Dyna Sluyter wrote:
> Hmm... has a small diesel engine, batteries, and electric motors,
> and uses less fuel and pollutes less than a diesel bus? Has Metro
> Transit found a loophole in the basic laws of physics?
>From my understanding of hybrid-engine vehicles, the claims of greater
efficiency and less pollution seem reasonable. The diesel engines are
run at a constant rpm and are tuned to be the most fuel efficient at
that rpm level. It is the change in rpms that cause diesel engines to
become less efficient and more polluting. By running the diesel engine
at a constant speed, that issue is overcome. The diesel engine is not
directly connected to the wheels, instead, it charges the battery. The
electric motor is connected to the wheels and drives the bus. The
diesel engine will not necessarily be running all of the time, it will
depend on whether or not the bus is accelerating and what the battery
charge level is. At least, this is my understanding of how certain
automobiles with hybrid-engine configurations work. There may be other
configurations, of which the Metro Council busses may use.
However, since this off-topic, this will be the last time I address it
on this forum.
Scott McGerik
Hawthorne
Minneapolis
http://www.visi.com/~scottlm/
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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