Thread: Hybrid Racecar?
View Single Post
Old 07-11-2010, 02:19 AM   #3 (permalink)
Bicycle Bob
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Bicycle Bob's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: N. Saskatchewan, CA
Posts: 1,803

Appliance White - '93 Geo Metro 4-Dr. Auto
Last 3: 42.35 mpg (US)

Stealth RV - '91 Chevy Sprint Base
Thanks: 91
Thanked 459 Times in 327 Posts
The hot setup seems to be use lots of regenerative braking, and use the stored power sparingly, for lower speed acceleration and for passing boosts. In a race, any time the engine has power to spare, the brakes have more. A well-cooled ni-cad battery sized to run your motor/generators for ten minutes either way will be able to handle the amperage and give you a bit of reserve to play with. Some new lithium cells promise very fast charging rates, too, with great efficiency (and cool-running) Capacitors, of course, are instant, but expensive and heavy. Given that you may have to throw away some heat as well during braking, you can run the generator and battery past maximum efficiency for their weight, and come out ahead, if you are careful about cooling. Of course, the electric system can implement all the traction tricks a silicon brain can think of too, even with a "dumb" disk brake setup in parallel.
  Reply With Quote