Self-charging Hybrid car (Motability)
Discussion
I have a hugely disabled brother-in-law. 61 years old, mental age below a 1 year old. Has needed full-time care since being 6yrs old, including time in an 'asylum' where he was placed in a straight-jacket for being 'naughty' (he still wraps his arms around his body when anxious because of that, 40+ years later).
He's in a far far better place now, largely thanks to medication. But still has absolutely no capacity whatsoever and lives in care (Supported Living)
He has had a Motability car for 10-15yrs so his carers can take him out, especially to go hill-walking which he loves. His car needs replacing and the 60 year old Supported Living House Manager is going shopping like it's Christmas, she is pushing for a Hybrid (self-charging rather than PHEV) because "it will be better on fuel".
SO, a question if I may oh PH oracles..... Is a self-charging hybrid effective? Or is it just a heavier car that will never really use electric power? Especially as it will be used by carers with no mechanical sympathy, no understanding of 'looking after a car' or the economics of driving a car.
My 84yr old dad has a PHEV, and a tank of petrol lasts him over 2,000 miles as all his journeys are under his car's range, but a PHEV is not an option here as there are no charging facilities, and bluntly, the carers will never remember to plug it in.
He's in a far far better place now, largely thanks to medication. But still has absolutely no capacity whatsoever and lives in care (Supported Living)
He has had a Motability car for 10-15yrs so his carers can take him out, especially to go hill-walking which he loves. His car needs replacing and the 60 year old Supported Living House Manager is going shopping like it's Christmas, she is pushing for a Hybrid (self-charging rather than PHEV) because "it will be better on fuel".
SO, a question if I may oh PH oracles..... Is a self-charging hybrid effective? Or is it just a heavier car that will never really use electric power? Especially as it will be used by carers with no mechanical sympathy, no understanding of 'looking after a car' or the economics of driving a car.
My 84yr old dad has a PHEV, and a tank of petrol lasts him over 2,000 miles as all his journeys are under his car's range, but a PHEV is not an option here as there are no charging facilities, and bluntly, the carers will never remember to plug it in.
The only hybrid I have driven is an MG3 Hybrid that I borrowed when Zipcar were around. Driving locally I managed to get high 60s MPG and it seemed to run on battery power a lot more than I thought.
I can't get an EV as I have nowhere to charge it so I am seriously considering a Hybrid once my current car dies.
I can't get an EV as I have nowhere to charge it so I am seriously considering a Hybrid once my current car dies.
For this use case, I think a self-charging hybrid (particularly a Toyota hybrid, as they're the most proven type) would be a good choice, assuming there's a model that can cater for your BIL's access needs.
They're very easy to drive, as economical as an efficient diesel car (but less costly to fuel with current petrol vs diesel prices), aren't significantly heavier than an equivalent-sized normal ICE vehicle, and they decide when to go into electric mode themselves without any intervention from the driver. You just treat it/drive it as you would an ICE vehicle. The Toyota self-charging hybrid drivetrain is highly reliable too.
They're very easy to drive, as economical as an efficient diesel car (but less costly to fuel with current petrol vs diesel prices), aren't significantly heavier than an equivalent-sized normal ICE vehicle, and they decide when to go into electric mode themselves without any intervention from the driver. You just treat it/drive it as you would an ICE vehicle. The Toyota self-charging hybrid drivetrain is highly reliable too.
My friend has a Honda ZRV Hybrid that seems to self-charge.
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Edit: He has this as a Motability car with hand controls. Quite fun to be able to drive with the whirly-gig steering wheel spinner and accelerate and brake with the other hand.
He did say that it was the base model for 1.5k deposit, and the next level up was 3k deposit.
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Edit: He has this as a Motability car with hand controls. Quite fun to be able to drive with the whirly-gig steering wheel spinner and accelerate and brake with the other hand.
He did say that it was the base model for 1.5k deposit, and the next level up was 3k deposit.
Edited by vikingaero on Wednesday 11th November 12:29
My mother has a Yaris and it will switch to electric in urban traffic and low speed driving. I'm pretty sure she's averaging well over 60mpg from it. The battery only gives it a few km range, so isn't huge, and Toyotas hybrid setup is actually less complicated than a petrol auto.
I have the bigger engine version of the same system in a PHEV and even with the battery depleted (i.e. down to the last whatever percent it holds in reserve to un in Hybrid mode) it will spend quite a lot of time on electric mode.
No idea how other brands compare for reliability and economy the Toyota hybrid system is very good.
"Mild" hybrids on the other hand just use a small battery and a beefed up starter motor to give a tiny boost to acceleration and seem pretty pointless to me.
I have the bigger engine version of the same system in a PHEV and even with the battery depleted (i.e. down to the last whatever percent it holds in reserve to un in Hybrid mode) it will spend quite a lot of time on electric mode.
No idea how other brands compare for reliability and economy the Toyota hybrid system is very good.
"Mild" hybrids on the other hand just use a small battery and a beefed up starter motor to give a tiny boost to acceleration and seem pretty pointless to me.
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Wednesday 11th November 12:51
I was test driving a Honda CRV Hybrid (self charging) the other day and when at 70mph I could actually see the traction battery visibly charging up, so I reckon mixed journeys would be no problem for it.
However, at the moment I would advice against a CRV as I've come across a worrying issue with their brake system. Honda Brakes Fail
However, at the moment I would advice against a CRV as I've come across a worrying issue with their brake system. Honda Brakes Fail
Edited by ninjag on Wednesday 11th November 12:43
Another vote for a Toyota Hybrid.
We have a Prius and we are very impressed with how it drives and the economy we get from it.
Given the fact that they use a CVT gearbox, you are not in control of where the power comes from, this means that there is no way the engine/gearbox can be abused, the car just won't allow it.
Ours is 12 years old, albeit low mileage and it is super smooth, uses battery quite a lot in town which makes it very quiet and relaxing as well.
The Toyota Hybrid system has now been around for 25+ years so is well proven and unlikely to go wrong.
We have a Prius and we are very impressed with how it drives and the economy we get from it.
Given the fact that they use a CVT gearbox, you are not in control of where the power comes from, this means that there is no way the engine/gearbox can be abused, the car just won't allow it.
Ours is 12 years old, albeit low mileage and it is super smooth, uses battery quite a lot in town which makes it very quiet and relaxing as well.
The Toyota Hybrid system has now been around for 25+ years so is well proven and unlikely to go wrong.
The Corolla self-charging hybrids are great value, and easily achieve 60+mpg. Nothing to worry about, just put petrol in and the car works out when to use the petrol or electric motors.
There's no gearbox or clutch to wear out, so can be driven by anyone flat out and roughly without worry about repair bills.
Have it serviced by Toyota and there is a 100k mile full warranty.
The only way to harm them is to run them completely out of fuel, so that the hybrid battery pack is then flattened and the car stops. Requires a special charger to get the hybrid battery going again. There are only a few in the country and passed between dealers when needed.
Even that is difficult, as empty on the fuel gauge and 0 miles range showing still has over a gallon of fuel left as a secret reserve.
There's no gearbox or clutch to wear out, so can be driven by anyone flat out and roughly without worry about repair bills.
Have it serviced by Toyota and there is a 100k mile full warranty.
The only way to harm them is to run them completely out of fuel, so that the hybrid battery pack is then flattened and the car stops. Requires a special charger to get the hybrid battery going again. There are only a few in the country and passed between dealers when needed.
Even that is difficult, as empty on the fuel gauge and 0 miles range showing still has over a gallon of fuel left as a secret reserve.
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