Quote:
Originally Posted by ConnClark
Its probably in the unicorn corral because there is no real fuel saving to be achieved by doing so.
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But it hasn't been shown that there is no fuel savings.
Various sources suggest that lead acid batteries have about a 50% charge efficiency. There is an inverse relationship between charge efficiency and state of charge. At about 50% state of charge, the charge efficiency is over 90%. However, lead acid batteries are normally operated at nearly full charge, which has a charge acceptance efficiency of 50%.
Capacitors have almost a linear charge efficiency of 95+ percent. This should translate into fuel savings, albeit very small.
I'll also note that LiPoFe4 batteries are more efficient than lead at accepting a charge, especially near the full state of charge. I believe they are somewhere around 80% efficient.
No unicorns here, just science.