Is it time for automakers to get the fat out? - Car Forums

Instead of one big component, you have two smaller components that both need to be able to stand on their own without falling apart.

Not really; think of the rear add-on section as a trailer which doesn't move on its own. The drive section and the add-on could interlock similar to a trailer on a trailer hitch, but with 2 balls so it would stay linear.

Pick an engine that's adequate for just the main component, then once you hook up the secondary part it's going to be too much weight for it.

Trains and those double tractor-trailers can be designed to carry vary loads, so this isn't rocket science. So you would oversize the engine a little for the drive section making it sporty, so it is adequate with the add-on. Or as I said you could have electric motor drive recharging from the engine in the rear wheels.

Replies to this message:

andre1969 (Sep 05, 2008 9:44 am)

#52 of 52 Re: Modular construction? [kernick] by andre1969

Sep 05, 2008 (9:44 am)

Replying to: kernick (Sep 05, 2008 9:33 am)

Trains and those double tractor-trailers can be designed to carry vary loads, so this isn't rocket science. So you would oversize the engine a little for the drive section making it sporty, so it is adequate with the add-on. Or as I said you could have electric motor drive recharging from the engine in the rear wheels.

They also make truck tractors and railroad locomotives with varying amounts of power, mated to the task at hand. You're not going to use a rig designed to haul, say, 10 tons, to move a 40 ton load. And with trains, when the load gets too long, they have the option of adding another locomotive.

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Is it time for automakers to get the fat out? - READ ONLY

52 messages, Last post on Sep 05, 2008 at 9:44 AM

Messages Page 6 of 6

#50 of 52 Re: Modular construction? [lemmer] by michaell

Sep 04, 2008 (2:30 pm)

Replying to: lemmer (Sep 04, 2008 1:19 pm)

#51 of 52 Re: Modular construction? [andre1969] by kernick

Sep 05, 2008 (9:33 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Sep 04, 2008 10:15 am)