Re: Forcing an *up*shift in an automatic--mpgs

"Patok" <patok@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:f44tar$2st$1@xxxxxxxxxxx
N8N wrote:
On May 31, 8:52 pm, Patok <p...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Stepping on the brake /is/ stone-age. The very idea that all that
energy is dissipated into heat is an affront to any person with sci-tech
thinking. A system with 4 electric motors and electro-dynamic braking
would be so much better. But they killed the electric car, right?

"They" haven't killed it, the technology is on the shelf waiting for a
nice dense energy storage medium.


That too, you have a point. I've always wondered why it's not feasible
(if they have actually attempted it) to make a car that works the way
diesel locomotives work - a constant-speed engine charges a battery and
feeds the motors. The battery can be smaller than for a pure electric car;
the engine can be smaller than for a pure mechanical drive car, and more
efficient (because of the constant speed); the energy from braking will be
regenerated. I'm curious what factors (or combination thereof) make this
unfeasible. (Didn't the Honda Prius do something similar, but not quite?)

Actually, the diesel drives a generator which powers traction motors
directly--at least on smaller work-type locomotives, and I'm pretty sure on
the big boys as well.
The rpm does seem to vary from idel to load, like gas-powered welders.
In NYC subways (all electric), regenerative braking far exceeds the friction
brakes, ito power.
Unfortunately, this regenerative power is bled off through huge resistor
banks, and not fed back into batteries (there are none), and not back into
the third rail/running rails, because being unregulated it interferes with
the trackside signal systems.

The Prius has battery-charging regenerative brakes, fwiu.

But, pure battery operated vehicles w/ an ancillary generator would seem
simple and workable, mebbe w/ some solar roof chargers.
Something perhaps a diy-er could do.
Yeah, detroit would love dat.
--
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