Jones Beene wrote:
Let's see... for the plug-in hybrid. Even without a major breakthrough in batteries or H2 storage, one could have a vehicle with total electric motor drivetrain, enough batteries for a 25+ mile commute (say 6- large marine grade lead-acid batteries . . .
I think modern advanced batteries would be better. The range is much better. Over the life of the car they are cheaper. There are no environmental problems recycling them as far as I know. (There better not be, or Toyota's headquarters will be besieged by hordes of environmentalist tree-hugger tea-drinking Prius owners like me! Hey, we can do baaad-assed confrontation, too! Don't push us!)
- 240 pounds). A small 1 liter gen-set for longer highway use or to recharge the batteries in an emergency.
I do not see the point of this. The ICE should have enough power to keep the car at maximum speed by itself. What would you plan to do with an underpowered ICE? You would have to pull over, run the ICE for a while until you got a sufficient recharge, and then travel another 20 miles. That sounds dangerous.
This electric-only hybrid design is referred to as "serial hybrid." The Prius, Insight and other modern commercial designs are all parallel hybrids. Serial hybrids were first made in the early 20th century. They are simpler, but I think less efficient.
The Prius transmission is innovative and interesting, and quite unlike a conventional automobile. It employs a planet gear. It reminds me of the old Sturmey-Archer three-speed bicycle hub gears of yore. Quintessential British technology.
- Jed
