High MPG

[Raymond C Drouillard]

Funny you should mention that.  I just went to the open-house for
Lawrence Technological University (LTU) and they were displaying advanced
hybrid vehicle.  They were displaying the first one, which was powered by
a small (Geo, I think) engine and an electric motor.  Their second
version uses a Volkswagon Diesel engine.  It has better range than most
automobiles (700+ miles, if I'm not mistaken), the ability to run from
either source or a combination of both, and a computer controlled
transmission (manual shifted by a computer).

For short trips, you don't even need to start the engine.  In the city,
you can run off the electric motor and start the engine when the
batteries start to get low.  If you have the engine running, you have the
power of both the engine and the electric motor at your disposal.  I
forgot what the 0-60 time is, but it isn't too shabby.

Oops... I almost forgot.  It has regenerative braking.

Now, if they want to get fancy, they can use the waste heat from the
exhaust to run a stirling or steam engine that is turning a generater.

Ray Drouillard, BSEE (from LTU)


On Tue, 5 May 1998 08:10:24 -0400 "Gary Derian" <gderian at cyberdrive.net>
writes:
>The thermodynamics of Sterling, Wankle, turbine are all governed by the
same
>laws.  Low temperature compression, high temperature expansion.  This is
>what drives efficiency.  These alternatives all have their place in the
>world but none of them offer an increase in efficiency.
>
>In my opinion, the best currently available technology is a hybrid
vehicle:
>electric drive, small battery for acceleration, small diesel to generate
the
>average power needed and regenerative braking.  Toyota even builds one
for
>sale, but with gasoline at $1 a gallon, its just not worth it.
>Gary Derian <gderian at cybergate.net>
>
>From: Raymond C Drouillard <cosmic.ray at juno.com>
>
>>On Mon, 04 May 1998 14:57:45 -0700 Frederic Breitwieser
>><frederic.breitwieser at xephic.dynip.com> writes:
>>>>Ceramic parts which operate without cooling and greater expansion
>>ratios can
>>>>reduce this energy wastage.  None of which has anything to do with
>>pushrods.
>>>
>>>Hello Gary,
>>>
>>>I didn't mean to imply that the pushrods are the culprit, I was 
>merely
>>>commenting that the 100 year old design has outlived its 
>practicality,
>>and
>>>that new engineering should take place.
>>>
>>>
>>>Frederic Breitwieser
>>>Bridgeport, CT 06606
>>>
>>>Homebrew Automotive Website:
>>>http://www.xephic.dynip.com/
>>>
>>>1993 Supercharged Lincoln Continental
>>>1989 HMMWV
>>>2000 Buick-Powered Mid-Engined Sports Car
>>
>>I have seen several ideas tried, but none of them seemed to make the 
>big
>>time.  The otto-cycle engine has also had a hundred years of of
>>refinement.  The Wankyl, Stirling, and turbine engine simply don't 
>have
>>all those thousands of hours of research and refinement behind them.  
>The
>>auto companies could make a go of it with the other designs, but the 
>cost
>>of the research would force them to charge a lot for the cars.  So 
>far,
>>nobody is willing to take that big of a risk.  We'll have to see
>>something that is clearly superior before the auto manufactures get 
>the
>>courage to put the research necessary into it.
>>
>>We could, no doubt, get a Stirling engine to run well enough to power 
>a
>>car.  The first few would have enough problems to make the owners 
>wish
>>for a good 'ol gasoline burner that "never gave me any trouble".
>>
>>Maybe the next major change in engine technology will be a steam 
>turbine
>>powered by cold fusion.  Just put some coils or magnets around the 
>edge
>>of the turbine and draw the power off electromagnetically.  Make the
>>turbine and housing out of ceramic, use magnetic bearings, and just 
>keep
>>it running all the time to keep the temperature up to operating
>>temperature.
>>
>>Anyhow, I fear that I have strayed off subject a tad.  It'll be
>>interesting to see how many people swear that the whole cold fusion 
>thing
>>is a hoax, how many believe that it works and has been supressed by 
>the
>>oil companys, and how many people (such as myself) think that there
>>simply hasn't been enough clean research to draw a firm conclusion 
>one
>>way or the other ("I keep telling Orville and Wilbur that powered 
>flight
>>simply can't work!")
>>
>>Ray Drouillard
>
>
>

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