Chevrolet did a much better job of designing and implementing the the PHEV elements of their car than Honda did.
You should have added the qualifier "IMO" to this statement because without that it implies "fact, period" to many readers.
GM tried to go the range extender route (like the BMW i3) with a strong EV and weak ICE as generator but in reality needed the ICE to help with propulsion too. As a former Volt owner, I gladly take the only slightly softer EV attributes of the Clarity over all the cons of the Volt. YMMV
I was Told (sales guy, who supposedly owns a Volt himself) that ICE doesn't kick in until after you run out of battery. NOT something you choose?
You know how you can tell a salesdroid isn't telling you the whole truth? Their lips move.
After 3 months of driving, I saw 59.2 electric miles this morning, it will pass the 60 miles mark soon!
I just hit 64 miles estimated this week! Mainly urban driving.
I think the main difference on the Clarity is that the transition between regen and friction braking is so seamless on a Clarity, you can't detect it (at least I can't!).
Agreed. Easily the best feeling brakes of any PHEV, BEV, or HEV I've owned or driven.
Regen = efficiency is a wrong wrong concept.
Yup, just ask the hypermiler crowd who live for this stuff.
Except that there is no coasting in the Clarity
Coasting or better put, gliding, is positioning/feathering the pedal with there is no regen or propulsion happening and only air and rolling resistance are decreasing the vehicles speed. I assume this is when the Clarity's power meter display is at zero; need a scanguage or similar to verify. Prius displays are well known for showing this.
Why anyone things regenerative braking is not a good thing boggles my mind.
That's not what he said. Regen isn't great in ultimate terms of efficient driving. Again, just ask the hypermiler crowd.
However, logic tells us that any regen is better than no regen at all.
Nope. Gliding (zero power flow in/out) is better for efficiency. If you have to slow down more quickly, then regen is MUCH better than friction braking.
It might have been nice had the click point been adjustable for each mode, but at least the Clarity DOES give you a way to control ICE activation.
Yup. In terms of pedal travel, my C-Max Energi doesn't and in Auto or sometimes even in EV-only mode it can activate the ICE without warning. The detent is a smart feature and a good coaching aid.