

Edmunds test drives the new Prius









Updated 3/25/2009


Comments     Threshold


RE: Wow
By AnnihilatorX on 3/25/2009 10:01:01 AM , Rating: 3
The op you replied to used the word regenerate, not generate. I don't get the point you are saying the op is dumb.

Regenerative braking works by storing back, with a efficiency hit, the kinetic energy back as electrical energy. Of course everyone knows it's not 100% efficient. And energy is not created but obtained from the kinetic energy, which had to be transferred from either the battery or gas/petrol in the first place.

At city driving it is the battery that do most of the work towards efficiency. (A major reason for a electrical system in cars anyway is its ability to recoup energy from braking, and so act as a source of energy input). In highway the efficiency is determined solely by the efficiency of the engine itself.

That's the point of hybrid car. Improve city mileage by lessening impact of start and stop traffic, which petrol engine is not efficient at because of the lack of ability to regenerate from braking, and auto equally important, inefficient due to accelerating at a suboptimal engine rpm.

RE: Wow
By shin0bi272 on 3/25/2009 10:12:33 AM , Rating: 1
the law of conservation of energy that energy can never be created or destroyed only change forms...

RE: Wow
By invidious on 3/25/09, Rating: 0
RE: Wow

Yes... and what was your point exactly?

RE: Wow
By Starcub on 3/25/2009 11:13:29 AM , Rating: 3
Energy that would otherwise be lost to heat can instead be converted in electricity.

RE: Wow
By chrnochime on 3/25/2009 11:14:39 AM , Rating: 3
Thank you for enlightening us with that nugget of knowledge that every HS kid knows.

And it's braking, not breaking damn it.

RE: Wow
By AnnihilatorX on 3/25/2009 6:52:07 PM , Rating: 2

Do you guys read what people post really except maybe the first line.

