Hi,
Quote:
Originally Posted by dcb
Please lets not call trains hybrids, even in quotes, they only have one power source, it will only further confuse people.
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But, that is precisely what a diesel electric train is: a serial (or series) hybrid.
The Volt is a poorly implemented serial hybrid.
The ICE is way too big, and it is parts bin engineering. So, it weighs a lot more than it should. It is 1,000 pounds heavier than the Prius!
The ICE does not use the biggest advantage that it could: if it ran the ICE at a single, peak efficiency RPM and charged the battery, then it would avoid the biggest problem with convention ICE powertrains. The fact that you need a multi-ratio transmission means that the ICE by definition cannot be run at peak efficiency much of the time.
As GM *should* know, an EV is working with a lot less energy storage, and so it needs to be as efficient as possible. And a good serial hybrid is a good EV with an added genset that is *just* as big as it needs to be. Lotus, and Getrag and a third company I am forgetting the name of, have designed such gensets.
If GM had equaled the EV1 in aero drag, and improved on the weight with lighter lithium batteries (they probably had a 4 seat EV1 all set to go), then they would have had a
home run on their hands.
As it stand, they have
bunted a single.