AFS Trinity EXTREME Hybrids!!!

[cfg83]

Hello -

Here's the main website :

http://www.afstrinity.com/

I have been noticing this exact same car for the last 20 years. It has usually been languishing in the "new tech" startup section of the car shows along with the donut engines :

http://www.afstrinity.net/Jan08-AFST...esentation.pdf (page 6)


Here it is on the right. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same exact car I saw 20 years ago :

Detroit 2008: This is what 150 mpge looks like - pics of the XH-150 and XH250 hybrids
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/01...ics-of-the-xh/



And more pix ...

Picture Gallery: Detroit 2008: AFS Trinity XH-250 and XH-150
http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/afs-trinity-xh-250/


And a Yahoo business reference :

AFS Trinity Unveils 150 MPG Extreme Hybrid (XH(TM)) SUV
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080113/lasu007a.html

TEST RESULTS

According to Furia, the Extreme Hybrid(TM) tests just completed at Michelin's Laurens Proving Grounds in South Carolina produced ...

-- More than 150 miles per gallon of gasoline based on the EPA Combined
Urban/Highway Driving Cycle with 6 days per week of 40 miles per day
in all electric mode and one day at 100 miles with assistance of the
gas engine. Different driving patterns will produce different results.
-- 40 mile all-electric range on a single, overnight charge.
-- Extended range of 400 miles with hybrid operation.
-- Rapid acceleration in all modes of operation, including all electric
mode in which no gasoline is burned at all.
-- Highway speeds up to 87 miles per hour in either all electric or
hybrid mode.
-- Even faster acceleration and higher speeds possible in future
production models should the company decide to configure them for such
performance.

They seemed to have teamed up with "Ricardo" :

Ricardo delivers AFS Trinity Power's Extreme Hybrid(TM) demonstrator vehicle in record time
http://www.ricardo.com/media/pressre....aspx?page=103

Visitors to the North American International Auto Show were today given the opportunity to see the XH-150(tm), the first vehicle to feature AFS Trinity Power Corporation's Extreme HybridTM technology. The advanced demonstrator vehicle unveiled today is one of two developed by AFS Trinity and built by Ricardo under contract that were ready for testing in just five months.

As I remember it, the AFS Trinity folks have been trying to perfect flywheel technology FOREVER. In this iteration, they may have finally ditched the flywheels for UltraCaps to help normal batteries work in an EV car. But, I'll bet they've sneaked in a flywheel somewhere!!!!

CarloSW2

[Frank Lee]

They should be darn good and ready to compete for the X Prize!

[Frank Lee]

'97 Chrysler LHS meets 911?

[AndrewJ]

I have my doubts.

Take a "normal" hybrid suv (35mpg) and fancy it up with ultra capacitors for 150mpg?
I think not.

[Stan]

If that car can get 150 mpg, basjoos' Aerocivic can get 300...

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

I have my doubts.

Take a "normal" hybrid suv (35mpg) and fancy it up with ultra capacitors for 150mpg?
I think not.

Based on the given stats and modes of operation... It does seem reasonable for the conditions... You might not see 150mpg during your 100 mile trip - but averaged out with the 40 mile EV mode bits, it becomes a reasonable figure...

[AndrewJ]

Yeah, but doesn't the Prius have a 30 mile EV-only capability? It's like running a Prius EV-only for the whole EPA test to come up with an inflated number. Doesn't seem right to me.
In real life if you run it EV-only then I'm sure it would get great MPG numbers just like the Volt would where "normal" trip lengths are concerned.

But they seem to be throwing out 150 as a legitimate EPA number without any EPA testing.

[AndrewJ]

upon taking a second look, the 30 mile EV-only range is for an aftermarket PHEV kit for the Prius, still, that kit only claims 100mpg.

[Stan]

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

It's like running a Prius EV-only for the whole EPA test to come up with an inflated number.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Drive it in EV-mode for 110 miles over several days while recharging it every night, then drive 40 miles on gas at 40 mpg the last day and announce...voila!...150 mpg!

I think they call that "Enron Economics"...

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

But they seem to be throwing out 150 as a legitimate EPA number without any EPA testing.

We'll have to see what numbers the EPA rate it under... But they're quite clear that they did the testing following claiming to follow the EPA's guidelines with the whole 40 mile/day EV thing. Their website claims 30mpg in full hybrid mode.

upon taking a second look, the 30 mile EV-only range is for an after market PHEV kit for the Prius, still, that kit only claims 100mpg.

I think that may come down to capacity -- the 100mpg Prius kit, last I checked, replaces the factory battery with lead acid batteries (bigger than the factory pack though).

Even if it's half of 150mpg - that's a huge increase for an SUV (Aptera claimed 300mpg before they came down to 150).