Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard
Don't forget that diesel/electric train locomotives are serial hybrids!
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Diesel electric locomotives have nothing in common with cars. Locomotives uses series hybrid setup because they need infinitely variable gearing to get a 10,000 ton train moving from a stand still. It would be extremely expensive and difficult to build a mechanical gear box that could accelerate such a load. The diesel electric locomotive doesn't use batteries to store large quantities of energy. Its just a series drive system with an internal combustion motor, generator and electric traction motors. Also weight is a non issue in a locomotive. In fact the heavier it is the better in order to get enough traction on the rails. The first true hybrid diesel electric locomotives that incorporate batteries in the drive system for regenerative braking at just now starting to appear on the market.
GE ecomagination: Evolution Hybrid Locomotive
Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard
The latest freight train claim is they can move a ton over 400 miles on a single gallon of diesel.
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ALL vehicles become more efficient per ton as their total size goes up. This rule is true for cars, trucks, ships, trains, airplanes etc. Also a train doesn't have to deal with constantly accelerating and decelerating.