DIY_EFI Digest V3 #193

[Raymond C Drouillard]

On Mon, 4 May 1998 22:44:25 -0600 Jim Velasquez
<jim_velasquez at partech.com> writes:
>Hey, folks, who says that future automobiles with INTERNAL combustion
>engines can't make use of electric drivetrains and FUEL CELLS?
>Supposedly said are in early development, and if some design challenges
>are solved, we could be looking at a HIGHLY efficient powerplant that
>could still burn gasoline (such a fuel cell DOES exist!).  They output
>electricity, heat, and some combustion byproducts...

The fuel cell I saw at the Detroit North American Auto Show used
catylists to crack the fuel and extract the hydrogen.  The carbon was
basically tossed out.  They claimed that even with the wasted carbon, the
system as a whole is more efficient than an internal combustion engine.

You can't use fuels containing carbon in a fuel cell because the
resultant CO2 would neutralize the electrolyte.  Most fuel cells I have
seen use NaOH (sodium hydroxide) as an electrolyte.  I wonder if anyone
has tried using an acidic electrolyte.

>
>We would then be doing exotic ELECTRIC motor swaps, so what?
>I for one would enjoy fitting such to one of my project cars.

I would put a motor at each wheel.  That would give me 4WD, and eliminate
the traction problems of open differentials.  I would have the advantage
of lockers without any of the disadvantages.  The control system could
detect and stop spin, and the appropriate amount of torque could be sent
to each wheel.

For you performance car fans, the computer could use the steering wheel
position, acceleration sensors, etc. to determine how much torque to put
to each wheel for ideal traction when cornering.  Each wheel could be
kept near its adhesion limits.  The actual force vector on the contact
patch would be at some angle based on th eamount of torque applied and
the centrepital acceleration.

Ray Drouillard

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