2004-05-07
After reading about it somewhere, I have always wondered why we were not hearing much about the possibility of having diesel-electric hybrid cars (where the car is powered by electric motor(s) with electricity derived from a diesel engine)?
Wouldn't this put many more cars etc. with electric power-trains on the road and give much better real-life test data, which could help make the electric power-train for cars etc. become more mature? This might also help develop power-trains that were previously not possible with conventional diesel/gasoline engines and drive-train.
The best feature would be the continued dependence on fossil fuels which can keep the powers-that-be appeased. Then, why aren't there any? Is it not possible? Has it been tried before?
In a
reply to a question on diesel-electric trucks, Matt Smith from Brisbane, Australia, describes the following example of a vehicle employing diesel-electric set-up:
The huge dump trucks used in the Pilbara mines (known as 'Haul paks') have axle mounted electric traction motors powered by diesel engines. This configuration is identical to that used on diesel electric locomotives. The reason being no standard gearbox could efficiently deal with the loads hauled by these monstrous trucks.
(Reference - 'Moving Mountains' video on Pilbara railways).
Matt Smith
Apparently, the diesel-electric hybrid concept has been applied, and with positive results. See this article on diesel-electric hybrids (PDF file) from dieselforum.org.
This article mentions a test conducted by New York City Transit (NYCT). The following seems to indicate positive results:
...The transit agency found that the hybrid buses provided up to a 22% fuel economy advantage over conventional diesels. Facility preparations for accommodating hybrid buses were minor, especially compared to the major infrastructure modifications required to fuel and maintain compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. Operators of the diesel-electric hybrids were very pleased to find that the buses offered faster acceleration into busy traffic, better traction in bad weather, and smoother braking. Passengers report favoring the smoother, quieter ride...
...In early 2002, NYCT significantly increased its diesel-electric hybrid fleet with the purchase of 125 Orion model VII buses powered by Cummins engines...
dieselforum.org
It is strange, however, that such a success did not bring about any significant changes. Maybe, it is the cost. Diesel-electric hybrids probably cost a lot of money. See the following quote:
...Each prototype hybrid bus was purchased at a price of USD 465,000, compared to a price of about USD 320,000 for CNG buses and USD 290,000 for conventional diesels. Maintenance costs for the hybrid buses were 76-150% higher than those for conventional diesels. ...
With such cost problems, I suppose, an ordinary car user might not be willing to try a diesel-electric hybrid.
Labels: electric powertrain, serial hybrids
Posted by FiniteState42i @13:57
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