Darksteel165
Legendary member
So many people like myself are so down for a true Hybrid ram. One that charges itself with no need or ability to plug in like a Prius.MDS makes no sense on a Diesel. It can reduce pumping losses on gas engines that run in air-starved mode most of the time, but Diesels flow full air all the time so nothing to be gained.
eTorque disappointed me from a design standpoint. Motor/generator is too small to do much useful work other than start/stop, and the belt drive is just plain wimpy. Should have been as powerful as the ICE it is paired with and integrated into the bellhousing/transmission. Also should have gone full 48V, or maybe even 96 or 160 and eliminate the starter and 12V altogether. It's a committee-design Frankenstein system that should be put out of its misery and never again inflicted upon any engine.
Both stupid ideas on a Diesel. There I said it! Change my mind...
I want a Prius with a v8 and 400+ HP. Also not on a Prius chassis.
Would be great if the engine could switch over to electrical when coasting on the highway around 1500 RPMs, that's where you can save some gas easy... Maybe even a dedicated button to enable\disable the Hybrid features for when you don't want it to attempt to engage.
Too bad that will never happen.