"dennis@home" wrote in message
k...

"Doctor Drivel" wrote in message
enews.net...


The petrol motor in a PHEV would still need to turn occasionally. In
the
Prius, the power output of the petrol motor and the electric motor are
matched, giving about 70 horsepower each. The petrol motor will always
start if you floor the accelerator. The petrol motor might still start
even
if you don't need over 70hp, if the on-board computer determines that
the
battery needs some recharging.

How does the Prius maintain the temperature of the CAT?
As you know the CAT doesn't work very well unless it is hot.
If you keep stopping and starting the engine the CAT
may not stay hot enough to remove the unburnt fuel
and CO from the exhaust. This could lead to your
ZEV actually being worse than a standard car with a
CAT.

The petrol motor is run to over 1000 revs before the ignition and fuel
system is turned on. This reduces poor emissions on start up.

As the USA has lower emission standards than the EU, Toyota have installed a
heat accumulator. This is in the water cooling lines. It is a cylinder and
retains a hell of a lot of heat, like a thermos flask. It will retain heat
for many days in below freezing conditions. When the petrol motor is spun up
by the electric motor to over 1000 rpm, the heat is released and heats the
cylinder head and most of the engine, to near operating temperature. It
also improves mpg. This accumulator is not on the European models. I
believe some people have ordered it from the US and fitted it. And some
people use them in normal cars too. If you stop start a lot, letting the
car cool enough this accumulator would certainly help on any engine. You
can also take it off and onto the enxt car, if an after market add on.

I believe SAAB were the first to have one about 10 years ago. Not sure if
SAAB still do it.