The idea that using gasoline to run a generator to power an electric drive is more efficient than using it to run a motor to power the wheels directly seems to violate the laws of thermodynamics.
the laws are not violated. The idea is wrong.
The “Gain” in hybrids is real.. If it wasn’t you wouldn’t see every large transport vehicle using them. Trains have been using Deisel electric hybrids for decades.. and its why they can a ton of freight for pennies a mile. (that at rolling resistance on rails is very very low.)
However, for car driving, the main gain in hybrid comes from the simple fact, the engine isn’t idling when the car isn’t moving. There is also a very real gain on direct drive electric motors vs all the mechanical linkages trying to transfer mechanical energy in different directions that happen in a standard drive train.
My typical commute is at least 10-15 minutes in a stopped state. If my engine was not idling during that time, I am sure my MPG would go way up.
If you simply made a care with the golf cart design, where the engine shut off when it came to a stop and auto started when you applied the gas.. you’d notice a MPG improvement for city commuters as well. It WOULDN’T gain you as much as a hybrid, because it is more efficient to drive a direct drive electric motor vs the classic mechanical engine.
It doesn’t break the laws of thermodynamics... An electric motor has far more ability to provide torque and variable speed directly to the wheelsremoves the need for transmissions and other linkages, that ALL cause you to lose energy.
Direct electric drive is far more efficient, so you don’t violate the laws of thermodynamics by having a generator power electric motors directly vs the typical combustion engine driving shafts, gears etc.
Sorry, but if you run the math, generators connected to electric motors are indeed more efficient than a standard mechanical drive train... you aren’t violating the laws of thermodynamics.
The operative word here is “power.” No, not power to operate your auto, but POWER to the regulators and enviros who want to DICTATE to you how you are to live and move within this country. So far it appears the dumbed down populace hasn’t realized it. Revisit the tale of frog in the pot on the stove if you don’t get my meaning. But you know that alread - it’s in your screen name!
No the gasoline engine, very small in size, is being used to turn an alternator which recharges the batteries when they reach a certain discharge point. So it only runs occasionally and not for very long at a time. The car is being driven by electric motors run off the battery. A battery than can also be charged off a charger when available, such as overnight. Very similar to electro-diesel locomotives.
Seems so. A locomotive uses a diesel powered engine driving a generator to power the traction (electric) motors at the axles. For years diesel powered subs when snorkeling or surfaced did the same thing. Diesels powering a generator to power an electric motor powering the prop (diesel electric mode). So there must be advantages when powering really big rigs.
Nonetheless I doubt I see such application in even most RV rigs. The addition of a large generator would probably add several thousand pounds. Mine has a GVW rating of about 30000 pounds and sucks petrol like there is no tomorrow. I doubt there would be any net improvement in efficiency—so it must come into play at really big numbers. ??