01-11-2009, 10:20 PM
like Carnos Jax mentioned, you can get a smaller engine to run at a constant speed and be much more efficient that a regular engine.
Today's hybrids work like GGD described, the gas engine drives the wheels and also charges the battery, and when you brake, or go downhill, the battery is also charged, even if the gas engine is off.
Chevy Volt (if we ever get to see it), it's supposed to have an all electric drive train. You plug it in, charge the batteries, and can go up to 40 miles. Then, if you run low on the batteries, a small gas engine kicks in and runs at constant speed to charge the battery, but it will not drive the wheels. So if you speed up or slow down, the gas engine doesn't care, it runs at optimum speed until the battery is full and then it stops again. The drive train is all electric. I am curious what the MPG is for chevy Volt when you take a long trip and run mostly on gasoline.
I think GM CEO went from Detroit to DC n a Volt the second time to ask for $$$.
Today's hybrids work like GGD described, the gas engine drives the wheels and also charges the battery, and when you brake, or go downhill, the battery is also charged, even if the gas engine is off.
Chevy Volt (if we ever get to see it), it's supposed to have an all electric drive train. You plug it in, charge the batteries, and can go up to 40 miles. Then, if you run low on the batteries, a small gas engine kicks in and runs at constant speed to charge the battery, but it will not drive the wheels. So if you speed up or slow down, the gas engine doesn't care, it runs at optimum speed until the battery is full and then it stops again. The drive train is all electric. I am curious what the MPG is for chevy Volt when you take a long trip and run mostly on gasoline.
I think GM CEO went from Detroit to DC n a Volt the second time to ask for $$$.