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Old 03-25-2011, 07:27 AM   #22 (permalink)
dcb
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pimp mobile - '81 suzuki gs 250 t
90 day: 96.29 mpg (US)

schnitzel - '01 Volkswagen Golf TDI
90 day: 53.56 mpg (US)
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Found a hydrostatic motorcycle. No mention of an accumulator so not technically a hybrid, and the mpg isn't great, but it isn't too horrible either (~65mpg average).

Top speed 75 mph, engine rated at 24.8HP.

For comparison, Suzuki GZ250 top speed is 76mph, 20hp, rated @ 82 mpg

So the hydrostatic lost 1/5 of its horsepower somewhere, and 1/5 of its efficiency. I don't know that the bikes have significantly different CDAs with an upright rider on them, it is all pretty blunt. Plus the diesel seems to have lost any advantage of being a diesel.

Hydrostatic Drive Diesel Motorcycle

Of course recapturing braking would make a lot of sense, but this is just trying to compare apples to apples and break down to the detailed efficiencies. You can add a hydraulic motor-pump and accumulator in parallel to a "regular" bike too, and on the surface it would would yield even better results than forcing all the engine power through the hydrostatic drive.
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Last edited by dcb; 03-25-2011 at 07:49 AM..
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