Sure, but we're talking about being able to sufficiently charge the car with solar panels mounted on the car. We're just not there yet.

 

I'm not sure what the "image" of the Fit has that could be tarnished. It's not exactly a status car.

Assuming a hybrid Fit would be an option and not an outright replacement for the all-gas Fit, I can't see how it would make any difference at all in anyone's perception. We already have hybrid versions of Civic, Accord, Camry, Highlander, RX, Fusion, Escape and nothing catastrophic happened to the egos of anyone driving the non-hybrid versions.

 

Agreed, but for clarification the Accord hybrid was dropped.

 

We're not there, not even close.

The Chevy Volt has a 16KWH battery and has a range of 40miles.

Lets say they can get 40 miles on a Fit platform with only 10KWH. Typical solar arrays develop 10 watts per square foot. A Fit roof is what, 3' x 4' or about 12sqft? With 12sqft you can develop 120 watts. In five hours this is 600wh or 0.6KWH (five hours seems to be what you can expect from good ol' sol given cloudy days and such. YMMV).

If it takes 10KWH to go 40 miles, half a KWH will get you 2 miles.

I'm a little concerned FITmugen is paying $900 a month for electricity. This is about 10 times the national residential average. Even down here in peak summer months cooling a 3000sqft house our bills are around $250 a month. What gives?

Anyway, say you're going to use an array on your roof to charge your FIT (power exchange dealio). 10KWH over 5 hours would require an array producing 2KW. At 10W per sq ft, 2KW/0.01 is 200sq ft or a 10' x 20' array. Doesn't sound bad, but current price to produce 200w is about $1000. 2KW would cost ten thousand dollars (said in my best Dr. Evil voice).

Going back to FITmugen's application, he's saving $700 a month. This is about 7,000 KWH (1KWH @ $0.09) or 225KWH per day. Assuming 5 hours good sunshine this is an array producing 45KW covering 4,500 sqft which would cost TWO HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

Is this a commercial property? What was your investment in solar and how do you justify the cost?

 

Unfortunately, it was released at the wrong time with the wrong theory. The Accord Hybrid was released to show what hybrid electric power could do to improve performance as opposed to what it could do to save fuel. It was the fastest accord of that generation because it mated a full powered V6 with an electric assist.

Reading back, I believe that FITmugen was talking "over the winter months", not just one month. If this is the case, Dropping your electrical bill by 80% no matter what the cost, is quite nice.

~SB

 

Over a four month period if he's saving $700 even at $0.12 per KWH thats 700/0.12=5,833KWH. Per month 5,888/4 = 1,458 KWH. Per day 1,488/31=47KWH. If 5 hours sunlight per day is used 47/5= 9.5KW generating capacity.

At $1000 investment in solar for every 200 watts, 9.5KW/0.2KW*$1000= $47,500 and that's not counting routine maintenance. Assuming he saves $2100 a year in electricity it would take 22 years to pay for the system. Maybe tax credits make this more feasible but personally I don't see it.

 

Yes, I got tax credit from both state and federal. I am expecting to get my money back within 7-9 years beside it increases home value as well.

 

How much did you spend and how many watts does it produce (peak)? What sort of maintenance do you have to perform?

 

I have to check how many watts it produces? Since I installed it 3 years ago. It produces enough for 4500 sq. ft house comfortably.

The only maintenance I have done so far is clean the solar panel surface in the spring each year.

 

Looks like it's going to be a no-go the Fit hybrid version.

 

The masses are realizing that spending $8-$15k extra on a hybrid is not cost effective when you can get 35mpg in a car like the fit. It will take you so many years and so many miles to break even if you buy a hybrid. And GM thinks they can sell the Volt for $40k...unreal. There are so many logistical problems with a plug-in vehicle too. For example, I live in a city with no driveway and i rarely, if ever can park in front of my house. How will I charge my car? Not gonna happen. Plug-in vehicles are a stupid idea for a lot people. Hybrids don't make sense from a cost standpoint unless you get some extra jollies out of saving the environment.

 

Way more like $4000-5000 extra for a hybrid. But even with that in 08 with $4 gas, my wife wanted a Civic hybrid. The payback was way out there like 6 years so she got an EX. We just do not keep our cars that long to justify the cost.
Plus the additional added weigh compromises the driving dynamics.

Natural gas vehicles actually have the biggest potential to save fuel costs.

 

Pruis starts at $22,800, which is over $7k more than a base fit. Throw in some options and you get up there. Civic Hybrid starts at $23,800. Insight starts $4k higher than my Fit, but every review I've read on that (especially Jeremy Clarkson's) has said it's junk.

So yes, depends on the context, but a Hybrid can be anywhere from $4k more for a base insight up to a $34,000 top of the line Prius. That's $22k more than I paid for my Fit w/cash for clunkers.

Regardless, we are in violent agreement that hybrids don't payoff and are not worth a premium.

 

You're comparing apples to oranges.

Besides, not everyone buys a hybrid to save money. In fact, I'd guess the majority do it for environmental concerns.

Isn't this thread supposed to be about Hybrid Fit news anyway?

 

No reason not to; its a duplicate of the CRZ with the original Fit body.

 

BTW that article is plagued with false information. No Honda hybrid is plug-in and there is no way it's going to start at 15,800.

And yes, I'd say that lack of significant interest is a huge reason not to build it.

 

No reason they can't do plug-in by next year. Plug-in is well developed and both Honda and Toyota are ready.
And if the base Fit is $14k no reason they can't offer base Fit hybrid plug-in at $15.8 plus shipping. The Insight, CRZ, and Fit hybrid are virtually identical.

 

I'm not sure about the CRZ but the new Insight is built on the same chassis as the Fit. So, yeah.

 

I don't see the plug-in system working with the current way Honda builds hybrids. The electric motor is only an assist when needed.

Toyota does it differently where the electric motor moves the car. That system can work as a plug-in for short distances.

 

True Honda is IC assisted by electric motor and Toyota is electric motor assisted bt IC; however, do you think the Honda battery is more charged thasn the Honda at morning ? The difference is naturally why Toyota Prius gets slightly better mpg but then if your battery kicks off will the prius keep running as will a Honda.