Green Car Congress: New Two-Speed Electric Vehicle Transmission For Improved Performance, Range and Battery Life
There seems to be a benefit to having a transmission in an electric vehicle. There is definitely an advantage to having short term high capacity regenerative energy storage.
Combine that with the elimination of conventional friction brakes and you have three good reasons to give a IVT power train reasonable consideration in an electric vehicle.
Also consider you could downsize the size and output of the electric motor, as well as cost. Adding a capacitor adds cost and increases complexity.
Also consider the cost of a high capacity capacitor, battery pack and you still need conventional brakes.
I would say (just my opinion) that there is a good combination of reasons to consider the combination of hydraulic IVTs and electric replenishment of accumulator reserves.
Then add in the ability to quickly change from pure electric to IC for long trips beyond the range of electric power alone.
As battery capacity and range, as well as the cost factor and reliability of batteries improve, then the IC power pack option would be rendered obsolete.
How long have we been chasing the battery configuration that changes the game and renders the IC option to the scrap heap?
Close to two centuries.
Instead of an "either or" attitude we should adopt a "what works now" attitude and improve the efficiency which will address the emissions issue with improved efficiency. At some point in the future the battery may replace the IC engine, but can we afford to put all of our efforts into a single solution.
Should solutions be exclusive or inclusive?
regards Mech