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Rover800.Info • A hybrid on the driveway!
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A hybrid on the driveway!

Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 7:37 am
by Manalishi
For many years the dream has been to have a Lexus hybrid as the family saloon. The new model GS has better boot space compared to the old but it has been too expensive.

But finally we decided to give it a go. The old Lexus is close to 15years and niggling faults were starting to appear, and a blow in the front dual exhaust was the thing that helped us decide. We wanted to see what we could get for it as a trade.

The dealer gave us a very fair price and we swapped it for a 2013 Gs450h. This is close to a base model but still with loads of equipment. The gem though is the hybrid drive. So far it appears to be 2-3dl cheaper on fuel for every 10km so a big saving there. The tax is 1000kr/year compared to the old at 3500kr/year.

It’s lovely to drive and a lot more steady on the road compared to the older GS. The engine is a 3.5l V6 giving 296hp. Adding the electric motor of 200hp gives an equal of 350hp so it’s quick!

Interior is cream leather and the dash is a lot more modern and appealling compared to the older model.

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Re: A hybrid on the driveway!

Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 9:08 am
by scoobyh123
Very nice Henrik! I'm a bit confused about something though, perhaps you can explain? If the engine is 296bhp and the motor is 200bhp, wouldn't adding them together give 496bhp?

Does it work in a different wy so it only gives part of the electric motor power?

Re: A hybrid on the driveway!

Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 10:54 am
by Manalishi
scoobyh123 wrote:
Sat Sep 28, 2019 9:08 am
Very nice Henrik! I'm a bit confused about something though, perhaps you can explain? If the engine is 296bhp and the motor is 200bhp, wouldn't adding them together give 496bhp?

Does it work in a different wy so it only gives part of the electric motor power?
Thanks Dave.
To be honest I don’t know how they calculate the power so cant give you any good answer there!
But a 2000kg car only needing 7l/100km is amazing!

Re: A hybrid on the driveway!

Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 11:14 am
by scoobyh123
Manalishi wrote:
Sat Sep 28, 2019 10:54 am
scoobyh123 wrote:
Sat Sep 28, 2019 9:08 am
Very nice Henrik! I'm a bit confused about something though, perhaps you can explain? If the engine is 296bhp and the motor is 200bhp, wouldn't adding them together give 496bhp?

Does it work in a different wy so it only gives part of the electric motor power?
Thanks Dave.
To be honest I don’t know how they calculate the power so cant give you any good answer there!
But a 2000kg car only needing 7l/100km is amazing!
Errrr...............7L is about 1.5 gallons (give or take) and 100km is about 60 miles (give or take) so that's about 40mpg in UK terms which is pretty good by any stretch of the imagination!
I know someone that had an LS430 that used to return 36mpg on a run and on a few occasions i've had 43mpg out of my Sterling and 38mpg out of my Volvo. Both of those are "only" 1500kg roughly and smaller engines though.

Out of interest, is that economy using the hybrid or purely on petrol?

Re: A hybrid on the driveway!

Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 2:28 pm
by Manalishi
It’s still so new to me Dave so I’m learning too but it has three settings.
Sport
Normal
Eco

In sportmode the rev counter appears and the dash lights turns red. The mapping is more direct and it uses both electric and petrol for power.

In the other modes the electric and petrol engines work together. When the throttle is let off it starts to charge the battery etc. all of this can be monitored by display. Very interesting stuff.

Also I have a button, ”Electric vehicle-mode” and this makes it possible to drive only electric if under 25-30mph and for a few miles. This mode also pops in when in eco mode as the speed drops. With reasonably charged battery it can hold speeds of 35mph as long as it isn’t upphill. So driving along a straight 30mph road with no red lights and limited traffic is ”for free” for quite a while.

The nice thing about the Toyota hybrid system is that it recharges on decelleration and under braking. All of this can be monitored. So while rolling down a hill or braking it charges the battery ”for free”. On normal driving conditions the battery is charged too but this energy obviously isn’t for free.

An example from just now. I went to refuel. When doing so the car reset the l/100km average consumption counter in the computer.

So rolling out of the petrol station, 0 l/100km. Out into the street, pushing some to get it up to 35mph. 16 l/100km. When it is up to 35 it levels out at 10-12 l/100km. When I reach my area it flips into EV-mode and drives in EV all the way home. When parking (in total silence) I read 6.5 l/100km. My old gs300 were thirsty in the short ”rural” trips so that would have been at least 15 l/100km after a refuelling at the same station.

Tomorrow where going for a 150mile trip. That will be interesting!

Re: A hybrid on the driveway!

Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 4:06 pm
by Manalishi
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Re: A hybrid on the driveway!

Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 7:41 pm
by scoobyh123
Very nice inside too - loads of instruments and gadgets to play with, do you need clearance from NASA for your journeys? :wink: :P :lol:

Like the Command Module of the Space Shuttle in there! :wink: :D

Re: A hybrid on the driveway!

Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 8:58 pm
by Manalishi
scoobyh123 wrote:
Sat Sep 28, 2019 7:41 pm
Very nice inside too - loads of instruments and gadgets to play with, do you need clearance from NASA for your journeys? :wink: :P :lol:

Like the Command Module of the Space Shuttle in there! :wink: :D
Yup! :D

Re: A hybrid on the driveway!

Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 11:35 pm
by CHR15E
Nice looking tech, I do like the screen positions in newer cars.

You definitely wouldn't be happy with my Jeep based on those fuel figures. That's in the region of 21-22 l/100km if my maths is right!

I haven't driven any EV or Hybrid cars yet. They are starting to appear locally but nothing similar to what we currently own.

Maybe in time it's something we'll consider or have no choice in.