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Future Hybrid Technologies
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Research and development of hybrid cars and other efficient automotive technology is moving forward at a rapid pace.
Which automotive technology will prevail in the future? The likely answer is a mix of technologies.
Gas - continued improvements in fuel economy and reduced emissions are likely to keep the gas engine in the running for many years to come.
Diesel - Green Diesels - Ultra - clean burning diesels have been on European highways for years. The Lupo, produced by Volkswagon, gets 90 mpg. Diesel powered cars represent 25% of the European car market. (There has been very little press coverage on this technology in North America.) Improvements in 'green' diesel cars are expected: Volkswagon has announced that they expect to produce a four - passenger diesel powered car which can get 190 mpg. Scheduled for release in late 2004, the Jeep Liberty is the first clean - diesel in DaimlerChrysler's US lineup.
Biodiesel - a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It can be used in compression - ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.
Electric - small, battery - powered, zero - emission vehicles are expected to become a popular alternative commuter vehicle, especially in congested urban areas.
Hybrid - may well become the dominant technology for all - purpose road cars, having an advantage over the electrics for driving longer distances.
Hydraulic Hybrid - Ford Motor Co. and the U.S. EPA are working together to develop a unique hybrid, high - efficiency vehicle that uses hydraulic fluid to store and provide energy to power the car. The technology could be used to dramatically improve the fuel economy of sport utility vehicles and light trucks. The hybrid system uses hydraulic pumps and hydraulic storage tanks to store energy in the place of electric motors and batteries used in electric hybrid vehicles. This hydraulic power system could have cost and power advantages over electric hybrid systems, the developers believe.
Fuel cell - promising long - term outlook, but some obstacles yet to overcome, such as cost, improved performance, reducing the size and weight of the fuel cell systems and setting up a hydrogen fuel supply infrastructure. The current refining process for hydrogen fuel is a dirty process, and will need improvement. DaimlerChrysler has invested US$1 billion in fuel cell research and has built ten fuel cell vehicles either as concept cars or test vehicles, each one powered by Ballard fuel cells. Honda's fuel - cell car, the FCX, is currently being road tested.
Hydrogen hybrids - combine the high fuel economy attributes of today's gasoline - electric hybrids with the near - zero emissions of internal combustion engines running on hydrogen. The result is an extremely clean - running vehicle, using the same environmentally positive fuel as hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, but at a lower cost. A recently developed solid storage medium for hydrogen vehicles is key to this promising technology. Still, there.s a lot of work ahead to make this vision workable . costs must come down, fuel cell durability must improve, and challenges that go beyond the vehicles themselves must be met. Creating hydrogen economically is one of them, as is developing a widespread refueling infrastructure.
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User Testimonials and Comments
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I believe that Toyota have already combined their technology for hybrids and fuel cells in a research vehicle. My point is that the some of these technologies would lead to a better solution than having them competing. It strikes me that significant gains could be made by combining the latest technology on fuel efficiency. I don't think you can get away from the obvious efficiency gains by recovering the kinetic energy lost during braking, whether as hydraulic or electrical energy. If this technology is then combined with advances in conventional propulsion such as advanced diesels or FSI petrol / gasoline engines, surely we will have far better vehicles and a lower reliance on fossil fuels.
. Dave, Rochester, New York
I note from the advances in electric hybrid vehicles that it is now sensible to consider solar cells in composite materials in the bonnet and boot lids as well as the roof to supplement the electrical power production and help minimize the use of the petrol / gasoline engine. This would allow charging of the battery or allow continuous use of air-conditioning when stuck in heavy traffic during the day time or when the vehicle is parked in the sun during the day.
. Fred Caldbeck, London, Ontario
Diesels in the USA. Europe and the rest of the world are Green by burning less. We in the US are regulated by the EPA which is driven by California's unique problem of smog. A huge effort is directed to get low Parts Per Million exhaust at the expense of efficiency. The cleanup of the exhaust has come at a decrease in mileage. Diesels are penalized in the US even more than gas because of their production of N0x and its effects of smog. World cars at 60mpg are not certifiable in the US.
- Anonymous
A gallon of diesel has a higher specific heat content than gas. (More energy per gallon). Diesel is also burned at a higher peak temperature producing even more output per gallon. Also, diesels have no throttle plate for partial load operation thus have little pumping loss compared to the gas engine. Lastly, combustion products of the diesel are lubricants whereas particulate of gas combustion are very abrasive and accelerate engine wear.
- Anonymous
Conventional techniques exist to extract far more miles out of a gallon. Continuous Variable transmissions, regenerative breaking and Valve controlled cylinder shutdown would work wonders. Operate an engine on just enough cylinders to produce situational power at the most efficient throttle
setting, vary the transmission to keep the engine at a minimum RPM and computer control all systems to produce a seamless orchestration of all of the variables. Add regenerative breaking for energy recovery.
- Anonymous
Work on the accessories. Electrically powered or variable displacement hydraulic steering could save wasted horsepower. Variable displacement continuous operation AC compressors could have a lower overall system power drain. LED lighting could save 30A of battery drain for headlamps alone. Energy used on accessories does not go to movement.
Regards, Russ Walters
Good website. I am a typical power hungry male. I buy big powerful cars. I commute in a Ford SHO. I eat 300 grams of protein every day. The hybrids are neat, but are too small. I have owned 3 small cars and never was comfortable in one in close traffic. One crunch and I am gone. I am interested in the hydraulic hybrid. A hybrid accumulator could provide huge amounts of power for getting going. They never wear out. A diesel engine would only need enough power for maximum speed. A truck manufacturer years ago had a rig with two engines. When they got up to speed one engine would shut off. The same system would work here. Maybe two small turbo diesels. Food for thought. I am building a hybrid prototype yard tractor to test some ideas. I plan to use a 5 horse gas engine and a 5 gallon accumulator . The engine will start with fluid from the accumulator. It can go short distances without the engine running.
Rob Tahlaban
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