Honda To keep developing Hybrids?

[Tombola]

I would like to see a Jazz e:HEV with only a slightly bigger battery (e.g. 2kWh instead of the current measly 0,7kWh) in order to better benefit from longer downhill drives.

I suspect a larger battery would mean sacrificing some interior space. The existing battery has already reduced the former boot capacity.

Plus the probability of a significant extra cost

[coldstart]

Plus the probability of a significant extra cost

I wouldn't overrate this! - Just think about a "Tesla" (or any other EV or PHEV) and their battery capacity!
They are at least in the range of 30 kWh! - This equals over forty current Jazz batteries!

A simple doubling (or - okay - triplicating) the current Jazz's battery wouldn't cause such an impact. Please keep in mind that battery-technology is still evolving towards more cost-efficient and longterm stable batteries.

It would, however, (at least in my use case) greatly improve fuel effiency, as I'm living in a hilly environment which often forces the Jazz to go into "retarder mode" when going downhill because the battery is already brimful and the regenerated energy has to be "burned" by turning the ICE.

[John Ratsey]

I suspect a larger battery would mean sacrificing some interior space. The existing battery has already reduced the former boot capacity.

How much of the volume of the current battery pack is occupied by the lithium cells? I suspect that improvements to both the battery cell and cooling technology would enable twice the capacity in the same volume. I'm in favour of giving the Jazz more storage capacity. It can't handle hills that the HR-V with its 25% (?) larger battery can.

[Hicardo]

Might increase the cost John 

[Tombola]

Might increase the cost John 

No "might" about it, will also probably increase the weight   

[CB72]

Solid state batteries are in prototypes now, they are lighter and could be fitted into a Jazz, but you will have to wait until at least 2027 for that

[coldstart]

How much of the volume of the current battery pack is occupied by the lithium cells? I suspect that improvements to both the battery cell and cooling technology would enable twice the capacity in the same volume. I'm in favour of giving the Jazz more storage capacity. It can't handle hills that the HR-V with its 25% (?) larger battery can.

EV-batteries are built for heavy charge and discharge currents. They can't be compared to portable powerbanks.
Then there's the safety aspect as well. A car battery has to survive several Gs in a crash and shouldn't be compromised by impact!
A HR-V is slightly longer and certainly higher than a Jazz and can afford to accomodate a larger battery.

In the (current) Jazz I would gladly forgo the ominous "step" in the boot for a somewhat larger battery anytime!

[Tombola]

Never mind bigger batteries how about Honda shoehorning in the 2.0ltr ICE from the Civic, that would liven things up 

[Kremmen]

One thing I didn't realise is, Sodium battery packs are pretty much fireproof & can also be left at zero charge for long periods of time, something ternary battery packs don't like.

It means these cars can be exported with zero charge in them to countries around the world with no threat of fire & no need for car carrier ship companies to have expensive fire suppressant systems & armoured decks.

This Changan video about their Nevo A06 states the battery packs will be 40% cheaper & will undercut ICE cars on price. It's a bit of a chest pumping video from Changan but corresponds with what I've been reading about the Changan brand using the new CATL Naxtra sodium ion battery chemistry which is touted to last over hundreds of thousands of miles & charge in 12 minutes

[Marco1979]

A hybrid battery is another type of battery than an EV battery. Let me explain.

EV batteries are being charged during a long period (30 minutes up to several hours) and discharging also takes long (hours). Those batteries typically last 1,000 to 2,000 cycles. If one cycle allows for 200 miles, the battery will probably last for 200,000 to 400,000 miles.

Our Jazz battery will charge within 2 minutes and will also deplete in a few minutes. A full cycle, when driving along the motorway, will take 4 miles. Luckily, our battery will last for much more than those 2,000 cycles. It is less energy dense by design to allow probably 50,000 cycles. Also, it will keep itself in a very safe limit to minimize wear.

This is also why PHEV batteries last only a few years. 2,000 cycles probably means 2,000 (or even 1,000) days of usage.

I do think the Jazz would benefit from 1.5 times the battery capacity especially in hilly regions.

[Lord Voltermore]

Maybe the ideal ,under the present level of battery technology ,would be to design the hybrid  with space where you  (or Honda) have the option  of adding an additional HV battery 'extension pack' .

The basic  car  would have   battery capacity similar to now  with the unused space as underfloor storage .  But Honda could  include  the battery extender pack on  higher specification models, or as an additional cost option on all models. And also make it  available as a relatively simple plug and play retrofit upgrade to compatible cars  originally sold without it. This also gives the option that if battery technology improves  significantly  a new improved battery extender pack  could be marketed.

But how many would be prepared to pay its likely extra cost?

[Downsizer]

How much fuel would a larger battery save? I can see that in an area with long hills the 0.7 kw unit frequently fills and you have to use the mechanical brake more. But it’s not a problem here in East Anglia!

[Kremmen]

When you watch that Honda video about the e:hev and how it works it's clear that a lot of work went into development

Would a larger battery need new development to rebalance the engine/battery performance

[Downsizer]

A recent Autocar review of the new Honda Prelude, which has the same hybrid system as the Civic, says it has 8 simulated gears and a “fairly convincing” fake soundtrack. What is the point of including these?

[Kremmen]

Totally agree

That fake gear shifting with associated engine noise is utterly pointless