Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!usc!apple!amdahl!terry From: terry@uts.amdahl.com (Lewis T. Flynn) Newsgroups: ba.transportation,ca.environment,sci.electronics Subject: Re: Electric Dreams Message-ID: Date: 21 Sep 90 17:16:43 GMT References: <38772@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <1990Sep20.231021.5512@amd.com> <38776@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> Reply-To: terry@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com (Lewis T. Flynn) Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA Lines: 17 In article <38776@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> cameron@janus.Berkeley.EDU (Mike Williamson) writes: >In article <1990Sep20.231021.5512@amd.com> phil@brahms.amd.com (Phil Ngai) writes: [ lots of interesting stuff about electric cars and relative efficiencies ] Has anyone investigated a hybrid gasoline/electric car? It strikes me that this may combine the best of both methods by using an electric propulsion system with a small, low horsepower generator as a means of extending range. This is hardly a new idea as nearly all modern railroad locomotives work this way as do many large ships, but I've never seen any study done as applied to automobiles or trucks. I seem to remember that it only takes 2 or 3 horsepower to maintain freeway speeds (it's getting to those speeds that takes more, but the battery system could provide that energy and then be recharged), so this looks feasible. Terry