2016 Chevy Malibu Hybrid Review & Test Drive + How EGHR Works

[@EngineeringExplained]

ATTENTION! For those who are super awesome and open my videos immediately, you'll have noticed there were two Malibu videos, one on the 2.0L turbo version as well, which has been taken down. There was a glitch in the upload process that ruined the audio towards the end of the video. I am currently re-uploading and hoping the issue will be resolved (I checked my final edit, the audio was fine, error occurred during the upload). This should be posted by 12 pm PST if all goes well, worst case it will definitely be up by tomorrow. My apologies for not catching this in advance! Chevy will now be very impressed and invite me to the next Corvette launch, right?

[@br1an419]

+Engineering Explained I noticed it. It's all good. We all make mistakes. Thank you for uploading great content! The rants made it even more entertaining. lol

[@1986flawlys]

Oh lol ok

[@JosefTrull]

+Engineering Explained I actually watched it on my phone all the way up to the glitch, i thought i had a bad signal so i ran it back a few times and it kept doing it. I was like "well i guess i didn't need that last minute or so" lol. also, it kind of freaked me out the way it kept repeating in my ear lol.

[@spartan0199]

I thought something was up with my phone as well , ha !

[@wobblysauce]

Stuff happens.

[@Unb3arablePain]

GM has been on a roll lately, I drove a V6 Impala with the highest trim and was thoroughly impressed.

[@MikloV99]

I just bought a 2017 Malibu Hybrid. I was a bit on the fence about it but your video really cleared up some issues I had. This is my baby step into a fully electric vehicle. Thank you for the information!

[@ConstanceCox]

How is your Malibu running?

[@jeremyventurino9481]

The Toyota Synergy Drive also utilizes two electric motors. They have made some changes to their design over the several generations. As you know, the Motor/Generator setup suffers from magnetic friction losses at higher rpm. So they alternate between two. It's a really ingenious design that allows the engine to work in sync with the MG1/MG2. You have to really admire the engineering that goes behind these kinds of vehicles!

[@jeremyventurino9481]

I should add, these electric motors are very different than those used in Tesla vehicles. Tesla uses an AC induction motor. The rotor and field are independently controlled. The hybrid systems used by Chevy, Toyota, Subaru etc all utilize a solid neodymium magnet core. As speed increases, higher voltages are needed to keep the motor spinning with decent torque. And as the electric motor gets hot, it loses efficiency as well. Tesla and Toyota have very different approaches, for obvious reasons, but it is a marvel to see how both systems work and perform. I'm excited for the future of cars!

[@HuyPhamCali]

I have one. Love it so much. Now i need to watch this to explain my car to other people.

[@Fried_chicken_burger]

I have 2016 Malibu hybrid too. but I only get about 30mpg in city, What is your fuel economy?

[@HuyPhamCali]

@@Fried_chicken_burger i wanna say 40 sometimes 45. But I totaled in 2019 :)

[@Fried_chicken_burger]

@@HuyPhamCali 40mpg driving in the city? That's reasonable. I can get 46 on highway long trip but city fuel economy only 30 is just terrible. Today 78F outside, I drive 5 miles AC off, only 32.7mpg. Then another 3 miles, 39.3mpg. Higher because engine is fully warmed up. Then after I bought some food, I drove home with engine half warm, turned on AC at 74F auto, got only 21mpg, about 4 miles.

[@HuyPhamCali]

@@Fried_chicken_burger i think it does vary like that depending on how much charge into the battery (breaks plus going down hill).

[@Fried_chicken_burger]

@@HuyPhamCali I brake pretty gently. and around my home isn't a lot of uphill downhill.

[@MrTrevorkemp]

Another thing that needs to be mentioned is the final drive ratio on the car is what is switched on the Toyota Prius so that way you have multiple ratios for the electric motor as well in the Prius just like in this car as well. Again, this card doesn't do anything. A Toyota Prius can't do and it doesn't utilize hyper technology in a fancier or better way than a Toyota Prius and I would like to remind everyone that's this car in 2016 compared to a 2016 Toyota Prius was actually $4,000 more expensive than a Toyota Prius that would be getting an average of 50 plus miles per gallon in general where this one is probably getting mid 40s for its average fuel economy.

[@stevenromani8103]

great for our Canadian winters!! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@DriftxKingGTR]

+Steven Romani Now instead of waiting 10 minutes for the car to heat up, with a malibu we'll only need to wait 5.

[@Trades46]

The technology transfer from the Volt is a nice addition to the hybrid tech. The two mode hybrid drive is similar to the Volt in how they can use the 2nd planetary gearset (Toyota's HSD only has one; the PSD) which is probably geared so that it becomes more efficient at higher speeds spinning the 2nd MG slower than the 1st MG which is optimized at low speeds. The beauty of it (and the Volt's) is the ability to infinitely combine the power split via the two planetary gearsets and the two MG rotation speeds along with the engine to either turn the wheels or charge the battery via clutches & torque split. An extremely efficient setup, my only reservation is how the long term reliability holds up to wear and tear.

[@MrTrevorkemp]

Everything that he explained in this video that makes this car special Toyota has been doing with the Prius since at least 2010. Maybe even all of this going back to 2004 with the Toyota Prius. So nothing that he's describing is actually a new integration of hybrid technology or new tech for hybrid technology it's just them finally catching up to the actual good car manufacturers that make cars that you're not meant to send to the junkyard after 100,000 mi you know cars that aren't just considered disposable like almost all general motors products.

[@shreyasghanta]

Thank you. You are the one person to give some detail about hybrid version of malibu. You covered all the important aspects of a hybrid car. It would have been better if you had demonstrated how the transmission worked instead of showing a promo video.

[@toyotatechMDT]

Lexus have a two speed reduction on their hybrid system. It uses a ravigneaux gear set. Looks a good car.

[@kylandaminick13]

thanks for all the great info! I learn a lot on this channel.

[@aspecreviews]

Engine-off isn't really the most efficient use of the hybrid system. Blending the two power sources is more efficient overall at normal speeds because all of the energy to operate the vehicle comes from the gasoline engine. At lower speeds electric motor power is most efficient, but efficiency drops off rapidly above approximately 18 mph.

[@BaronVonPwn]

we just got one at the dealership. and the salesman are all really excited about this car

[@EngineeringExplained]

+BaronVonPwn Tell 'em to share the video! ;)

[@BaronVonPwn]

I'm gonna show it to a couple of my close sales friends Tuesday . Cause your video probably explains better than whatever training gm sent to us . If any lol

[@EngineeringExplained]

+BaronVonPwn Haha, appreciate that! I had a chance to chat with the engineers at the press launch, really enjoyed picking their brains on the car.

[@BaronVonPwn]

+Engineering Explained you know the real problem now . is how are we going to sell the impala? lol it looks old hat compared to this .

[@kc5077]

+BaronVonPwn Other than looks do you think the new Mailbu is too close in size and driving feel that it makes the Impala irrelevant? I think the Impala is worlds better than the Taurus or Avalon but they both still manage to sell.

[@zero00-100]

Miss the LS and the sound of 1970s Malibu's

[@SwagToTheWheels]

So this new engine is really good at keeping you warm

[@EngineeringExplained]

+SwagToTheWheels Keeps you so warm.

[@electrictroy2010]

+Engineering Explained WONDER how well this works in 120 degree desert from LA to Vegas. Most cars try to throw-away their heat, so they don't boil over, but this car tries to trap the heat from escaping Hmmm. (I am reminded of the overheating Toyotas that turned the oil to sludge in 7000 miles.) .

[@GlenWFord-ps8ts]

electrictroy--I can help you with that. I drove it from Phoenix to Las Vegas and back during the summer. No problems. And had you been listening he explained why. Try to pay attention.

[@JN-mk2fh]

@@electrictroy2010 Obviously, there is no problem. This is a very well engineered car. Did you catch the part about the bypass valve which diverts coolant from the exhaust so it won't overheat? Perfect for a trip from LA to Vegas : D

[@MrNeuroticRA]

I love your videos!

[@Spearh34d]

What about the exhaust aftertreatment? If you take heat out of the exhaust gases, you might not get the catlytic converter to working temperature. That's the only issue that immediately comes to my mind if I look at this system.

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

Thanks for explaining the EGHR system. I was curious about the "bypass valve" and I see you asked about that with the GM engineers. Very helpful in my understanding of the car. Wondering how true the 48 mpg is - will continue to look for that information elsewhere. Thank you.

[@JN-mk2fh]

I get 50 MPG each way to work, round trip of 82 miles. This is through a mountain pass as well.

[@TennisGvy]

That's cool, waste heat recovery is a huge research topic in jet engines.

[@stefans4562]

TennisGvy Sounds interesting - do you work on jet engines? (just curious)

[@TennisGvy]

Stefan Sierraoneoneseven I'm an aero engineer. Just graduating with my MS right now. I used to be interested in them until I spent a summer internship at a turbofan company a few years ago.

[@EngineeringExplained]

+TennisGvy Haha that's how it was with me and HVAC. I (briefly) thought HVAC was my jam. Then I had a relevant internship and lost that interest. We all have our passions haha.

[@thesmuler5627]

Exhaust gas heat recovery is something that Prius already had since. That’s not something new. It’s the reason why Toyota will always be the best in hybrid aside from being more reliable. I have 2016 Malibu hybrid in my Hybrid shop. It has tons of problem that the owner is literally flat broke. I’m waiting on him to save enough money to get his car out of the shop. Not to mention the type of problem it develops is so complex not even the dealer can figure it out. Only reason why I can work on it is because I am a hybrid specialist with background in electronics engineering. One of the problem he has is the cars hybrid battery icon turns gray and starts draining and when low enough his car would just stall and I had to remove the hybrid battery and charge it up. Now I have the unfortunate task of figuring out why it does that sometimes which leave him stranded and have to pay a wrecker to tow his car. Only to start again once towed to his house or my shop weird problem. I have it in my shop waiting for it to act up again so I can start poking around what’s causing it. Anyways my 2012 Prius C was behind why I own a hybrid shop in the first place. It was dependable when I was busting my bum doing Uber trying to save enough money to start my hybrid shop.

[@breaunawilliams267]

nice video thanks

[@emeraldages]

Why is this exhaust gas recirc a big point of this car? The prius has been doing this since 2010 and had another method of bottling hot fluid in a canister to keep it warm since 2004.

[@natashaodom1994]

Thanks well done..

[@notaspectator]

Any chance this car (perhaps this year 2016) can have an ability to charge that battery from external outlet? thanks

[@headlightreviews8239]

Hey Jason! I have a quick question about the 2016 Chevy Malibu Hybrid. I will test that car (Canadian version) next week and I was wondering if any other car right now had the exhaust heat recovery system? Thanks a lot!

[@GlenWFord-ps8ts]

Excellent review. What`s the MSRP?

[@ROHITSHARMA-gk3xc]

Is Chevy Malibu a parallel hybrid?

[@Phos9]

"Ecoboost" (small displacement high compression ratio turbocharging) vs active fuel management (smaller engine through cylinder deactivation)? I'm also really curious why no cars recover energy by Turing exhaust heat into electricity, I know a few have looked at it, but still none on the road. MGU-H for the street?

[@19kylegreer96]

Diesels have had the first feature since forever, it's called egr cooler

[@EngineeringExplained]

+Kkyle Gg Yep, that parts nothing too unique, the EGHR is different (taking heat from the exhaust to heat the coolant, not using the coolant to cool the exhaust). In diesel-only applications EGHR wouldn't be too beneficial, since the engine is always running.

[@19kylegreer96]

Aye, the egr cooler's effect on warm up time is a positive side effect of it though, Mine takes considerably warmer to heat up without it

[@jreitnauer7]

any idea on when we can purchase these

[@IIGrayfoxII]

Why don't car companies add a dynamo style device to the rear wheels on a hybrid or even an electric car so the rotation of the wheels, generates power to add milage range to the car

[@Kepe]

+IIGrayfoxII This is somewhat hard to explain, but it comes down to laws of physics and thermodynamics. Basically, you can't generate more power from something than the amount of power you put into the system. It just goes against the laws of physics. If it was possible, we would have perpetual motion machines and unlimited amounts of free electricity. But sadly it isn't possible. Have you tried bicycling with a dynamo powering the light? When the dynamo is running, it adds a lot of friction and you must peddle a lot harder than without the dynamo. The same is true if a dynamo was installed in to a car. And when we consider the fact that nothing works at 100% efficiency, you'll just end up using more electricity to run the dynamo than what the dynamo generates back in to the system. So it would only make things worse and you'd get worse mileage than without it. Think about it like this: if you hook up an electric motor to spin a dynamo, and wire it so that the dynamo powers the electic motor, would this system run forever if you gave it a spin to start it? No it wouldn't, because the electric motor isn't 100% efficient, it has internal friction and so on. The dynamo doesn't convert 100% of the spinning motion back into electricity, plus it has a lot of internal friction. So the system would just stop if you gave it s spin. It's exactly the same thing if you added the dynamo into a car. The dynamo is constantly slowing the car down and only giving back a small fraction of the power that it takes to spin the dynamo. The only feasible way to get some of the kinetic energy of a car back is by using regenerative braking, which is used in pretty much every hybrid and electric car out there. That way, you use the electric motor(s) to slow the car down and recharge the batteries. Dynamos are used on bikes because they are cheap, lightweight, and you are powering them with your feet.

[@kc5077]

+IIGrayfoxII Short answer, it adds drag or friction so it decreases efficiency.

[@akupehsluarketatAR]

+IIGrayfoxII or you can mount a turbo instead of juz suckin in air for boost you can couple a dynamo to power the second electric motor(in this car theres 2 motor) instead of relying on one battery to run both motor. In this way the battery last further and u get extra boost.

[@Kepe]

akupehsluarketatAR That didn't make much sense. Having a dynamo to provide electricity to the rear wheels has exactly the same problem I explained above. BUT that comment gave me an idea of a turbine that is spun by the exhaust gases (like in a turbocharger) but instead of using it to ram more air in to the engine, use it to spin an electric generator. That way you could probably get rid of the alternator, improving efficiency. F1 cars recharge their batteries this way.

[@tonytober]

+Kepe Too long; didn't read: Newton's 3rd law: you kick a soccer ball means the soccer put as much kick towards you. The car turns the dynamo; the dynamo repells the engine as much.

[@charanpreetdhaliwal9208]

Can you tell same content on malibu 2018 lt ?

[@neeno_music]

cars are awesome

[@mss627]

Never been a big GM guy but I must admit, they're really starting to force themselves into the conversation. Still have reliability concerns though.

[@goofguy316]

With stock wheels, the Malibu looks like a grandpa car despite the pretty cool hybrid design

[@mgayar16]

So I've been wondering how do electric cars heats up the cabin, idk if they use a heater but won't that drain the battery?

[@mramritsingh1]

resistance heater

[@mramritsingh1]

and yes, it drains battery.

[@richardsilvas3152]

My wife had been complaining her 2016 Sonata has no power going up hills,which sounds like BS to me since the car is a year old with 12,000 miles. So she came home with a 2016 Malibu Hybrid. They seem to have about the same HP. The MPG on the Malibu is great but the interior is so cheap looking compared to the Sonata. The Malibu interior has more cheap plastic then a box of leggos. Plus who knows if the Malibu will last and domestic cars age terribly not just from a reliability standpoint but also looms.

[@MikeStoddart]

Great, but how does it perform in a real canadian winter? 20F isn't cold, assuming it's -6C! ;)

[@zoppp621]

wait, why is this more efficient that using a normal heater element? The exhaust will be hot only when the engine is running. So to heat the car you would need to run the engine??

[@Kepe]

+Akash Hegde I think you've misunderstood something. Regular cars use engine coolant to heat up an element, and then air is blown through that element to heat up the interior of the car. The important part here is to understand that engine coolant is used as the heat source for interior heating. The system in this car uses heat from the exhaust to warm up the engine coolant faster. It is NOT used to directly heat up the interior. So this system is just a small addition to the traditional way to warm up the interior, and makes it more efficient by utilising waste heat. And since this is a hybrid, the gasoline engine isn't running all the time, so the faster you can heat up the engine coolant, the less time you need to run the gasoline engine if it isn't needed otherwise. Also, using engine coolant as the heat source for interior cooling is more efficient than using electric heating elements, since the engine coolant is heated by waste heat generated by the engine, so it's basically "free" energy that is otherwise wasted. On the other hand, electricity has to be generated by the alternator, which is driven by the engine, which uses gasoline. So that just increases fuel consumption. It's like using the AC. Very inefficient. Electric cars of course can't use engine coolant to heat the interior, so they have electric heater elements instead. Some diesel cars also use electric heaters in addition to the regular engine coolant based heaters so that the interior can be warmed up quicker, since diesel engines tend to warm up quite a bit slower than gasoline engines.

[@zoppp621]

+Kepe ah I understand. I'm aware cars use the coolant and a heater core inside but the. I was viewing the car from a purely electric perspective. I can see the benefits of heating up the coolant quicker using the exhaust gas. Thanks for the clarification.

[@Kepe]

***** It would be interesting to know if it's more efficient to use an electric heating element in certain situations. If it's cold outside and you're waiting for traffic lights to turn green and the gasoline engine isn't running, would it be more efficient to use an electric heater to keep the interior warm than it is to start the engine to warm up the engine coolant?

[@wobblysauce]

Also the engine should be a bit more efficient also, as from cold to nominal operating temperature is where most of the wear happens.

[@zoppp621]

+No Way what do you want me to get on my knees and pray to him? get over yourself.

[@Dizz18]

I have a 2016 Malibu hybrid that I’ve owned since 2018. I average 38 mpg, so not close to GM’s numbers. Also had multiple mechanic problems like metal shavings in the transmission fluid, turning off the vehicle. I’m currently researching PCV replacement which is integral to the valve cover. The dealer wants $2000 for the job 😑 the squeak is EMBARRASSING

[@edzweiger4548]

I thought Thought Toyota has been using exhaust gas since day one on Prius. Otherwise no heat

[@lukgaroo]

Wasted exhaust gas should go into a turbo charger! That's where witchcraft energy manifests and then POWERRRRRRRRRRR happens! It's also proven to be more fuel efficient lol!

[@Unb3arablePain]

+lukgaroo It is a turbo already. The Ecotec engines by GM are all turbocharged DI engines.

[@lukgaroo]

Unbearable Pain oh it is!? I was enjoying the vid i probably missed it hehe. Thanks bud. :-)

[@Unb3arablePain]

lukgaroo Nevermind it's actually NOT turbo, wtf. All Ecotec engines I've ever seen by GM were turbo...

[@_topikk_]

+Unbearable Pain Then you haven't seen many Ecotec engines. The Silverado 1500 4.3L, 5.3L, and 6.2L engines, for example, are all naturally aspirated Ecotec3 engines. Are you confusing it with Ford's Ecoboost, perhaps?

[@RickBreunesse]

Proudly built by BOSAL! :)

[@mzmishu]

Are we ever going to get a Tesla Model S review?

[@josee7425]

What happened to the other Malibu video?

[@swayingGrass]

+Jose E Audio error in the rear end of the video.

[@EngineeringExplained]

+Jose E See comment above, my apologies, it will be up again soon!

[@swayingGrass]

Engineering Explained ^^ you didn't checked it or KZbin messed it up?

[@EngineeringExplained]

+Indra Ida Bagus I checked my final edit, the audio was fine. Something messed up in the upload process so I'm trying again and hoping it works this time.

[@josee7425]

Were you able to get a 0-60 mph time? I'm just curious if an electric motor with all the available torque at the start can have an impact on 0-60 mph. Compare this to a normal transmission with the associated pauses caused by gear changes. Anyhow, it must have been a very smooth car. This should add to the feel of quality.

[@bakaenkaaka]

This is like a Prius, except not horrible. Haha, well done to the american engineers! ;)

[@AbendscheinLGN]

MSRP?

[@MrBruceherman]

A hybrid that looks like the standard 1.5 and 2.0 models? Should have been this way to begin with. IMO the futuristic looking hybrids look bad, like they're seeking recognition for being a hybrid. (Specifically thinking of what Hyundai did with the Sonata)

[@drink15]

You should do a giveaway. One sub will win a 2016 Chevy Malibu Hybrid!

[@EngineeringExplained]

+drink15 I don't make Oprah dollas. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2Wtl4Oip95gn7M

[@aujla7564]

+Engineering Explained I wish I could upgrade to a rav4 hybrid but my toyota is never dying, I don't know if I hate toyotas for that reason

[@jeffg9612]

Had a Corolla like that....after 10 years we gave it to a family member who used it for another 8 years and then it was sold. As far as I know its still on the road.

[@joseduranjr8890]

I'd marry you if I was a woman. I love your videos

[@remoteaccess6599]

put this in the equinox

[@ociel1988]

The Prius has being doing this all this time

[@UmidYuldashev-s5d]

My dream is buy car.

[@lucgagnon7125]

jaurais aime avoir les explcation francais

[@yurkshirelad]

20F isn't cold, that's only about -7C. I want real world testing in -30C weather, which is a typical canadian winter. Otherwise it's all just fluff.

[@محمدعلي-ز5ق3ش]

شيخ. ياسين. تهامي

[@nickharrison211]

First

[@RealKaiserBelial]

american prius.....

[@ryan17ram]

-_- no 0-60

[@blkechn3194]

BORING. This guys voice irritates me...

[@Vision33r]

I think it's another poorly conceived product by GM because they should've made this a hatchback. Just like all Prius. Just when Sedans are getting crap sales they want to do this Hybrid in a sedan? What were they thinking? Or how about adding a few more inches and make it a crossover? This is why GM will never beat Toyota or Honda in consumer satisfaction. Now you may say that, Chevy Volte exist but that is also a compromised product. The 2nd row seats can't sit 3. Why so much compromises?