The Future of Hybrid Technology

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

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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!

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#1316 of 1335 A123 Lithium Ion batteries looking to make the Big Time by larsb Apr 30, 2008 (5:48 am)
It is the quickest electric motorcycle in the world. On a popular YouTube video, the black dragster cycle nearly disappears in a cloud of smoke as the driver does a "burn-out," spinning the back wheel to heat it up. As the smoke drifts away, the driver settles into position and hits a switch, and the bike surges forward, accelerating to 60 miles per hour in less than a second. Seven seconds later it crosses the quarter-mile mark at 168 miles per hour--quick enough to compete with gas-powered dragsters. What powers the "Killacycle" is a novel lithium-ion battery developed by A123 Systems, a startup in Watertown, MA--one of a handful of companies working on similar technology. The company's batteries store more than twice as much energy as nickel-metal hydride batteries, the type used in today's hybrid cars, while delivering the bursts of power necessary for high performance. A radically modified version of the lithium-ion batteries used in portable electronics, the technology could jump-start the long-sputtering electric-vehicle market, which today represents a tiny fraction of 1 percent of vehicle sales in the United States. A123's batteries in particular have attracted the interest of General Motors, which is testing them as a way to power the Volt, an electric car with a gasoline generator; the vehicle is expected to go into mass production as early as 2010. If this battery performs as expected - WHEW !!! As Easy As A123 Replies to this message: tpe (Apr 30, 2008 4:41 pm)
#1317 of 1335 Re: A123 Lithium Ion batteries looking to make the Big Time [larsb] by tpe Apr 30, 2008 (4:41 pm)
Replying to: larsb (Apr 30, 2008 5:48 am) A123 seems to have an impressive product. Their batteries are already being used in some Dewalt power tools. In addition to hybrids and EVs I believe these battery packs have a lot of potential in lawn mowers and string trimmers, which are very polluting. Hopefully A123 can create the manufacturing capacity to meet the demand.
#1318 of 1335 hydrogen fuel?? by pengibella May 24, 2008 (7:44 am)
Do you think it is possible to retro fit cars with hydrogen units? What do you think of this site. www.hfactorfs.com
#1319 of 1335 'Yota using solar panels on bext gen Prius? by larsb Jul 07, 2008 (9:02 am)
Veddy Veddy Interestink............... Toyota plans Prius with solar panels Posted by Steven Musil 29 comments Toyota plans to install solar panels on the roof of the next generation of Prius hybrid cars, according to a report in Monday's edition of the Nikkei newspaper. The panels, which are expected to begin appearing on the high-end version of the gasoline-electric hybrid car as early as next spring, will supply part of the 2 to 5 kilowatts needed to power the air conditioning, MarketWatch cited the Japanese business daily as reporting. Kyocera will reportedly supply the panels. The move would make Toyota the first major automaker to incorporate a solar-power generation system into a mass-produced car. Here Comes The Sun
#1320 of 1335 The future according to IBM by larsb Aug 20, 2008 (12:26 pm)
See the full report here If you ask none other than IBM, we are twelve years away from an "all hybrids ALL THE TIME" future.
#1321 of 1335 Technology advance? by larsb Sep 30, 2008 (6:54 am)
Could this be the technology which kills fuel cell cars? High-Efficiency Generators for Hybrid Vehicles. Free-piston engines could be used to generate electricity as efficiently as, and less expensively than, fuel cells. An unconventional engine design is attracting attention as a potential alternative to hydrogen fuel cells or conventional engines in some hybrid vehicles. Called the free-piston engine, it could be used to generate electricity as efficiently as fuel cells yet cost less. Free-piston engines aren't new: they were invented in the 1920s. But the increased recent focus on hybrid cars has led a growing number of research groups and automakers to start research programs to develop the technology. Unlike in conventional engines, there is no mechanical connection between the piston and a crankshaft (hence the name free-piston). Since the design allows for improved combustion and less friction, the engines could be far more efficient in generating electricity than either conventional generators or newer fuel-cell technology. Having a cheap and efficient way to generate electricity is becoming more important as automakers develop electric vehicles with onboard generators for recharging the battery pack and extending range. Such vehicles, called series plug-in hybrids or extended-range electric vehicles, are to be sold starting in late 2010. (Click here for a comparison of different hybrid and electric vehicle types.) The first will use generators based on conventional engines. But later models could incorporate fuel cells or other unconventional generators, such as free-piston engines. The potential high efficiency of free-piston engines gives them an advantage over conventional generators, and their ability to use a variety of fuels is an advantage over hydrogen fuel cells. What's more, free-piston engines don't require expensive materials such as the platinum catalysts needed in fuel cells, so they could be cheaper too. Automakers such as GM, Lotus, and Volvo have started to investigate the possibility of using such engines in future vehicles. Meanwhile, in the past couple of years, an increasing number of academic research teams have started developing the engines. So far, most have focused on computer simulations. An exception is a research group at Sandia National Laboratory led by Sandia researcher Peter Van Blarigan that has been testing physical components of free-piston engines. He is assembling a complete free-piston engine prototype, a project that he expects to complete within a year. Replies to this message: gagrice (Sep 30, 2008 12:18 pm) tpe (Oct 01, 2008 5:08 am) gagrice (Oct 01, 2008 8:49 am) coldcranker (Mar 14, 2009 9:09 am)
#1322 of 1335 Press Request by KarenS HOST Sep 30, 2008 (10:40 am)
A reporter from a national newspaper would like to speak to consumers who are always looking for the latest car technologies. If you always looking for the newest car gadgets, please respond to ctalatiedmunds.com with your daytime phone number by Monday, October 6.
#1323 of 1335 Re: Technology advance? [larsb] by gagrice Sep 30, 2008 (12:18 pm)
Replying to: larsb (Sep 30, 2008 6:54 am) Very interesting. I guess it pays to dig around in old shops and warehouses to find inventions that were ahead of their time...
#1324 of 1335 Re: Technology advance? [larsb] by tpe Oct 01, 2008 (5:08 am)
Replying to: larsb (Sep 30, 2008 6:54 am) There's also some research going on involving replacing the ICE generator with a microturbine generator. Turbine engines are more efficient than ICEs but are not really suitable for directly driving the wheels. However if they are used to generate electricity instead that eliminates many of their shortcomings. Turbine engines can also run on a variety of fuels and, due to their fewer parts, should be lower maintenance. Replies to this message: gagrice (Oct 01, 2008 8:49 am) coldcranker (Mar 14, 2009 9:09 am)
#1325 of 1335 Re: Technology advance? [tpe] by gagrice Oct 01, 2008 (8:49 am)
Replying to: tpe (Oct 01, 2008 5:08 am) I would think the advancement in ceramics would make small turbines much better than the one in the Chrysler turbine car and the 1968 Indy turbine car that blew away the competition. I have always liked turbines for their simplicity. Replies to this message: coldcranker (Mar 14, 2009 9:09 am)