How a Prius transmission works

thinfourth · Post by **thinfourth** » Sun Jun 04, 2017 6:17 am

Ever wondered how these strange fangled hybrids work

Here is your chance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgSXC-YhpUk

A slightly more serious look here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHc-_E8xWnM

And if you want to be a total nerd

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... _FsyuDx8ow_

tenkfeet · Post by **tenkfeet** » Sun Jun 04, 2017 3:47 pm

The tool box in the background of the second video is amazing.

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Mon Jun 05, 2017 12:28 pm

Fantastic videos.....

... if you are suffering from insomnia.

thinfourth · Post by **thinfourth** » Mon Jun 05, 2017 6:13 pm

Well i found them interesting

BUT

I am a sad barsteward

I have also watched most of these

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... bCyXd1vdY4

Similar to above videos but for jet engines

graeme · Post by **graeme** » Tue Jun 06, 2017 8:04 am

I've watched every AgentJayZ vid.

Getting started on these Weber ones now. Good stuff.

Check out This Old Tony if you want a giggle. Great home shop vids, and brilliant video production, and a brilliant sense of humour.

Also AvE's channel is great for general dicking around in the shop.

EDIT: A few more...

Abom79 if you want a lesson in 4-jaw indicating
bigclivedotcom for ripping apart sh*t electronics from ebay/China
clickspring for amazing handmade clock pornography (probably my fav channel on youtube).

mikeselectricstuff and EEVblog too.

On the woodworking side of things, frank howarth and matthias wandel are worth a look.

Michal Elias likes taking Tesla motors apart.

Oh, and cars... because this is SE. Harry's Garage is great.

Post by **campbell** » Tue Jun 06, 2017 8:42 pm

Thanks Paul, found the 25 minute Prius one genuinely intriguing. Such clever stuff going on in there.

Scuffers · Post by **Scuffers** » Wed Jun 07, 2017 5:18 pm

campbell wrote:Thanks Paul, found the 25 minute Prius one genuinely intriguing. Such clever stuff going on in there.

it is until you realize it's simply obsolete already..

inordinately complex system to hang onto the IC engine direct coupling.

Simply put, they should have gone the EV with range extender direction, much easier/cheaper and as battery tech get's cheaper and better, easier to transition

Post by **campbell** » Wed Jun 07, 2017 5:49 pm

I still liked it.

Did Toyota not ask you to help, then

thinfourth · Post by **thinfourth** » Wed Jun 07, 2017 6:20 pm

Scuffers wrote:
campbell wrote:Thanks Paul, found the 25 minute Prius one genuinely intriguing. Such clever stuff going on in there.
it is until you realize it's simply obsolete already..

inordinately complex system to hang onto the IC engine direct coupling.

Simply put, they should have gone the EV with range extender direction, much easier/cheaper and as battery tech get's cheaper and better, easier to transition

Complex?

A planetary gearset and two electric motors

It is actually remarkably simple

Scuffers · Post by **Scuffers** » Wed Jun 07, 2017 7:43 pm

thinfourth wrote:
Scuffers wrote:
campbell wrote:Thanks Paul, found the 25 minute Prius one genuinely intriguing. Such clever stuff going on in there.
it is until you realize it's simply obsolete already..

inordinately complex system to hang onto the IC engine direct coupling.

Simply put, they should have gone the EV with range extender direction, much easier/cheaper and as battery tech get's cheaper and better, easier to transition
Complex?

A planetary gearset and two electric motors

It is actually remarkably simple

really?

dual motors to drive the same axle with a mirriad of hydraulics/electronics/invertors/etc to make it all work.

then consider the results, a tragically slow, in-efficient, cramped POS that's only saving grace is it's the virtue-signalling celebs car of choice to try and placate their jet-set anti green creds.

I mean, £25-36K for a car that can't even manage to crack 0-60 in 10 seconds, and at very best (ie, official figures) 90Mpg (and according to users, more like 55).

in comparison, even the Chevy Volt is significantly better, all be it at a £35K price ticket, however, it is significantly faster, far better economy, more spacious, etc.

Then, round the corner we have the Tesla Model 3, which if it is half as good as the goals set for it, will kill both these stone dead.

Post by **campbell** » Wed Jun 07, 2017 8:05 pm

2 questions, Simon:

1. Which mechs are used by other hybrids?

2. how do F1 cars implement it?

thinfourth · Post by **thinfourth** » Wed Jun 07, 2017 9:32 pm

[quote="Scuffers"]
really?

dual motors to drive the same axle with a mirriad of hydraulics/electronics/invertors/etc to make it all work.

then consider the results, a tragically slow, in-efficient, cramped POS that's only saving grace is it's the virtue-signalling celebs car of choice to try and placate their jet-set anti green creds.

/quote]

I didn't realise that a prius had a complex hydraulics system

What does it do in the gearbox?

Does it operate the clutch?

or does it adjust the gear ratio of the plantery gear set?

Scuffers · Post by **Scuffers** » Wed Jun 07, 2017 10:46 pm

campbell wrote:2 questions, Simon:

1. Which mechs are used by other hybrids?

2. how do F1 cars implement it?

Toyota seem to used basically the same concept on all their hybrids, the bigger ones used a different cvt but essentially the same layout.

Honda use a single mgu on the gearbox shaft, not sure what Hyundai/Kia do.

F1 is a bit irrelevant as they are mandated by regs to run the mgu on the crankshaft.

To be blunt, hybrid is dead, EV is the way forward, be that pure battery or range extended with petrol/fuel cell/etc.

That said, battery tech is moving fast, teslas own battery tech has made a major step in life, and capacity, doubling the power dencity with their new cells.

Post by **campbell** » Wed Jun 07, 2017 11:08 pm

Well, F1's not irrelevant, because I asked the question

As for other makers' approaches to hybrid tech, it seems there's not enough info yet to condemn Toyota's approach quite so broadly.

It still impresses me.

I'm interested because I'm starting the homework on the next family barge replacement. I aspire to a Tesla Model X...but it's a little out of budget at the mo...

thinfourth · Post by **thinfourth** » Thu Jun 08, 2017 6:24 am

Scuffers wrote:
campbell wrote:2 questions, Simon:

1. Which mechs are used by other hybrids?

2. how do F1 cars implement it?
Toyota seem to used basically the same concept on all their hybrids, the bigger ones used a different cvt but essentially the same layout.

Honda use a single mgu on the gearbox shaft, not sure what Hyundai/Kia do.

F1 is a bit irrelevant as they are mandated by regs to run the mgu on the crankshaft.

To be blunt, hybrid is dead, EV is the way forward, be that pure battery or range extended with petrol/fuel cell/etc.

That said, battery tech is moving fast, teslas own battery tech has made a major step in life, and capacity, doubling the power dencity with their new cells.

So range extended EV which is GOOD

Parts count

1 traction motor + inverter
1 generator + inverter
1 battery
1 ICE

Prius parts count = BAD

1 traction motor + inverter
1 motor generator + inverter
1 battery
1 ICE
1 power split device

Now unless i am missing something we are talking about basically the same amount of parts

However

The prius has a smaller generator and a smaller traction motor as using the power split device allows engine torque to act directly on the wheels

A range extended EV can't do that so the traction motor and generator have to be bigger

The prius design is very lotus. Simple, light and some parts do more than one job

Scottish Elises