Consumer Reports shares insights about electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) from its latest reliability survey, including the most reliable electric car.
I actually take issue with how that article characterized HEVs; the Toyota Synergy (planetary) drive system is frankly ingenious in how SIMPLE it is. I would argue it’s actually much simpler than a complex, 9- or 10-speed torque-converter based AT these days. I tell people if you want a gas-powered appliance, just get a (Toyota-style) hybrid nowadays.
I actually take issue with how that article characterized HEVs; the Toyota Synergy (planetary) drive system is frankly ingenious in how SIMPLE it is. I would argue it’s actually much simpler than a complex, 9- or 10-speed torque-converter based AT these days. I tell people if you want a gas-powered appliance, just get a (Toyota-style) hybrid nowadays.
Yeah conventional automatic transmissions are clockwork nightmares, a pair of electric motors and a single-speed overdrive gear are way simpler.
Honda’s system is basically like someone shrunk a diesel-electric train transmission and replaced the resistor bank with a battery.