithium batteries, which are way different than lead acid. Lithiums don't need to be reconditioned as lead acid batteries do.
Lots of battery technology out there. 50 years ago I used to install security systems in office buildings, and we used small rechargeable gel cell batteries. They are still made, but I don't know what the applications are.
Mary Stetler
Well-known member
I have watched minis with interest for years. I must say I chuckled when they had cargo doors on one model.
I had an Austin Healey back in the days of the original Austin Mini Cooper:I have watched minis with interest for years. I must say I chuckled when they had cargo doors on one model.
