Featured EVs are not for everyone

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by bwilson4web, Feb 28, 2026.

Page 5 of 5
  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    114,606
    52,337
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    gas was $3.50 today, up from $2.75 when we got here. that's gonna cost us an extra $18.00 to drive home
     
    #81 bisco, Mar 8, 2026 at 8:23 PM
  2. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    12,654
    11,825
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    You just illustrated why BEVs are not for everyone. I assume you took the HyCam to Florida because your BEV would not make it without long charging layovers. That is where a PHEV like the RAV4 Prime or Plugin excels.

    My son commutes in EV but regularly does extra driving in hybrid mode when needed. IMHO there should be a Camry PHEV to compliment the current HEV.
     
    #82 Prodigyplace, Mar 9, 2026 at 7:02 AM
    hill and bwilson4web like this.
  3. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    12,654
    11,825
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    @bwilson4web I dislike the term EVs as being too general, especially when BEVs are meant.Perhaps update the thread title?

    Sometimes the term EVs encompass PHEVs and, sometimes, HEVS. At other times they do not. For instance, our power company has a special program for EVs. They restrict their definition to just Tesla BEVs.
     
    #83 Prodigyplace, Mar 9, 2026 at 9:51 AM
  4. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    28,856
    16,348
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    I appreciate the concern but I meant the general case as I have both a BEV only Tesla with NACS and PHEV BMW with CCS-1. I am interested in any vehicle that can get miles from grid or solar via J1772, CCS-1, and/or J3400 socket. That also includes my former, first model year Prius Prime.

    Let me suggest, posting a topic sentence followed but the supporting description. I’ll post an example.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #84 bwilson4web, Mar 9, 2026 at 10:28 AM
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2026 at 10:37 AM
    Prodigyplace likes this.
  5. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    21,339
    8,909
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2018 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    Premium
    EVs are not for everyone? Even all these newfangled abbreviated pugin letters are not for everyone
     
    #85 hill, Mar 9, 2026 at 10:43 AM
  6. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    28,856
    16,348
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    PHEV come in these flavors:
    • Hybrid with a plug - has a transmission passing mechanical power from engine to wheels. For example my former 2017 Prius Prime.
    • Range extender - no engine to wheel power transmission but more accurately called a serial hybrid. Mechanical to generator and generator to batter+motor drive. For example, my 2017 BMW i3 REx.
    IMHO, a practical PHEV needs 2-3 times the 90% daily drive miles and a hard the EV only mode. The reason is the “warm-up” penalty should only be paid once under driver control.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #86 bwilson4web, Mar 9, 2026 at 10:51 AM
    Prodigyplace likes this.
  7. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    12,654
    11,825
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    I thought the range extender was generally called a BEV variant. IIRC, the i3-Rex is the only vehicle in that category.
     
    #87 Prodigyplace, Mar 9, 2026 at 11:28 AM
    bwilson4web likes this.
  8. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    21,339
    8,909
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2018 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    Premium
    Doesn't ANY vehicle get its range extended by one fuel source or the other, if the vehicle can run exclusively on one fuel or the other?
     
    #88 hill, Mar 9, 2026 at 11:48 AM
  9. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    28,856
    16,348
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    You bring up a good point that vehicle labels are easy to confuse. Not interested in semantic issues, I try to concentrate on the technical strengths a weakness. Then there were the old “mild” hybrids … a complete marketing fraud.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #89 bwilson4web, Mar 9, 2026 at 2:22 PM
    hill and bisco like this.
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    114,606
    52,337
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Exactly. The bolt is our commuter. If we only had one car, it would be a rav4 prime, or similar.
    Camry probably doesn’t have room for the battery, but before I lost interest in them, I felt the same way
     
    #90 bisco, Mar 9, 2026 at 2:50 PM
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    114,606
    52,337
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I remember the controversy about what to call the volt system :p
     
    #91 bisco, Mar 9, 2026 at 3:01 PM
    Trollbait and Prodigyplace like this.
  12. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    12,654
    11,825
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    I believe the newer Toyota trucks such as the Tundra are something other than a traditional hybrid too.
     
    #92 Prodigyplace, Mar 9, 2026 at 3:05 PM
  13. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    12,654
    11,825
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    What is your distance car? a HyCam?
     
    #93 Prodigyplace, Mar 9, 2026 at 3:06 PM
  14. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    12,654
    11,825
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    True, but the range extender motor specifically cannot add to the vehicle's propulsion directly. It can only charge the battery, and the US limits that amount too.
     
    #94 Prodigyplace, Mar 9, 2026 at 3:07 PM
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    114,606
    52,337
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Yes
     
    #95 bisco, Mar 9, 2026 at 3:28 PM
    Prodigyplace likes this.
  16. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    23,597
    12,662
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    The US doesn't limit it. CARB put a limit on a subset like the i3 REx which is voluntary. BMW wanted more ZEV credits for the model than what it would get under the plug in designation.
     
    #96 Trollbait, Mar 9, 2026 at 8:18 PM
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 5 of 5