Aron, In 1978, a bunch of
Aron,
In 1978, a bunch of student crudely adapted a VW Beetle to a petro-hydraulic hybrid using off-the-shelf components and replacing the 60hp engine with a 16hp engine. It did 70mph and 70mpg. Proof it can work in small vehicles has been around for a while, like approaching 40 years. The large manufacturers also stayed they could improve mpg but the cost of the equipment was far too expensive for the mass market. Yet, nearly 20 years ago the EPA estimated that produced in high volumes the hydraulic components would add only $700 to the base cost of a vehicle in a project they did.
Proof of concept, R&D and proof of economic manufacturing costs has been around for decades. No big auto maker took it up.
The blank paper up design by Ingocar Valentin must be the way forward for this design. A car designed to accommodate the mechanicals of a petro-hydraulic hybrid. He does "claim" that his hydraulic wheel hub motors have vastly improved efficiency over some current offerings. One thing is clear is that the Digital Displacement motor/pump by Artemis, is highly efficient at all speed and loads and is for sale now. The motor/pump I would assume is not exactly cheap being electronically controlled and complex to other pumps. So how it melts into manufacturing costs I am not sure. Also, these more efficient motor/pumps needs mass producing for mass made autos, which should drop costs.
The Citroen DS19 had hydraulic suspension (which incorporated the damping), and braking all in one system. In 1955!!!! Even then it was recognised that the suspension movement could charge an accumulator.
An engine turning a hydraulic pressure pump needs optimizing. Lotus have a 1,000cc 3 cylinder, light, small design designed specifically for hybrid applications, hydraulic and electric. Jaguar are considering using the engine in a petro-electric hybrid. This engine is being tooled for manufacturing in Spain. I do not have much faith in the Chrysler/EPA test minivan project as they are still using the oversized standard 2.4 liter engine. This will be far too large and will return poorer mpg than a smaller matched engine. The minivan body is also not designed for petro-hydraulic applications. This project can only be a compromise, as the Artemis BMW was.
I have a feeling the general public will not accept a car with very pressure fluid running around. In a crash they will fear the worst. Failure effects of high pressure fluid can be minimized, but still a major point to sell.
The 1978 link:
motherearthnews.com/Green-Transportation/1978-03-01/This-Car-Travels-75-Miles-on-a-Single-Gallon-of-Gasoline.aspx
John