Hybrid Car Technology
Copyright 2006 Donovan Baldwin
LEADING UP TO THE NEED FOR A HYBRID VEHICLE
For most of the lifetime of automobiles, propulsion has been provided by the gasoline or diesel powered internal combustion type of engine.
There have been brief flirtations with steam, electricity, and vehicles that could use a variety of fuels, but most of these have fallen by the wayside as the gasoline engine pushed billions of vehicles down the road.
However, this single-minded dependence on petroleum-based fuels, and lubricants too, has placed the planet on the edge of a new future...a future without petroleum or, at best, with limited petroleum resources.
Government, business, and designers have combined efforts to come up with some sort of solution to at least part of the problem of maintaining our present way of life with the fact of decreasing petroleum supplies.
In previous incarnations of the personal vehicle, steam did not prove suitable for simple, daily operations, and electricity was limited by the speed with which battery charges dissipated, the length of time required for recharging, and the need to redesign and create an infrastructure for electric cars.
The recent solution has been the hybrid vehicle.
The hybrid car combines gasoline engine technology, already fairly highly advanced, with a battery/electric motor combination, which also uses technology that is well known.
WHAT A HYBRID VEHICLE DOES
The gasoline powered engine can provide higher, sustained speeds for long periods of time and recharge the battery as needed by means of a generator (more on this in a moment).
The battery/electric motor can provide the power to begin moving the hybrid vehicle, continue moving it at lower speeds and can power systems such as lights, radio, and air conditioner when the vehicle is at a stop.
This simple step of having the vehicle turn the engine off during idle times such as at stop signs, stop lights, drive-thrus, and stop-and-go traffic can result in quite a fuel savings by itself.
The forward movement of the vehicle itself can help store power in the battery by turning the electric generator.
One interesting aspect of this is that the electric generator which recharges the battery when turning in one direction is also the electric motor which draws power from the battery to move the car at lower speeds.
This, in its most basic form, is done by reversing the spin of the central rotor of the generator/motor.
This use of the same device to power the car and recharge the battery also allows for a unique feature - regenerative braking.
REGENERATIVE BRAKING IN A HYBRID VEHICLE
Regenerative braking is very simple in concept and turns a frequent and unavoidable expense into an asset in more than one way.
In an ordinary vehicle, brake pads or shoes press against a rotor or drum to slow and stop the vehicle.
This generates a lot of heat. Brake pads, shoes, rotors, and drums wear out due to the friction and heat and have to be replaced regularly. This can be expensive.
Stop-and-go city driving, tends to be the place where a large amount of braking occurs, so this is where most of the wear on brake parts occurs as well. With a regenerative braking system, such as that in the Toyota Prius hybrid, most braking will actually be provided by the electric motor itself at slower speeds.
As you apply the brake, the electric motor which was propelling the car now reverses itself and becomes a generator recharging the battery as you slow and stop.
The reversed motor creates torque which slows the vehicle and brings it to a stop, so the regular brake parts receive a lot less wear and need to be replaced less often.
FUEL ECONOMY AND "PLAYING THE LIGHTS" WITH A HYBRID VEHICLE
Add into the mix that stop-and-go city driving burns a lot of fuel.
In a gasoline or diesel powered automobile, it takes much larger amounts of fuel to start a vehicle from a stop than to keep it moving.
It requires less fuel to pick your speed back up when you have slowed down than to come to a complete stop and have to start from that point.
Some truck drivers (and trucks burn a lot of fuel), have been taught to view events ahead and take their foot off the accelerator if they feel they may have to stop at a light that is red or "stale" green, or if there is congestion ahead which will slow them down anyway. This is called "playing the lights" and can result in significant fuel savings in any vehicle.
A hybrid vehicle with regenerative braking is going to be saving wear and tear on brake parts, and taking it a little easier on the "go pedal" will help save even more in fuel costs if the driver is "playing the lights".
A hybrid vehicle commonly improves fuel economy by using the electric motor to start the vehicle moving and by letting the battery take care of times that the car would normally be idling.
A well designed hybrid car also sometimes allows the electric motor to assist the gasoline engine as well, thus adding to the fuel economy of a hybrid vehicle over a standard petroleum fuel car.
NOT ALL HYBRIDS ARE CREATED EQUAL
There are hybrid SUV's and trucks, but these will not get the fuel economy of a smaller, lighter hybrid vehicle such as the Toyota Prius.
Just to give an idea of the range, among hybrid cars, according to the federal government's Fuel Economy website at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/hybrid_sbs.shtml , the 2006 Honda Accord got an average of 28 MPG, while the Honda Insight got an average of 56 MPG, and the Toyota Prius got an average of 55 MPG.
To illustrate how the difference in model can make a difference in fuel economy even among hybrid vehicles, hardly any SUV listed on the government's website got over 34 MPG combined, and neither of the two hybrid trucks listed on my visit to the website, averaged over 20 MPG combined city and highway.
NOTE:
I recently bought a Toyota Prius, and have been averaging almost exactly 55 MPG. I went on a trip, of over 2,000 miles, and 55 MPG was the fuel average for almost the entire trip.
However, to emphasize how driving habits affect fuel economy, for over 1700 miles, I usually drove between 60 and 64 miles per hour on the highway, but during the last leg of my trip, I was in a hurry to get home and drove at 70 miles per hour.
Driving at that speed cut my fuel economy down to under 50 MPG for that last portion of my trip.
.
His blog on the subject of health is at http://nodiet4me.blogspot.com
Portable Power: How to Pick the Perfect Portable Generator
Chicago, IL (ContentDesk) May 4, 2006 -- In the past, enduring a power outage was as simple as lighting a candle and starting the fireplace. Not anymore. Without electricity, basements can flood. Security systems can falter. Home businesses can fail.
"You don't realize how much you rely on electricity until it's gone," says Jon Hoch, founder of ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com(http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com) - an online generator superstore. Many homeowners are unable or unwilling to wait out the next power outage, so they are converting their portable generators into emergency backup power systems. "The key to picking the perfect generator," says Hoch, "is to pick the right style first, then pick the right wattage." Shop by Style (http://electricgeneratorsdirect.com/catalog/shopbystyle.php)Recreational generators...
Portable Power: How to Pick the Perfect Portable Generator
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Instant Profits with Cross Promotion
Business is business. Whether you are marketing online or offline, the same principles apply. Yes there are differences, but think about the marketing tactics used offline that you can apply to your online business.Here's a quick idea that can instantly generate a profit for you. Cross promotion. How many times have you seen offers like this:Get a FREE tent when you buy a new canoe, today!Get a FREE movie pass when you have dinner with us!And of course this works online.
Have you subscribed to an online newsletter (eZine) lately? If you didn't get a FREE eBook or FREE report with your subscription, it would be surprising. The Marketing Pack Journal comes with a FREE eBook showing you how to increase your sales by 1200%. Simply click on mailto:optin@bpcpublishing.com and see how fast and easy it can be done.But let's take this concept one step further. Have you thought about the potential of cross promoting one or more of your products to one or more of your lists?Many businesses,...
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S&C's PureWave UPS Provides ?Critical? Power Protection to Missouri Hospital
Franklin, WI
December 12, 2003 -? Surgeons at a central-Missouri hospital-concerned about frequent weather-related power outages-demanded a higher degree of power quality than possible from the facility's existing backup generator.
The hospital's consultant chose an S&C PureWave UPS? System to maintain uninterruptible power to the surgical suites.
The 625-kVA / 500-kW PureWave UPS System will keep the lights and other vital, life-saving equipment operating during the 10 seconds it takes for the backup generator to start upon loss of the utility power source.The PureWave UPS System will be installed as a part of an infrastructure improvement project to be completed in May 2004.
Construction costs have been minimized because PureWave UPS Systems are designed to be installed outdoors . .
. eliminating the need for costly indoor space.Critical-power solutions are the specialty of S&C's Power Quality Products Division. Their PureWave Systems are...
S&C's PureWave UPS Provides ?Critical? Power Protection to Missouri Hospital
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eCycle, Incorporated To Display At 1st Annual Pennsylvania Renewable Energy And Sustainable Living Festival
Temple, PA (ContentDesk) September 11, 2005 -- eCycle announced today that it will be exhibiting at the 1st annual PA Energy Fest located in Kempton, PA on September 23-24, 2005.
The event will focus on renewable energy and sustainable living. Attendees will have a chance to see the new line of eCycle's Auxiliary Power Units (APU) and DC Generators.
The APU was designed to answer market demand for lightweight, high efficiency mobile DC power solutions in compliance with anti-idling laws that are being mandated throughout Canada and the United States.
These units are ideal for vehicles requiring DC power as part of a total generation system.
Depending on the application, the units can be configured to produce up to 6kW at low voltage (14, 28 or 72VDC) with current up to 400A.Recreational vehicles, residential and small business power back-up, including in conjunction with solar, wind and hydropower, will benefit from the eCycle APU.
eCycle, Incorporated To Display At 1st Annual Pennsylvania Renewable Energy And Sustainable Living Festival
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Looking For Targeted Leads? Then Follow These Steps Now
The following five important lead generation pointers must be considered by anyone looking to enhance their leads from their marketing efforts.
1.
Your Audience: The very best marketing piece or sales presentation is useless if you do not project it to the right audience. It doesn't matter whether you are marketing on the internet, via direct mail or creating display ads. Targeting the right audience is critical.
In order to identify your target audience, you need to do a certain amount of research. Some of the questions that will lead you to uncover a thirsty market are; Who are they? What are their wants and desires? And what are their fears and inhibitions?
2.
Product Benefits: When selling a particular product, it is important not only to know the product thoroughly, it is just as pertinent to know the various benefits of the product's features. It is these benefits that convince a prospective buyer to...
Looking For Targeted Leads? Then Follow These Steps Now
Power generator > Looking For Targeted Leads? Then Follow These Steps Now
eCycle, Incorporated To Display At 1st Annual Pennsylvania Renewable Energy And Sustainable Living Festival
Temple, PA (ContentDesk) September 11, 2005 -- eCycle announced today that it will be exhibiting at the 1st annual PA Energy Fest located in Kempton, PA on September 23-24, 2005.
The event will focus on renewable energy and sustainable living. Attendees will have a chance to see the new line of eCycle's Auxiliary Power Units (APU) and DC Generators.
The APU was designed to answer market demand for lightweight, high efficiency mobile DC power solutions in compliance with anti-idling laws that are being mandated throughout Canada and the United States.
These units are ideal for vehicles requiring DC power as part of a total generation system.
Depending on the application, the units can be configured to produce up to 6kW at low voltage (14, 28 or 72VDC) with current up to 400A.Recreational vehicles, residential and small business power back-up, including in conjunction with solar, wind and hydropower, will benefit from the eCycle APU.
eCycle, Incorporated To Display At 1st Annual Pennsylvania Renewable Energy And Sustainable Living Festival
Power generator > eCycle, Incorporated To Display At 1st Annual Pennsylvania Renewable Energy And Sustainable Living Festival
James D. Power IV of J.D. Power and Associates Featured on WebmasterRadio.FM's "That's a Wrap" Radio Show
Fort Lauderdale, FL (ContentDesk) February 15, 2006 -- WebmasterRadio.FM, a free, 24/7, internet business radio network, is pleased to announce an exclusive interview with J.D. Power and Associates' Senior Partner and Executive Vice President James D. (Jamey) Power IV to air on the That's a Wrap radio show, Thursday, February 16th, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. EST.
In an hour devoted to customer satisfaction and service, Mr.
Power will discuss his new book, co-authored by Chris Denove, entitled "Satisfaction: How Every Great Company Listens to the Voice of the Customer."Co-hosted by Daron "SEGuru" Babin and Greg "WebGuerrilla" Boser, That's a Wrap takes listeners behind the whispers and the corporate hype to share with insights, might they say bold and brash insights, regarding the latest happenings in the business world.
That's a Wrap airs live every Thursday at 6:00 p.m. EST. Previous editions are available in archived and podcast format on
James D. Power IV of J.D. Power and Associates Featured on WebmasterRadio.FM's "That's a Wrap" Radio Show
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Why Highways Are So Important
(NC)?Transportation is fundamental to the prosperity and quality of life of all Canadians. Much of Canada's domestic and international freight is hauled on Canada's 24,400-kilometre National Highway System, the backbone of Canadian trade. In fact, the Canadian transportation system carries more than $1 trillion worth of goods every year.If our transportation system isn't running smoothly, it affects our quality of life ? from how much time we spend commuting, to what is available on store shelves...
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Setting Goals That Empower The Business Owner
To succeed to the greatest extend possible, you need to set goals. But those goals must be reachable and stretchable. Reachable so you will believe that you can attain them, and stretchable so that when you attain them, you will have moved forward. I feel you need a monthly goal, a six month goal, a yearly goal, and even a three year, five year and 10 year goal. If you have ever played darts, you know that it is impossible to play without a target.
Therefore, you need a target when...
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