dcb -
Quote:
Originally Posted by dcb
Flatlanders like me don't have a problem with the occasional hill, but have a problem with constant losses in the series transmission of power from engine to wheels. Can we not have a separate solution that is optimized to our locale? Or do we need to spend an extra $15k per vehicle and suffer series inefficiencies of the shlepping the extra baggage around in case a mountain suddenly appears?
If you do have hills, and find slowing down while climbing them to be so injurious as to merit such a complicated solution, then, well, I don't know what to say, except that it would be far more efficient to downshift back to bsfc on an extended climb than carry a bunch of extra and currently expensive stuff up the hill, and suffer transmission losses to boot.
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This sounds like your are hinting at your separate "range extender" solution. If you were the hybrid king, how would you integrate/de-integrate a range extender? I don't think a hitch-on range extender would work from an automaker POV, but I can imagine an engine (and fuel tank?!?!?!) that could be "rolled into" a lowered trunk area via a detachable gurney. I think the average joe *might* accept a 30 minute installation/de-installation process, if his/her usage of said car allowed for maybe one install/de-install per week.
CarloSW2