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Old 01-31-2007, 10:08 AM
TeeSter TeeSter is offline
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Real Name: Tim
Hybrids: 2006 Escape 4WD
Posts: 1,250
Default Re: New Silverado Hybrid Owner

Quote:
Originally Posted by CGameProgrammer View Post
Yes, you got the two terms backwards. A series hybrid is one in which the electric motor alone directly drives the wheels, with the engine/generator supplying power to the motor. A parallel hybrid is one in which the engine always, or nearly always, directly drives the wheels, with an electric motor supplying additional motive force.

All Honda hybrids are parallel hybrids. All Toyota and Ford hybrids are primarily series hybrids, but with elements of parallel hybrids. I guess you'd call them hybrid hybrids. Trains are pure series hybrids; the engine never drives the wheels. But in Toyotas and Fords, the engine can directly drive the wheels, but it doesn't most of the time as far as I understand.
Most of the time there is some electric assist. However unlike the Hondas (as far as I know) the Escape can go up to about 40MPH on pure electric with the engine completely off. As far as I know the Hondas need the engine on to move at all.
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