Originally Posted By: Arney
... whether hybrid vehicles are any more efficient at generating electricity than a non-hybrid vehicle since electricity generation is so critical to a hybrid car?


Yes, I think it would be quite a bit more efficient.

A conventional engine has to supply a lot of torque directly to the drivetrain, at a wide range of RPMs. There are many inherent inefficiencies in this arrangement.

In contrast, a hybrid vehicle is essentially a well-tuned genset. The engine is much smaller, since it only needs torque to rotate the alternator; and it when it runs, it is at a constant and efficient high RPM.

However: note that you can get a pretty sweet genny for the $10,000 differential.