Comments

• 	terminology killian on 04/22/2008 at 1:28 PM
  Posts: 55 Avg Rating:	What GM now called Range Extended Electric Vehicle is also known as a Serial Hybrid. Rate this comment: (Reply)

  • 	Re: terminology Kevin Bullis on 04/30/2008 at 3:14 PM		TR Staff Nanotechnology and Materials Science Editor
    Posts: 58 Avg Rating:	Hybrid researchers are telling me that the extended-range v. plug-in distinction we're making here is more useful than the old parallel and series   categories. That's in part because the Prius isn't exactly a parallel, in a traditional sense. Rate this comment: (Reply)

• Hybrid Mass Transit mkogrady on 04/25/2008 at 1:44 PM

  Posts: 120 Avg Rating:

  Adapting hybrids to be used as an engine source for mass transit (ie light rail or suspended rail) is my first choice for this technology since it's proven that electric drivetrain technology has huge torque capabilities. A small train-like solution can be powered by using a front ended train engine and operator compartment, and a back-end large battery - rear facing safety monitor compartment that could be rigged to pull large trains of small personal cube-like cars that are either rail based or suspended above the pull car track like amusement ride rollercoasters. By using batteries as the power source and arranging them in series for more power and distance, it's quite possible to get much higher commuter mileage out of them. A dual use system could provide the advantage that bigger trains pulling goods like big-rigs do today could lead to reducing congestion and lowering operational costs for everyone. It would be quiet, very smooth riding and probably darn energy efficient to run. Retrofitting roads for the tracks would be the expensive part, and best of all - these jobs can't be off-shored! Besides - the costs for new Hybrids will be beyond most normal wage earners reach, and mass transit will be the most likely candidate for future commuters and generations. Rate this comment: (Reply)

  • Re: Hybrid Mass Transit Brian H on 04/26/2008 at 7:47 PM

    Posts: 24 Avg Rating:

    No mention here of pure EV. The TeslaMotors Roadster is just a sportscar, but gets 200+ miles range, 125mph top, 130mpg equivalent. Sticker (2009 model) is base $109,000. Being intro'd in EU next year, too, at $155,000 fully loaded special edition. The lead-acid battery is last century's tech. The Roadster uses 6831 little LiIon batteries arranged in 12 modules. Recharges in, e.g., 3-4 hrs on a 240V/70A line. Rate this comment: (Reply)

    • 	Re: Hybrid Mass Transit Kevin Bullis on 04/30/2008 at 3:07 PM		TR Staff Nanotechnology and Materials Science Editor
      Posts: 58 Avg Rating:	Good point. Of course, a pure electric car graphic is pretty simple.  Rate this comment: (Reply)

      • 	Re: Hybrid Mass Transit Brian H on 06/02/2008 at 2:52 PM
        Posts: 24 Avg Rating:	Yes, the Roadster motor sits directly between the rear wheels, as the "axle".  Weighs about 115 lbs, cooling included.  ~280 HP.  Click on the "motor" button, here: http://www.teslamotors.com/design/under_the_skin.php Rate this comment: (Reply)

    • 	Re: Hybrid Mass Transit sdmaley on 11/15/2008 at 8:09 PM
      Posts: 1 Avg Rating:	Does that work out to 67 kWH per charge? Even at PNW grid rates, that would be more than $5 to go less than 200 mi ... perhaps 130 mi in reality. With gasoline under $3/gal and a 45 mpg Prius hybrid, that might mean the Tesla roadster would only be 1.7 to 2.67 x better effective mpg. Rate this comment: (Reply)

  • 	Re: Hybrid Mass Transit Kevin Bullis on 04/30/2008 at 3:11 PM		TR Staff Nanotechnology and Materials Science Editor
    Posts: 58 Avg Rating:	I agree that mass transit is a great app for hybrid tech.  There are already a number of hybrid buses on the road.  And GE has a hybrid locomotive. http://ge.ecomagination.com/site/downloads/hybr/Hybrid_onepager_en.pdf Hybrid garbage trucks and delivery trucks are also a good idea. Rate this comment: (Reply)

    • Re: Hybrid Mass Transit Brian H on 06/02/2008 at 3:00 PM

      Posts: 24 Avg Rating:

      I think the application space for hybrids will shrink considerably as LiIon battery tech improves.   Silicon nanowire tech etc. promise energy densities up to 10X current levels, which are already very good.  Hybrid tech involves a complete parallel system, and reduces, but does not eliminate, hydrocarbon fuel use and contamination.  Mass transit operators would have the advantage of having optimized charging feeds (high amperage), not accessible to private non-fleet vehicles. Rate this comment: (Reply)

• 	Diesel Generator Plataputylus on 05/05/2008 at 8:56 AM
  Posts: 5 Avg Rating:	Can someone explain to me why no one seems to want to put a diesel engine/generator in these cars?  Why stick with gasoline?  Think about a diesel electric (like WWII sub or today's locomotives), with the possibility of using the grease-car approach or biodiesel.  Rate this comment: (Reply)

  • 	Re: Diesel Generator mheslep on 05/09/2008 at 12:06 AM
    Posts: 1 Avg Rating:	Yes, Mr Electric, Bob Lutz from GM has an answer for you: new EPA diesel standards. See the video here: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/07/12/video-bob-lutz-expounds-on-diesel-in-america/ He claims EPA standards are so tight, and that gas ICE efficiency is coming on so fast that it makes since for at least the Volt to stay gas. Take it or leave it. Rate this comment: (Reply)

• electric grid -- T&D system energymv@gmail.com on 05/15/2008 at 2:10 PM

  Posts: 5 Avg Rating:

  Any transition to plug-in hybrids or all EV's will begin to tax the grid.  It emphasizes the need to upgrade the electric distribution system to supply electricity to the added load of thousands of plug-in hybrids pulling into their garages at 5:30 pm everyday.  The present distribution system does not have the capacity in most regions. Electric power capacity reserves are currently at a record low. Rate this comment: (Reply)

• 	Electric grid Vinny111 on 05/18/2008 at 9:58 AM
  Posts: 1 Avg Rating:	The grid will be fine during this first generation of electric car conversion.  The solar "singularity" is coming close enough that it should blend quite well with the change to electric vehicles and eventually blending with hydrogen generated tech. Our new energy world is right around the next corner! Rate this comment: (Reply)

• Not REAL electric cars! nielsoe on 05/26/2008 at 3:56 PM

  Posts: 1 Avg Rating:

  The cars featured in this nice demo is not what we in Europe think of as electric cars. A <i>real</i> electric car has only the electric motor, and has the ability to have a minimal CO2 footprint, if charged with power from a windturbine. I was hoping to see a demo off some of the new technologies to control acceleration, deacceleration, charging etc. that with new batterytypes are extending the range of electric cars to more than 130 km on a single charge - more than enough for most dayly commutes. Project better place is about such cars, and I hope to be driving such a car in about 3 years.. Rate this comment: (Reply)

• 	Still need oil? surpassspace on 06/20/2008 at 2:17 AM
  Posts: 1 Avg Rating:	IF there are some other energy we can use? Rate this comment: (Reply)

  • 	Re: Still need oil? teddy on 06/23/2008 at 11:18 PM
    Posts: 1 Avg Rating:	ye the energey maybe come from sun Rate this comment: (Reply)

• 	hybrids rafael7 on 09/30/2008 at 9:14 AM
  Posts: 7 Avg Rating:	I think the Flinstones Car is about as green as it gets. I did have a car when I was five that worked on a similar principle, but with a chain assist. Rate this comment: (Reply)

• Energy Solvere Solvere on 11/25/2008 at 3:33 AM

  Posts: 4 Avg Rating:

  We must learn from aerospace development. Internal combustion engine is reciprocating, it is least efficient. Yet it needs explosion in every interval shorter than eyes blink, so it needs volatile, pure volatile, so it is costly, energy intensive to refine. Yet is exploded at so high temperature, caused nitrogen to explode. The key is to change from reciprocating ICE to rotating turbo-electric generator to sustain longer distance, heavier load. Turbo can burn on lower grade fuel with more complete combustion, but need steam boilers, too bulky. So you need "Direct Thermal Transport" to burn even the lowest grade of combustibles to attain high speed,highly directional exhaust to drive miniature turbine. Read "Energy Solvere" Money cannot save General Motors This can Solvere Lim Swee Keng SM(MIT), MBA(Law) Engineer, Inventor, Economist with Philosophical Depth CtS Cognoscere tenuse Solvere Cognize before Happening Solving beyond Root Causes Rate this comment: (Reply)