Re: The future of hybrid cars

From: Phil. Felton (felton_at_princeton.edu)
Date: 10/13/04 

Date: Wed, 13 Oct 2004 01:50:53 -0400

Eunometic wrote:

> alexterrell@yahoo.com (Alex Terrell) wrote in message news:<d81e59c9.0410101303.1d0284e3@posting.google.com>...
> > Hybrid cars seem a good start for hybrid cars, and is selling well
> > enough to get economies of scale on key components. The next steps
> > seem to be:
> >
> > - Increased battery storage to enable 1 hr, or about 30 miles of
> > running
>
> Quite, but this is somewhat dependent upon battery or hopefully
> hyper-capacitor evolution. Deeper discharge while maintaining battery
> life is one area.
>
> Hypercpaticitors that do not require expensive metals (mass production
> can do nothing about cheapening materials such as nickel).
>
> > - Improved primary generator (diesel, or later, fuel cell rather than
> > petrol)
>
> The action at the momment is in turbo-diesel direct injection engines
> which seem to be evolving with new technolgies such as Nitrous Oxide
> Traps, Selective Catalytic Reduction and new types of piezio electric
> injectors.
>
> In the Prius lean burn engines are used with NOX trap catalystic
> converters. (a source of a substantial protion of its savings) and of
> course stratified charge lean burn engines.
>
> The biggest promise is the HCCI engine (Homogenous Charge Compression
> Ingnition) Engine which may excede 30% savings over petrol engines and
> challenges fuel cells.

Would probably have to be used in a hybrid wiith a large battery component because of its inherently low load
characteristics.

>
>
> > - Plug-in capability - to recharge the batteries from a domestic power
> > supply.
> >
> > I estimate that 10 kWhrs should be enough to run a mid-sized car for
> > an hour, or 30 miles. Most cars, most of the time, do less than this
> > in a day. So owners would charge the car at night, on cheap
> > electricity, and do all day's runs on electric power only. Only for
> > long journey's would they use the high efficiency generator.
>
> Your estimate is about right. Typical energy consumption of an all
> electric is 10Kw.Hr per 100km per ton of car. A Prius weighs 1.3 ton.
>
> Problem is that for a 4 seater car of 1 ton perhaps only 330kg of lead
> acid batteries can be carried and this limits range at 50% disharge to
> about 80km. This is at modest performance. (max speed 120km/hr or
> 70mph)
> Longer ranges or higher speeds lead to an exponential growth in car
> mass so you can end up with a two ton car for a 120km range.
>
> >
> > At night time rates, 10 KWhrs costs 25p or 40c. This would replace a
> > gallon of petrol (~£4 in the UK, $2? in the USA). This would make it
> > very attractive for consumers.
> >
> > As most charging would be done at night, there would no need
> > (initially at least) for extra distribution or genration capacity. In
> > time, unused cars could even become standby generators to sell
> > electricity at high rates back to the grid.
>
> The plugable hybird in which a percentage of the cars travel can come
> from a simple domestic charge has potential as it won't tax the
> electricity network or require heavy duty wiring, plugs and sockets.
>
> (note 1.5 sq meter of solar cell will provide about 1.1kw.hr of
> energy: enough for up to 11km of driving) Some people will be able to
> drive to work on an electric charge and drive home on a solar charge.
>
> I also think that parking meters can be made power outlets as well.
>
> >
> > Comments?
>
> A key aspect I thnk will be the replacement of the rare earth
> permanent magnet motor with a switched reluctance type. There don't
> require expensive materials but are still efficient, light and
> powerfull. Harder to control though.
>
> I don't believe a solution which involves expensive raw materials such
> as platinum, nickel, neodynium etc will succede.
>
> I also think that the 'light hybrid' in which an enlarged combined
> starter alternator can allow engine stoping and starting at lights and
> a small amount of regenerative braking combined with lean burn or HCCI
> technology is more likely to succede than more conventional 'heavy'
> hybirds as it is affordable.
>
> For istance a HCCI engine with a 'light hybird' may achieve a 40%
> saving at a much lower price than the Prius.
>
> >
> > Also, is electricity currently wasted at night? I think some
> > generators (gas, hydro) can turn off to reduce supply. Lower prices
> > can encourage demand. Pumped storage can store energy. Is this enough?
> > What is the CO2 impact of increasing night time electricity load.
>
> Load levelling is always usefull however in some cases it is already
> levelled!

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