This huge 5 sp vs Auto debate got me thinking about what trucks will be
like in 10 or 15 years. Toyota just started marketing the first hybrid car
ready for consumers. Gets in the 60mpg range. If it is like the hybrid
prototypes I've seen, it has NO transmission, but the smaller-than-normal
engine drives a generator. Then there is a direct drive motor to power the
wheels, and a small set of batteries to provide extra "oomph" for
accelerating. The idea here is that a 175hp engine cruising down the
freeway at only 15 hp is very inefficient. However, a 50 hp engine doing
the same is much more efficient, and the batteries (or newer "flywheel
batteries" being developed) provide the extra hp needed to accelerate
briskly. Once you're cruising, the computer control keeps the engine at
whatever power setting is needed to maintain your speed and top-off the
battery charge.
I've often wondered how well my Dakota would work if I pulled the tranny (I
have an auto, used to have a Dak 5sp), transfer case, and drive shafts and
put an electric motor on each diff. The tranny would be replaced with a
generator. This setup would be the same as in a modern diesel-electric
locomotive. Far simpler and reliable than any mechanical transmission
system (as much as I hate to say that since I'm a mechanical engineer). You
could even install a few batteries and have the first 1/4 travel of the
brake pedal engage a regenerative braking system (where the drive motors
become generators and charge the batteries, thus recovering the energy
instead of wasting it as heat from the normal brakes). Obviously, this
would require a control system of some sort, but GM's electric car and
probably the new Toyota use this system. Better yet would be a drive motor
for each wheel, but that'd be much harder to do as a "conversion".
One problem I've thought about with a fully "hybrid" truck, is when you are
towing up long hills. If you only had 50hp for an engine, you'd be going
awfully slow once the batteries/flywheels had expended all their energy.
Still, I think an electric powertrain with a normal-sized engine might be
the way to go.
For cars, however, there are going to be some major changes in the next 10
years. Rosen motors (Rosen is CEO of Compac) is developing a
turbine/flywheel hybrid, and has a working Saturn with this drive train.
The turbine is only 20-30 hp (educated guess, it might be different), with
one moving part, and can run off of just about any fuel. The flywheel
battery system is the most complex, but they have solved most of the
problems (like how to safely contain a rotor spinning at 60k rpm in case of
an accident). I think they're getting in the 100mpg range, and it drives
(accelerates) as well as a normal Saturn.
So, you loyal 5sp owners who "love" to drive a stick. Enjoy it while you
can. Electric drive systems don't need gears!
-Karl
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jun 20 2003 - 12:07:54 EDT