MEHV

[coltle6920]

I know what it means..."mildly electric hybrid vehicle".

In a previous thread I mentioned wanting to buy a new pickup in the coming months. I've been looking at the Dodge Ram 1500 and engine size doesn't seem to matter whether or not MEHV is installed. My only understanding of this "feature" is that if your vehicle idles more than 5 seconds the battery takes over.

My first two thoughts were... This must drive the computer nuts in a vehicle driving in stop-and-go traffic on the LA freeway at rush hour and it might be the reason why people don't stop at stop signs.

A few questions for those that might know...

1. Can the system be disabled?

2. Does the vehicle have to be in drive? I'm wondering what happens if I want to briefly warm up the vehicle in the driveway.

3. What is the expected lifetime of the batteries and costs to replace if needed?

Not a question but it doesn't seem to make a big difference in MPG over previous years.

Probably will have more questions based on whether or not I get any replies.

Thanks in advance!

 

[swsig]

I don't know the answers to your first two questions, but if the Ram 1500 uses a traditional hybrid battery, it will last a long time. My Lexus RX 450h hybrid is 12 years old, and its original hybrid battery is still going strong.

To me, MEHVs put the "MEH" into hybrid vehicles. If you're going to go hybrid, go all the way with a full hybrid vehicle. Even then, the mileage increase will not be huge over a standard version, maybe 3-5 mpg. With a MEHV, the increase will likely be less, and not enough to make up for the increased weight and complexity of the drivetrain.

 

[Jimbo41]

My BMW turns off the engine at idle assuming the cabin temp is reasonable. Drives me nuts because it takes a fraction of a second to restart and it always seems to shut down at a yield sign just when I need to accelerate. Fortunately there is a button to disable this function so I’ve gotten in the habit of disabling it each time I start the car. I don’t know if this is MEHV or not, never heard that term.

 

[Greyman50]

Wife had to have one of the Buick SUVs( made in china) so as usual on her part for not listening she now has “ fits” dealing with all the “ gadgets” and operational garbage on this thing. The worst to her is the electric idle. She asked about it at the dealership when getting service and the service guy Disabled the :#-= thing!.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Swearing at inanimate objects, like any electronic product, helps me immensely. I never heard of an MEHV either. I, personally, would stay away from it if possible, until I knew a few people that have one and give it thumbs up.

 

[arjay]

I’d go with ice or electric myself. Hybrid is overly complex imho.

 

[yaktamer]

I'm holding out for the wood-fired version.

 

[ladder13]

First thing I do after starting my car is turn that thing off. Too bad it has to be done every time upon startup.

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

I'm holding out for the wood-fired version.

There are already engines running on wood gas. During WWII
with gasoline rationing people converted cars/pickups with
low compression engines to run on wood gases. Just don't
plan on any long trips.

 

[LVSteve]

I thought they are actually Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEV), but maybe it got changed for the US market.

MHEV and stop-start are two different things. MHEV has an electric motor and a small battery that can put power into the drivetrain. I call these systems "torque gap fillers" as electric motors deliver torque instantly and give the maximum at zero RPM. As for "driving the computer crazy" that's what it's there for.

Now, stop-start systems are the bane of many modern cars. As others has stated, the stop-start system always seems to cut in just when you need to go at a yield or a roundabout. The system cannot be turned off on many GM models, a hard "no sale" factor for me. My BMW has the off switch and it remembers the "off" setting so long as I keep the car in "Comfort" mode. I believe I could code it to remember in all modes if I bought one of the adjustment apps for BMWs. The BMW shop is always chasing me about changing my battery, probably based on stop-start use. As I disable it, it's hardly a wear and tear issue for me. My wife's SUV has an off button, but you must hit it every time you get in.

 

[ladder13]

My vette doesn’t have an on/off button. They call it AFM, Active Fuel Management, fancy words for cylinder deactivation.

Much better that’s the disaster GM had years ago, smooth and seamless.

 

[yaktamer]

My F150 has start/stop. Sometimes I turn it off, sometimes I don't, but if I didn't have to disable it every time I'd leave it off. Someone already mentioned battery wear, but I would think all that extra starting must put extra wear on the starter as well.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I'm holding out for the wood-fired version.

I am holding for a nuclear powered Deloren like the one in "Back To The Future"
Just think........No gas needed and very little of anything else.

 

[coltle6920]

Will look into Ford. Chevy or GMC to see if all of them have the same as Dodge.

 

[yaktamer]

I am holding for a nuclear powered Deloren like the one in "Back To The Future"
Just think........No gas needed and very little of anything else.

Lead codpiece.

 

[PatriotX]

The BMW shop is always chasing me about changing my battery, probably based on stop-start use. As I disable it, it's hardly a wear and tear issue for me. My wife's SUV has an off button, but you must hit it every time you get in.

Part of the issue with BMW and eating batteries is related to CAFE averages.

In an effort to maximize fuel economy, BMW decided to implement a coasting strategy that decouples the alternator for far longer than before under light load conditions. This placed far more wear on the battery while achieving a tiny fraction of a mpg better economy.

Replacing one -or two in the case of my X5M- expensive batteries every year-and-a-half was not a worthwhile trade for me and car was sold. Transmission programming was coffin nail, but that’s another discussion.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Lead codpiece.

Not if proper shielding is in place......I worked in the nuclear industry

 

[PALADIN85020]

Meh...

John