I'm struck by the solar electric boat folks talking about their different needs for the Sprint and Endurance competitions.
Basically, they swap different batt's AND diff. motors, depending on the event. They'd even swap boats if they could. The point is, they don't bother to develop one system to serve the whole speed spectrum. I suppose hybrid EVs do this - try and mesh (mash?) two different systems together. Some EV's can brake/regenerate and pour some energy back into the batts, but here's the question... Are there hybrid electric/electric vehicles out there? Vehicles with two separate systems? One with motor(s) and batts etc designed with endurance the priority, and a separate motor/generator designed with regen and acceleration in mind? I'm trying to figure out what these Russian guys have with their patent for a gyromotor recuperator, which "provides conversion of kinetic energy of high-speed gyromotor rotor rotation in electrical energy and vice versa": http://www.flywheel.ru/patent_1.html Haven't read the whole thing, but it seems like they have some interesting things to say. The sense of it that I get is that it's optimized towards the brake/regen/accelerate end of the spectrum. Anyway, again the question. Would the added complexity (losses?) of two systems in your EV subtract too much from any gains having two separate and specialized motors and batt banks... one optimized for acceleration and regen/braking (and as a spare complete propulsion system maybe?) and the other optimized for "cruising" while the first system "idles"? The accelerator/brakes secondary system might not even use batts, if I read the Russians correctly... Just curious and a little offtrack, as usual <smile> Lock http://groups.yahoo.com/group/QCYCTender/ ______________________________________________________________________ Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca
