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"DH" <dh@stargate.com> wrote in message
news:43f3940d$0$11369$6d36acad@titian.nntpserver.com...[color=blue]
> "badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:xn0eiie0h1ah8m1004@news.readfreenews.net...[color=green]
>> [url]http://www.newtechspy.com/articles06/hydraulichybrid.html[/url]
>>
>> ---Ford is developing a new form of automotive propulsion, and the
>> implications for the American Auto Industry are huge. The Hydraulic
>> Hybrid could be the greatest innovation since the internal combustion
>> engine itself, and Ford is on the inside track with its F-150 Hybrid.
>> New Tech Spy Has learned details about the system that are simply
>> amazing and could put Ford in a commanding position in the fiercely
>> competitive full size pickup market.
>> ---The Idea behind the current crop of Hybrid cars is well known; the
>> cars main energy comes from gasoline which recharges batteries that
>> move the car at low speeds. Hydraulic Hybrids work in the same manner,
>> only instead of batteries, excess energy is stored in hydraulic
>> cylinders.That in itself is not revolutionary, except for the fact that
>> Nickel Metal Hydride batteries used today are not an efficient way to
>> store energy, and hydraulic storage blows them away with 3X the
>> efficiency. Even next generation Lithium Ion batteries do not come
>> close to Hydraulic Energy Storage.
>> ---The standard F-150 has a curb weight of about 4800 lbs., which is
>> 65% greater than theToyota Prius, yet incredibly the Hydraulic F-150
>> with a continuously variable transmission matches the Prius with 60mpg
>> city rating, that's an amazing 400% increase over its gasoline version.
>> ---The F-150 makes for a perfect host for Hydraulic Hybrid technology
>> because of its height and body on frame construction, adding this
>> system to smaller vehicles will be challenging, but with those kind of
>> numbers small vehicles as we know them may become obsolete...The
>> Hydraulic F-150 is currently scheduled for launch in August of 2008,
>> can Ford work out all the bugs by then? The people are waiting for Ford
>> to come through in the clutch.[/color]
>
> It's an interesting article and thank you for calling it to our attention
> but I have some trouble believing the claims.
>
> Batteries are already in the neighborhood of 80% efficient. If the
> hydraulic storage mechanism was somehow 100% efficient (and that's not
> possible), that would make the hydraulic hybrid just 25% more efficient
> than
> an electric hybrid, all other things being equal.
>
> It should also be a simple thing to add an external AC charger to a
> contemporary electric hybrid, making it possible for short trips to be
> entirely "alternative fuel" trips (e.g., the electricity that fills the
> batteries could come from coal - boo!, nuclear, solar, wind or whatever).
> Increases in battery performance or capacity would be easily integrated
> into
> an electric hybrid system. It would probably be somewhat more complicated
> to "charge" the hydraulic hybrid off household AC. With an AC-chargeable
> electric hybrid, some users would only very rarely need to visit a gas
> station. You could even use a timer to get off-peak rates for your power.
>
> Electric motors and generators are also, as far as I know, fairly
> efficient.
> I once worked at a power company and one of the high-voltage AC engineers
> told me that their generators were about 97% efficient, based on shaft
> input. Again, a 100% efficient hydraulic system would be only very
> marginally better than current hybrid technology.
>
> As it is, hybrids on the highway have to build their electric energy as
> they
> go along and they do this by using the gas engine in the most efficient
> way
> possible. As it is, electric hybrids can only marginally outperform
> normal
> cars on extended highway runs (which now have 5- or 6-speed transmissions
> to
> help optimize highway travel). I don't see the hydraulic hybrid doing
> much
> better than electric hybrids on the highway. Gas engine efficiency will
> be
> the limiting factor. With its high profile, large weight and fat tires,
> it's very hard to believe a pickup with a gas engine running at its
> optimum
> efficiency is going to get anywhere near 60mpg.
>[/color]

According to the article I read, highway fuel consumption is the same or
slightly higher with the hydraulic hybrid because it stores energy only when
braking.


--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)