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Nissan's third generation e-POWER powertrain

170 points · 462 comments · mroche

  1. Toutouxc · · focus · HN ↗
    I used to like hybrids, and obviously series hybrids are the coolest kind of hybrids, but now that I’m driving a budget EV, I honestly don’t see the point anymore. Just get the EV and skip the awkward half-way step that inherits the most expensive and complicated parts from both designs.

    Seeing a sleek modern car pull away whisper quiet and then start the ICE 3 seconds later with a stutter and a puff of water vapor from underneath is the most schizophrenic sight, it somehow feels more dated than actual ICE cars.

    Unless you live in bumfuck nowhere with expensive electricity, zero solar power and a daily 5 hour commute, an EV will likely work just fine for you.

    1. acomjean · · focus · HN ↗
      Also city dwellers with street parking and it’s hard charge, so a pure EV is a bad fit.

      Hybrids with their good mileage although complex are a good fit for those.

      1. pavlov · · focus · HN ↗
        Typically the driving distances are pretty short in a city, so you don't have to charge that often.

        The smaller size of an EV would be more useful in most European cities, at least.

        1. vrc · · focus · HN ↗
          I'd correct this to be "a smaller sized EV" versus "the smaller size of an EV" as many of the EVs on the market are surprisingly big. Without pointing to the obvious behemoth truck/SUV EVs, my Tesla MY is considerably larger than a lot of CUVs on the market and has a much worse turning radius. What it does do well is stop and start fast meaning I can be more decisive and navigate through messy NYC/BOS traffic with more confidence than in my CRV, and regen braking + having lower "idling" costs does improve its city-profile.
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