Volks,

Not all hybrids are created equal.

A Series Hybrid might be workable in a Vanagon and would be cheaper to do.
Don't give up on the hybrid just because you are thinking of ways to do it
like the Prius was done.

Kim

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ikard" <fikard@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2008 12:43 PM
Subject: Re: Hybrid Vanagon

> I disagree completely with the assessment you gave about the benefits of a
> hybrid for long haul driving. I own a Honda Civic Hybrid and get 45 mpg on
> the freeway at 72 mph. I get about 36 in the city.
> I have  an 80 Vanagon with a 95 Jetta gas engine in it but it is so new
that
> I have not road tested for mileage. Would love to have a hybrid system in
> it.
>
> Charlie Ikard
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of Jim Akiba
> Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2008 7:17 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Hybrid Vanagon
>
>
> Keep in mind that a hybrid will be a total waste of time/money  for
> the vast majority of vanagon owners. Vanagons are typically long-haul
> vehicles, not city drivers, the hybrid's benefits will be almost
> completely lost on long haul driving. not to mention that $15k-$25k
> buys a lot of gas. You *might* be able get 100mpg by installing a
> 200cc engine and driving at 35, but it's a lot easier/cheaper to get a
> motorcycle.  Getting the hybrid into a vanagon it totally doable, in
> fact with a synco front end, you could do an easy(relatively speaking)
> front/rear electric/gas hybrid.. but it isn't, and likely will never
> be worth it.
>
> Jim Akiba
>
>
>
> On Sat, Jun 28, 2008 at 11:27 PM, M'obeechi <obeechi@runbox.com> wrote:
> > I don't want to give up on gasoline completely - I'm spending too much
on
> the subaru engine (now the second type, a turbo) to walk away... but I
think
> the writing is on the wall for a hybrid approach. Not sure if Fuel Cell
> still stands a change (MBZ hasn't given up on them), and then there are
> electric and gasoline hybrids... I just want to extend my mileage in the
100
> miles per gallon range... but yeah, waiting it out makes sense... However,
I
> do want to be among the first 100 vanagon owners who take the plunge into
> doing this. Might be tricky figuring out how to squeeze this into the
> Vanagon.
> >
> > From: Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: Hybrid Vanagon
> >
> >> My initial thought on this is that if you want to get away from
internal
> >> combustion entirely or even mostly, than you might want to wait 3-5
> years.
> >> There are a number of technologies or approaches that are 'on the
cusp',
> so
> >> to speak, that should have either failed or made a breakthrough by then
> and
> >> the practical options should be clearer.
> >>
> >> Cya,
> >> Robert
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "M'obeechi" <obeechi@RUNBOX.COM>
> >> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> >> Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2008 5:50 PM
> >> Subject: Hybrid Vanagon
> >>
> >>
> >> I was looking up hybrid vehicles. Something in Wikipedia was saying
> better
> >> to start with a car that has a manual transmission, that the AT wastes
> >> energy. But they were talking about a conversion that removes the
> internal
> >> combustion engine. I'm interested in maybe one day putting in electric
> >> motors or what-ever-is-good to supplement the engine in my vanagon
(which
> is
> >> Subaru at this point). Thing is, I have an Automatic and want don't
want
> to
> >> consider a manual.
> >>
> >> Can someone point me in the right direction. Has this been discussed or
> done
> >> with a vanagon yet. I'm not really thinking propane, I'm in Southern
> >> California, plus my engine is being switched over to a turbo, and since
> >> propane needs high compression, I don't think that would make sense.
> >>
> >> The paper today said that jet fuel cost has increased 80% this year. I
> won't
> >> be surprised if gasoline reaches 25 dollars a gallon within the decade.
> >>
> >
> > ----- End Original Message -----
> >
>