"Big rigs will have to slash fuel consumption by 23 percent".

[dcb]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

... and wonder why no one can seem to see that two electric trains, timed right, could do it practically for free.

It's a whole different thread, it isn't free, it is like 20% off retail.

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

But in the long run, it doesn't matter how fuel efficient trucks or diesel-electric trains are, if we don't have the fuel.

OTOH, I figured out once that you could run the current US rail system by building just 19 1 GW reactors - and that's just 1-1 replacing the energy from current diesel, without figuring the higher efficiency of electric, and the recapture of braking energy on the downgrades.

I sometimes see trains belching diesel smoke while going over Donner Pass, one struggling uphill westbound from Reno, another eastbound from Sacramento, and wonder why no one can seem to see that two electric trains, timed right, could do it practically for free.

...electrify those RAILS...fry the little forest creatures (ha,ha).

...have you thought about the HUGE resistance differences between COPPER or SILVER conductors and STEEL/IRON railroad tracks? Might be good for clearing the railroad tracks during winter snow storms though!

...although, if lightweight SUPER-CAPACITORS can be developed to "hold" the charge, maybe sufficient down-hill regeneration energy could be captured during steep down-hill grades to offset "some/most" of the energy required on the next up-hill grade? Basically, a BIGGER version of the GM e-boost system using CAPACITORS instead of BATTERIES to "hold" the energy between recovery and reuse.

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by dcb

Old Mech is right to bring up Hydraulic Hybrids here though, absolutely.

What ever became of them?
I recall years ago about reading about how dodge had a hydraulic hybrid that got city fuel milage almost as good as the electric hybrids for thousands of dollars less.

[Piwoslaw]

Originally Posted by dcb

It's a whole different thread, it isn't free, it is like 20% off retail.

Here is one of the threads we can move the train discussion to:
CSX Freight Train

Now, back to improving truck efficiency by up to 23%...

[trooper Tdiesel]

over the road trucks yes easy to do. at lower speeds i see 12 to 15 mpg as a very real number.
closer to 9 or 11 mpg for 75 mph



but for trucks that are on and off road.
like log trucks and 105,500lb chip trucks. that must have ground clearance and or aggressive tires.
do to being driven on rock roads, mountainous areas, foul weather.

and all ways rushing for that last load of the day, quite often drivers are pad by the load not the mile.
so driving slow is throne out the window. for them to make an extra $100ish or so a day for that one extra load, and a lower chance of losing there job be cause they avreg more loads per day.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...electrify those RAILS...fry the little forest creatures (ha,ha).

...have you thought about the HUGE resistance differences between COPPER or SILVER conductors and STEEL/IRON railroad tracks? Might be good for clearing the railroad tracks during winter snow storms though!

Oh, dear, all those insoluble technical problems. Wonder how it is that the Europeans, and indeed, some commuter railroads in the northeast, manage to use electric rail? Maybe you should tell them what's wrong?

[Hubert Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by p38fln

The hydraulic systems are awesome from what I've heard - they're hybrids without all the mess of batteries Excellent for trash haulers

Except that its really hard to keep a sealed hydraulic system according to at least one of my professors from a hybrid powertrain course I had taken last semester.

[user removed]

Originally Posted by Hubert Farnsworth

Except that its really hard to keep a sealed hydraulic system according to at least one of my professors from a hybrid powertrain course I had taken last semester.

Yep I gotta mop the brake fluid off my floor every day.
Or is it the transmission fluid?
Or the oil?

If you design the pump properly the high pressure circuit is contained within the low pressure circuit. I think a decent seal can contain 30-60 PSI.

Now if you are talking about a beat to snot Bobcat with 7500 hours on it, that is about the same as a 65 Lincoln with 600,000 miles and no maintenance.

regards
Mech

[redneck]

Originally Posted by Hubert Farnsworth
Except that its really hard to keep a sealed hydraulic system according to at least one of my professors from a hybrid powertrain course I had taken last semester.

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

Yep I gotta mop the brake fluid off my floor every day.
Or is it the transmission fluid?
Or the oil?

If you design the pump properly the high pressure circuit is contained within the low pressure circuit. I think a decent seal can contain 30-60 PSI.

Now if you are talking about a beat to snot Bobcat with 7500 hours on it, that is about the same as a 65 Lincoln with 600,000 miles and no maintenance.

regards
Mech

Agreed.

As mentioned, keeping a hydraulic system sealed is not a problem.

Manufactures have no problem sealing even high pressure common rail fuel systems in diesels.

In common rail systems, a high pressure pump stores a reservoir of fuel at high pressure — up to and above 2,000 bars (29,000 psi) without leaks.

A Hydraulic Hybrid would use no where near that pressure making it even easier to seal.

>

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Oh, dear, all those insoluble technical problems. Wonder how it is that the Europeans, and indeed, some commuter railroads in the northeast, manage to use electric rail? Maybe you should tell them what's wrong?

...uh, they aren't using old-tech railroad rails based upon Roman chariots...that's why!

...they (Japan and Europe) are using mega-lift rails, as I recall, and are riding on a magnetic field with *no* physical contact--unlike our USA railroads...that's why!