The Future of Hybrid Technology

1335 messages, Last post on Oct 07, 2009 at 4:45 AM

You are in the Hybrid Vehicles Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

What is this discussion about? Hybrid Cars

What does the future hold? What breakthroughs are just around the corner? The current hybrids are just the starting point. Let's hear your thoughts on what automotive power is going to look like in the years to come!

Outline

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#1306 of 1335 Re: My comment was actually a serious one.............. [gagrice] by daysailer Nov 20, 2006 (4:07 am)
Replying to: gagrice (Nov 17, 2006 7:32 pm) But the Prius driver can take comfort in the knowledge that it took less fuel to kill the deer than it would have with a pick-up, that is, if he lives.
#1307 of 1335 Re: My comment was actually a serious one.............. [gagrice] by larsb Nov 20, 2006 (5:48 am)
Replying to: gagrice (Nov 17, 2006 7:32 pm) From a person who grew up in and still has family in Texas deer country: DO NOT SWERVE TO MISS A DEER. I have a cousin who did that in his police cruiser at about 80 mph, was thrown out of the vehicle, suffered brain damage and almost died. My sister hit a deer in her 2007 Saturn Aura just last week. Broken windshield, blood and guts inside the car, but no humans were injured. People who swerve to miss deer put their lives in more danger than just hitting the animal. Best choice in deer country is indeed a large pickup with a large steel brushguard. But if you must drive a car, it does not matter what car you drive - just watch for deer and if you are going to hit one, just HIT YOUR BRAKES and do not swerve to avoid it. Replies to this message: pf_flyer (Nov 20, 2006 8:50 am) terry92270 (Nov 20, 2006 2:57 pm)
#1308 of 1335 Re: My comment was actually a serious one.............. [larsb] by pf_flyer HOST Nov 20, 2006 (8:50 am)
Replying to: larsb (Nov 20, 2006 5:48 am) Just to continue our seasonal off-topic diversion here for one more post (then we can get back to hybrids)... Just yesterday there were two people killed in an accident here. They swerved to miss a deer and went right into the path of a semi. Even without any traffic around, sudden moves can be dangerous. Staying under control and hitting the deer is likely a better choice than veering off the road into a tree or some other object, or losing control, rolling your vehicle, etc. And now, back to our regular programming... Replies to this message: terry92270 (Nov 20, 2006 2:57 pm)
#1309 of 1335 Re: My comment was actually a serious one.............. [pf_flyer] by terry92270 Nov 20, 2006 (2:57 pm)
Replying to: pf_flyer (Nov 20, 2006 8:50 am) One should take care, if having to hit such an animal, to stop braking just before impact. That way you increase the probability of the creature going under the vehicle, as the nose will move upward when releasing the brakes, instead of it flying up, and into your windshield.
#1310 of 1335 Mythology aside ............................. by daysailer Nov 21, 2006 (4:09 am)
Hybrid technology remains the greatest advance in ICE efficiency to date. But vehicles using that technology must nevertheless compete with other vehicles in the marketplace on more than fuel efficiency if they are to become a majority. I suspect that Toyota will eventually improve the Prius' dismal dynamics or replace it with a vehicle which, like the Camry hybrid, is more transparent as a hybrid, but cost remains the enemy to overcome.
#1311 of 1335 Maybe we will SKIP Lithium Ion technology and jump to Ultracapacitors? by larsb Aug 14, 2007 (6:47 am)
Ultracapacitors ROCK !! The recent victory of the Toyota Supra HV-R in Japan's 24-hour Tokachi endurance race suggests that ultracapacitors will replace batteries in cars, according to industry analyst Strategy Analytics. The Supra completed 616 laps during the endurance race, 19 more than the second placed car. The vehicle was equipped with ultracapacitors instead of rechargeable batteries for power storage. The analyst firm noted that the car was able to store large quantities of energy quickly from regenerative braking and apply this stored power quickly to its advantage. German car maker BMW has also demonstrated this ability in its 'syncap' concept whereby two-thirds of total vehicle torque is generated by the syncaps enabling heavy SUVs to accelerate more quickly than before with improved fuel economy. Replies to this message: tpe (Aug 14, 2007 9:04 am) michael2003 (Aug 14, 2007 11:35 am)
#1312 of 1335 Re: Maybe we will SKIP Lithium Ion technology and jump to Ultracapacitors? [larsb] by tpe Aug 14, 2007 (9:04 am)
Replying to: larsb (Aug 14, 2007 6:47 am) Unless you believe the hype from Eestor, ultracapacitors are a long way from being able to store as much energy as batteries. Ultracaps also have high self-discharge rates when compared to batteries. However they do offer many advantages today that could be used in blended solution for hybrids, PHEVs or EVs. As the article pointed out they have a much higher charge, discharge rate, and last a lot longer in terms of cycle life. This would greatly enhance a system that also included a battery pack. By allowing the ultracapacitors to handle the charging/discharging associated with stop and go driving you will not only recapture more energy, have greater acceleration but will significantly extend the battery pack's life. Replies to this message: michael2003 (Aug 14, 2007 11:35 am)
#1313 of 1335 Re: Maybe we will SKIP Lithium Ion technology and jump to Ultracapacitors? [tpe] by michael2003 Aug 14, 2007 (11:35 am)
Replying to: tpe (Aug 14, 2007 9:04 am) All good points and hopefully anyone coming out with a PHEV will also employ some amount of ultracaps in addition to the battery pack, specifically to help address the life cycle concerns of batteries.
#1314 of 1335 If this ever makes it to production, pencil me in as Owner. by larsb Apr 10, 2008 (1:03 pm)
Awesome concept. Real-World capable? Debatable. The Toyota 1/X concept vehicle It seems like every other day now that a car company announces a new concept that is redefining what it means to be an environmentally friendly vehicle. However, when Toyota says it, we tend to take a closer look. It was Toyota, after all, that created the Prius, the standard to which all subsequent hybrid vehicles are measured. The Toyota 1/x concept, which recently appeared at the Chicago Auto Show, is Toyota’s latest attempt at redefining what a green vehicle means. And to them, it is all about making it weigh less. The name 1/X refers to the reduced amount of weight, emissions and fuel consumption that the vehicle has compared to that of other similar vehicles in its class. It is made from a carbon fiber reinforced plastic frame, that is quite strong but much lighter than conventional framing system. The shape of the vehicle is a result of a desire by Toyota’s designers to create a smaller space, that would have a feeling of openness. It has the same amount of space as a Prius, yet weighs about a third. The roof is transparent, heat and noise insulating, and made from a bio-plastic derived from kenaf and ramie plants. The seats of the vehicle are extremely light, yet, according to Toyota, quite comfortable. The entire front of the vehicle is clad in an LED lighting system that provides a soft glow, illuminating the entire front surface of the vehicle. And, due to the light weight of the vehicle, the 1/X’s wheels are smaller and thinner than those of a regular vehicle. They have even reduced the amount of water splashed by the tires when traveling on wet surface. The 1/x is meant to operate at a fuel efficiency that is double that of the Prius. It comes with a plug-in hybrid unit and a small fuel-engine. This design, combined with the lightness of the car means that it can travel for over 600 miles on a four-gallon tank of fuel. Overall, a pretty impressive technology package from Toyota.
#1315 of 1335 Hybrids and the risk of cancer? by dewey Apr 27, 2008 (11:07 am)
Are hybrids healthy for drivers? There is a legitimate scientific reason for raising the issue. The flow of electrical current to the motor that moves a hybrid vehicle at low speeds (and assists the gasoline engine on the highway) produces magnetic fields, which some studies have associated with serious health matters, including a possible risk of leukemia among children. With the batteries and power cables in hybrids often placed close to the driver and passengers, some exposure to electromagnetic fields is unavoidable. Moreover, the exposure will be prolonged — unlike, say, using a hair dryer or electric shaver — for drivers who spend hours each day at the wheel. Some hybrid owners have actually tested their cars for electromagnetic fields using hand-held meters, and a few say they are alarmed by the results. Their concern is not without merit; agencies including the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute acknowledge the potential hazards of long-term exposure to a strong electromagnetic field, or E.M.F., and have done studies on the association of cancer risks with living near high-voltage utility lines. NY TIMES