pkulak said:
Anyone know exactly how the Outlander PHEV's transmission works? Is it like the Volt where when it's EV, it's only EV? Or like the plug-in Prius, where the engine comes on for acceleration not matter what?
Mitsubishi (and some new hondas) have the distinctive of not using any power split device (like Toyota, Ford or GM use), (nor is it a hamburger P2 type arrangement (BMW, Hyundai, Nissan). What Mitsubishi has done is simply added a second drive-shaft into the differential.
So the Electric motor is on the axle, and the Combustion Engine also drive the same axle, there is a clutch so the ICE can directly drive the axle, or it can power a generator, or both.
What Mitsubishi left out was varying gears, so BOTH the EV motor and the ICE motor are fixed ratio to the vehicles speed.
repeat, single fixed ratio only.
results
it drives like a good Outlander, better than a 2.4 I4, but not as good as a 3.6 V6
it does not have EV grin for take-off, as the electric motors are geared to run run to high speed
once the electrons are used up, it is strictly series hybrid only at slower speed.
Even though it is strictly series hybrid only at low speed, the ICE motor turns on to assist acceleration, like in a Karma.
on my 10-20min test drive, the ICE motor came on twice, about 2 seconds each time, at two of the more demanding merging intersections, otherwise the motor stayed off for the other intersections etc.
I presume this is reduce the load on the batteries, for increased longevity.
this video is good example of what flooring a outlander phev
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbOmtzFj14M" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;