Can a series hybrid really work?

[Eric E]

For those of you who don't know, the technical name for the Volt's powertrain concept is "series hybrid". For more info do a google search.

This is a commercially available shuttle bus with a true series hybrid powertrain.

I guess the Volt concept works.

http://www.azuredynamics.com/product...s_SeriesHE.pdf

[DaV8or]

Railroad locomotives and commuter trains since the 1920's have been serial hybrids. Yeah, it works. It works really well.

[wtiger]

I'm pretty sure most large ships also run series hybrids. Not necessarily for efficiency, but an electric motor can be quickly reversed to slow the ship and if something hits the blade the shock won't destroy an electric motor like it will an ICE.

[Eric E]

Yeah...So com'on Freightliner, Kenworth, Peterbuilt, Volvo, and all you big truck manufacturers.

A deisel series hybrid design with regenerative breaking combined with Li-ion batteries and a large bank of ultra-capacitors would work great in a big rig.

It may increase fuel mileage quite a bit... and think of the torque you'd get from an electric drive train! We're talk'n POWER BABY!

[nlh_90210]

Yeah...So com'on Freightliner, Kenworth, Peterbuilt, Volvo, and all you big truck manufacturers.

A deisel series hybrid design with regenerative breaking combined with Li-ion batteries and a large bank of ultra-capacitors would work great in a big rig.

It may increase fuel mileage quite a bit... and think of the torque you'd get from an electric drive train! We're talk'n POWER BABY!

Yeah, no doubt... you can really down-size your ICE because all of your low end torque is provided by the electric motor. Also, all of the complexity of the clutching system goes away. And imagine not having to listen to engine brakes.

That battery is going to be pricey...

[darthvader420]

That battery is going to be pricey...

Very pricey, but compared to fuel costs it will look more and more tempting as time goes on. A huge jump in mileage like that would be a boon to the trucking industry.

[DaV8or]

Well, you guys do realize that the trains and boats that use serial hybrid design today have no batteries right? There really aren't any batteries big enough to handle that kind of power. Li-Ion powered trucks probably will never happen. Electric trucks running from batteries will probably have to come from the next battery technology to come along.

[JoeReal]

Talk about the power of regenerative braking!

"The energy dissipated in braking a 207-ton locomotive during the course of one year is enough to power 160 households for that year. GE engineers are working on a hybrid locomotive that could capture all that energy and store it for later use. The goal: increase power while reducing fuel use and emmissions"

http://ge.ecomagination.com/site/dow...nepager_en.pdf


IIRC, the batteries are made of molten salt. Yes, my memory is still intact on this one:

"GE’s hybrid locomotive cuts both emissions and fuel consumption by up to half by capturing the 207-ton train’s braking energy and using it to supplement the diesel engines to accelerate or climb steep inclines. No modern battery can capture, store, and redeliver that much power, so GE created its own: a 1,000-pound molten-salt cell, which combines sodium with a metal chloride. That chemical recipe allows more current to flow through it than other batteries, so the 20-cell system can deploy 2,000 horsepower in less than a second. The Evolution made its cross-country debut in May and carries its first commercial load in 2010. ge.ecomagination.com"

from:
http://www.isegoria.net/2007/11/clea...ever-built.htm

[DaV8or]

Very cool. Seems incredible. I have hard time wrapping my mind around this battery. How big is is physically I wonder? Is it scalable? Hmmmm...

The goal: increase power while reducing fuel use

This is exactly the same reason they ditched steam power for diesel electric. In addition, amazing flexibility with regard to turn around and coupling combinations. Big money savings drives innovation faster than anything. No government required.

[Texas]

Or we could just electrify our trains like Japan does and collect the regenerative braking energy and put it right back on the line for another train to use during acceleration. Kind of like a home solar panel that is grid-tied (no batteries needed). Hummmm. That just makes too much sense. Never mind.



"Dynamic braking can be used on electric railways to convert the energy of the train back into usable power by diverting the braking current into the current rail or overhead line. This is known as regenerative braking. It is used in the same way as rheostatic braking but the energy can be used by other trains requiring power. The power developed by a braking train may not be accepted by the line if no other trains are drawing power so trains equipped with regenerative braking will usually have resistor grids as well to absorb the excess energy. The balance between regenerated current and rheostatic current is also controlled electronical. See also our Electric Traction Pages Page and under Dynamic Brakes in North American Freight Train Brakes."