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Old 10-26-2011, 09:04 PM   #7 (permalink)
busypaws
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Live in Tucson AZ, work and car now in Detroit
Posts: 200

Protege - '97 Mazda Protege DX
90 day: 46.42 mpg (US)
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Making the engine/computer/batteries do the same thing that we do now when the dirver Pulses and Glides. It would be P&G between engine and batteries and no loss in speed. So you could have the benefits of P&G without the loss in speed.
The problem I see is getting a big enough battery that could accept that 62hp of energy and then release it. Getting a big enough battery (today's battery technology) that could accept 62hp equivalent of energy and then release 13hp equivalent of energy to maintain speed in battery mode. That would add weight/size to vehicle and thus rolling resistance and aero drag.
A volt type Series hybrid would work better. You have the engine turn a generator at the "sweet spot" The engine generator is sized to only product the 13hp equivalent of long term driving. The battery is sized to allow any extra hp needed above 13 to be provided to the electric motor. So the battery managment would try and keep the battery at 60% charge. If the charge got downto 40% engine comes on runs at 13hp and recharges battery to 80% charge. You never charge the battery fully because then where does the energy go when you go down a hill or brake to stop. You never let the battery go completely empty or you won't have any power when you step on it to pass. Your always using your 13hp engine at it's sweet spot. When you get home your battery is between 40-80% charge, You do plug it in and top it off ot 80%.

This setup defeats the Volt purpose of driving 40miles on no engine running. Since we put a much smaller engine in the volts charging system it needs to cut on sooner so it stays ahead of any hills that might come up.
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