Posted on 06/08/2008 4:18:25 PM PDT by saganite
We know that fine-tuning engine gear boxes is often a good way to put your auto on a diet. But a Scottish a mechanical tech firm Artemis Intelligent Power claims to have developed a new kind of transmission, capable of doubling fuel economy and reducing CO2 emissions by as much as 30 percent.
The company says that nearly 15 years of scrupulous research have culminated in the High Efficiency Digital Displacement Automotive Transmission (HEDDAT) - a breakthrough hybrid engine modulator said to be more durable, lighter and cheaper than its electric counterparts. According to Cleantech, "the company claims its Digital Displacement technology replaces the port and swash plates in conventional hydraulic machines with computer-controlled high speed solenoid valves."
"We have the advantage on aggressive duty cycles, and that's where the Prius system cannot capture and return the energy at high powers," said Dr. Neil Caldwell, a senior engineer with the company since its inception in 1994. "There's an intrinsic technological advantage when you're driving a vehicle hard. That's where hydraulic hybrids have a huge advantage."
U.K. Energy Saving Trust, the chief underwriter of the project, independently tested Artemis' prototype BMW 530i hydraulic series hybrid with the HEDDAT onboard. The test confirmed the technology's potential, revealing a 30 percent lower CO2 output and superior fuel economy. See the video
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/02/60_mpg_ford_f15.php
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f57/60-mpg-hydraulic-hybrid-f-150-2008-a-26911/
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/02/60_mpg_ford_f15.php
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f57/60-mpg-hydraulic-hybrid-f-150-2008-a-26911/
It would be interesting to see more details. The hydraulic hybrids have a few references on the internet, but nothing in the last couple of years. I hope there are new developments going on. Hydraulic hybrids seem to be better then electric in certain applications.
Don’t buy the first year model :)
We'll of course it's a Scottish firm. Who else is going to give you more power?
Pardon my ignorance, but wouldn't this reduce engine life? And perhaps other components?
PFLR
Yeah. That would be as stupid as buying an MS product before the second service pack...
Most auto inefficiency comes from the Carnot cycle, not the tranny.
A 100% efficient gearbox would not double efficiency.
It will help some, and if it works better, that’s good, but don’t get your hopes up.
It may get great fuel mileage but I bet it would make a piss-poor hauler (for a truck)
There was an article I saw the other day about this futuristic-looking California car that is going to debut this fall that could get 300 mpg (in the next version that is one of those cars that can run on gas and electricity). The one coming out this year though will run 120 miles and is electric-only.
Pretty impressive length though for an electric car.
Charge time isn’t too bad either, just 2-3 hours, though too long for a long trip unless you can find a place to plug the car in while stopping for sight-seeing.
Oh, and as of right now, the car can only be sold to California residents for some reason due to regulations etc.
But, I am surprised the price is not more than the 30 grand it is expected to cost.
These hydraulic hybrids sound interesting as well.
It has several pumps off the drive shaft from the engine, each separately able to switch modes, providing rapid response (approximately 20 kHz) to changing needs. See further the Artemis Intelligent Power web site pages:
The PESWiki.com -- Pure Energy Systems Wiki web page for Transmissions lists many advanced transmission designs. For the HEDDAT it states:“We’ll of course it’s a Scottish firm. Who else is going to give you more power?”
And without the buckling Captain!
I have an engine design that would be vastly, vastly more efficient than modern engines.
If it’s original, and I have no reason to believe otherwise, it would be worth possibly tens or hundreds of millions.
And there are a few Freepers in high level tech jobs but at least one of them won’t talk to me unless I have a patent - which I don’t.
The technology and means to solve our oil crisis are already here. I refer to NGV’s (natural gas vehicles). They use cng (compressed natural gas) for fuel. The emissions are cleaner, fuel is cheaper and the U.S. has the the 6th largest reserves in the world. Mr. T. Boone Pickens recently stated he could reduce oil imports by 40% in 10 years through use of natural gas. Many other countries are taking advantage of this. In Thailand they are currently constructing super stations that can fuel 40 NGV’s at once. GM manufactures new cng cars there. Cummins Westport manufactures these engines for trucks and buses. Our politicians pursue a joke called ethanol to gain votes from farm states. Meanwhile we transfer our wealth to Hugo Chavez and his pals. They can sit back and laugh, watching the Great Satan self-destruct. By the way, Iran is manufacturing 250,000 cng cars this year and Hugo has mandated all new cars to run on cng starting in July.
We know there is no comparable hazard with an electric hybrid...well except for the lethal voltages and high currents if something shorted.Think that car battery is harmless?A dropped wrench can turn red hot if it falls across the terminals of only one well-charged battery.
Americans need educating on risks vs. benefits.
“Oh, and as of right now, the car can only be sold to California residents for some reason due to regulations etc.”
Now that’s something I’ve never heard of before.
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