German Hybrid Vehicles ??

Oh, I agree - the best of both worlds.

"wkearney99" > wrote in message ...
>> They only use less fossil fuel during low speed city driving while
>> on battery power, not during highway driving. During highway
>> driving they use more fossil fuel than my diesel Jetta.
>
> Oh won't it be fun when someone makes a diesel hybrid. Seems like VW's
> experience would come in handy.
>

Brian Running wrote:
> > Just for fun, a pig race across the USA:
> >
> > http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005..._bests_hy.html
>
> Wow. Neither one is a real knockout, mileage-wise. There's still a lot
> to be said for light weight and aerodynamic efficiency.

The irony is, that the more weight you have, the better hybrids work.
So, if you start losing weight, the advantage of hybrid concept will
fade away, because the only thing the hybrids do is saving the energy
which otherwise would be lost in brakes. The fatter the car is, the
more enegy can be saved.
So, those fat and heavy SUVs should be the ultimate demostration of
what is achievable. And you still get a 10% worse mileage as just a
plain diesel. And the advantage in the city traffic is only marginally
better (2% or so).
The aerodynamics will favor both cars in the same way, but I do not
expect anything significant, as the Cx is staying at the same level for
the last 20 years. My old Audi 100 (known as 5000 in the USA) already
has a Cx=0.3.

Ok, we will see.

On 29 Sep 2005 01:53:39 -0700, wrote:

>The irony is, that the more weight you have, the better hybrids work.
>So, if you start losing weight, the advantage of hybrid concept will
>fade away, because the only thing the hybrids do is saving the energy
>which otherwise would be lost in brakes. The fatter the car is, the
>more enegy can be saved.
>So, those fat and heavy SUVs should be the ultimate demostration of
>what is achievable. And you still get a 10% worse mileage as just a
>plain diesel. And the advantage in the city traffic is only marginally
>better (2% or so).
>The aerodynamics will favor both cars in the same way, but I do not
>expect anything significant, as the Cx is staying at the same level for
>the last 20 years. My old Audi 100 (known as 5000 in the USA) already
>has a Cx=0.3.
>
>Ok, we will see.

Just so everyone understands, aerodynamic drag is directly
proportional to: (1) the drag coefficient (Cx), (2) the frontal cross
sectional area, and most importantly (3) the velocity^2 (square of the
velocity to those that don't recognize the symbols).

As previously noted, mileage is also directly proportional to how much
weight needs to be hauled around. Clearly, there is room for some more
radical thinking, if any headway is going to be made. Using more
efficient technologies to push 4000lb bricks (SUVs) around, loaded
with only one or two passengers isn't the answer.

Perhaps some sort of lightweight modular vehicle? Add extra modules
for more power and seats? Trains and barges already use this
principal.

David Glos

Erik Dillenkofer wrote:
> Oh, I agree - the best of both worlds.
>
> "wkearney99" > wrote in message ...
>
>>>They only use less fossil fuel during low speed city driving while
>>>on battery power, not during highway driving. During highway
>>>driving they use more fossil fuel than my diesel Jetta.
>>
>>Oh won't it be fun when someone makes a diesel hybrid. Seems like VW's
>>experience would come in handy.
>>
>
>
>
The idea of diesel hybrids has actually been in use for a long time.
Railroads have been using diesel locomotives for years that are actually
powering electric motors (aka hybrids). It is only in the last few years
that car companies have adopted this to passenger vehicles.

*MYSTIC*

Mystic wrote:

> >>Oh won't it be fun when someone makes a diesel hybrid. Seems like VW's
> >>experience would come in handy.
> >
> The idea of diesel hybrids has actually been in use for a long time.
> Railroads have been using diesel locomotives for years that are actually
> powering electric motors (aka hybrids). It is only in the last few years
> that car companies have adopted this to passenger vehicles.

But for a totally different reasons. A hybrid in the train is
essentially nothing more as an (almost) ideal "gearbox". So, they do
not need any clutch and start rolling using the maximum power your
engine can produce. And it does not matter how much it weights, as
locomotives actually need some serious weight to develop enough
traction.