Quote:
Originally Posted by Arragonis
According to something random I came across a while ago it takes just 18hp to push a Ford Sierra along at 70mph. It takes many times that much to accelerate or climb hills, and nothing at all to descend. So for a mid-sized car (say Ford Mundano in the UK / Ford Fusion in the states) I think the changes could be :
1. Lower weight for composite panels, lighter seats etc etc.
2. Smaller engine - TSI style 1.4 Turbo, 120-170hp.
3. 6 Speed gearbox with loooong 6th.
4. Free-wheel, like old Rovers and SAABs used to have for built in coasting ability.
Take the three states a car typically runs in.
Flat cruise - engine runs like a 1.4 NA with long gearing.
Accelerate / Climb - turbo adds torque required temporarily.
Decelerate / Descend - free wheel allows engine to drop to idle.
For the last one if the box is auto or semi auto then maybe the box could slip into a long gear to go into DFCO mode depending on the rate of deceleration.
None of this is expensive and all of it exists / could be made easily.
Someone could even do it as a project here.
* What is the cost of a turbo vs Hybrid stuff in terms of weight and money ?
* What is the power / torque output of a 1.4 petrol at idle ?
|
This sounds a good idea, but how complex would the controlling of it be?
Jamesqf- thats a positive sign
