[user_7832]

> EV aren’t ready for world wide use.

Fully agree (I'm 100% team PHEV or EREV/REEV) as a mechanical engineer. IMO BEVs and PHEVs/REEVs should be on parity in terms of tax/govt incentives, while encouraging electric use - for eg, subsidized (PH)EV charging, high(er) costs in city centres if running in ICE mode, etc.

I was just curious if EV manufacturers use any other tricks that're "well known" in EV-land but not for the average consumer.

[simulator5g]

These acronyms are a nightmare, what the hell is a PHEV? EREV? PZEV? Consumers are just expected to know this stuff somehow, it’s nuts. Sometimes I buy parts for my car and just hope I selected the right one, because some models are PZEV/not PZEV but the sticker that would tell me has turned completely white & can’t be read.

[user_7832]

> These acronyms are a nightmare, what the hell is a PHEV? EREV? PZEV?

PHEV is the old term, it's a plug in hybrid EV. I.e., you can plug it in and use the battery, or use the ICE engine via petrol (gasoline).

(B)EVs are pure battery EVs. Think Tesla.

REEV/EREV is range extender EV. Essentially an EV that has a small ICE engine that's very handy for making the 50 or 100km battery "run" for 500km if the need arises, by using the ICE as a generator.

In some countries, you also have "strong" and "weak" hybrids - these are not cars you can plug in (they only take petrol), but they use some motors and battery to vastly improve the efficiency of the engine. Think doubling your mileage levels of good.

> Consumers are just expected to know this stuff somehow, it’s nuts.

Yeah no I don't think that's good design either. May I ask what kind of parts do you buy that makes it so confusing? Our car (Honda) has a very simple model name, there's not a lot of variations or options to confuse to begin with.

Btw, if you want a real fun doozy, look up the parallel series hybrid system that iirc GM had. It was a beautiful beast - it could basically take any power source, and do anything with it (charge battery, run wheels etc). There's a good YouTube video on it if you search for it.

[simulator5g]

Whenever I buy parts for my regular gas car the parts site asks if it’s PZEV or DOHC. To make matters worse the PZEV version is also DOHC (dual over head cams) as far as I can tell. And the VIN number doesn’t say if it’s PZEV or not. It’s not on any of the paperwork I got with the car either.

[user_7832]

Ah, I see.

I googled PZEV, and apparently all it means is that it isn't releasing gasoline vapours - other emissions don't matter.

So it's essentially just an ICE engine car that's not super polluting. It has nothing to do with EVs apart from being misleading in its name (perhaps on purpose?).

[SV_BubbleTime]

>I googled PZEV, and apparently all it means is that it isn't releasing gasoline vapours - other emissions don't matter.

No.

PZEV means partial zero-emotions vehicle… it is just STAR-STOP.

When you stop, the car shuts off and when it’s off it isn’t emitting anything. That is what it means.

It’s a total scam. Subaru was the first to put a logo on a US government mandated requirement (that made no sense).

[simulator5g]

I don’t think that sounds right. My car was never offered with start/stop tech. Unless maybe they ask regardless of whether the car could even have that option… hmm.

[yencabulator]

PZEV does not have to turn off the engine at stop, that's not part of the criteria for that label. The label is about emissions.

[fragmede]

Consumers just take their shit to the dealer which hires technicians who job it is, literally, to know "what the hell". If that is too complicated for you to figure out, I can't recommend you do your own work on your car.

[kanbankaren]

AFAIK, they charge only to 4.0 V. I think the batteries on satellites are also charged only to 4.0 V

[user_7832]

Thanks! That's very helpful (and unsurprising) to know. Any idea if satellites use LTO batteries btw? They have much longer lives and apparently can tolerate much more abuse.

[user_7832]

I don't know why I'm being downvoted, but I live in a developing country where the tailpipe emissions from a modern well maintained car are literally cleaner than that of commercial (power) plants - potentially making EVs worse. Ofc I'm sure it's much nicer if you're in a 1st world country, but unfortunately that's not where I am.