Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard
How much range is provided with the 'Energy Storage System' and the 'Low pressure storage' tanks?
 |
What is the all electric range of a first generation Insight? You are missing the point, which is the storage and release capacity of hydraulics allows for highest efficiency operation of an IC engine or a battery powered car that does not need voltage control for speed control.
As far as accumulator explosions, that is a matter of simple shielding, position in the vehicle, and one other fact james did not address. The gas in an accumulator is an inert gas, same type used in some types of fire extinguishing systems. That is completely different from scuba tanks which supply oxygen which is highly flammable when combined with any combustible.
We have all driven vehicles with many gallons of gasoline in tanks which can be ruptured in collisions. Rupturing a nitrogen filled accumulator would release around 5-20 cubic feet of inert nitrogen, which if it ever happened would block the air from the area of the vehicle for a short period of time and actually act as a fire retardant.
Accumulator technology is ancient, dating even before WW2. How many times have you heard of an accumulator "explosion" in any application that ever cost a single human life. Compare that to traffic fatalities that number 2 million in the US in my lifetime.
Comparing high pressure oxygen tanks to high pressure nitrogen tanks? Would you use a scuba divers tank to put out a fire?
There are numerous examples of bombers in WW2 that suffered flak hits to the reserve LOW pressure oxygen systems, while I don't remember a single instance of a death related to hydraulic accumulator failure. Maybe james can provide us with some examples?
regards
Mech