surprised GE hasn't got in on this, They own most of the patents for diesel electric power switching type technology, not sure if its all public domain yet, But it is the reason they are one of the largest diesel electric train builders.
essentially they balance the output of the engine to match the power demand of the train at the engines most economical output. to get the train moving they need to fire high amperage to the wheels, at high speed they power needs to be high voltage lower amperage. http://www.getransportation.com/ there's a number of companies, starting to look at hybrid trucks (mainly diesel electric) for around town stuff, such as ups vans, and 3 ton delivery trucks, mainline trucks are currently better off with the standard system, as they aren't stuck up in built up areas. It wouldn't be easy, but it would be a cool challenge to build such a vehicle. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Mike Weaver Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2005 12:13 PM To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Debatable statement? I'm in. let's buy a wrecked 1st generation Prius and do it. And they're all gasoline powered! The only way to get a diesel electric hybrid in this country is to build it yourself. I swear, before, I'm dead, I'm going to build a solar-svo-diesel-electric-regenerative hybrid out of some old school bus or airport shuttle! TarynToo wrote: >Hi Zeke, > >On Sep 15, 2005, at 5:59 PM, Zeke Yewdall wrote: > > > >>... >>Even the new hybrids get lousy gas mileage, >>because the hybrid design is optimized for adding power, not >>increasing mileage like the insight and prius were. ... >> >> > >Oh man, this just burns my a*s. I was so excited a few years ago when >we started hearing the rumblings about hybrids from american automakers >and lexus, et al. Then to discover that the electrics were being >coupled to gas engines to add acceleration, not to improve overall >performance and efficiency. It's disgusting to think that they're >strapping a half ton of batteries and electrics to some mondo SUV, >betting that the american buyer just wants another second shaved off >the 1/4 mile times. Sometimes I just hate the priorities of my >countrymen. > >And they're all gasoline powered! The only way to get a diesel electric >hybrid in this country is to build it yourself. I swear, before, I'm >dead, I'm going to build a solar-svo-diesel-electric-regenerative >hybrid out of some old school bus or airport shuttle! > >Taryn >http://ornae.com/ > > >_______________________________________________ >Biofuel mailing list >Biofuel@sustainablelists.org >http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org > >Biofuel at Journey to Forever: >http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > >Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): >http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ > > _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
