A hybrid with no batteries!

[countryboytn]

A Hybrid That Has No Batteries (click me)

Here’s how it works: The 170-hp diesel engine is coupled to a hydraulic pump instead of a transmission. Therefore, the engine is no longer propelling the truck but is rather pressurizing hydraulic fluid, which is stored in an oblong accumulator—imagine an oversized, six-foot-long scuba tank made from carbon fiber. Inside the accumulator is a bladder filled with nitrogen; as it’s compressed by pressurized hydraulic fluid, energy is stored. At its maximum pressure of 5000 psi, the accumulator holds the equivalent of 0.6 kWh of energy. Unlike a battery, the accumulator can deliver all of this energy without compromising its longevity. To motivate the truck’s driving wheels, the high-pressure fluid powers two hydraulic motors, mounted end to end and integrated with the rear axle. The hydraulic motors are essentially hydraulic pumps run backward to generate torque when supplied with pressurized fluid. Under braking, however, the motors revert to their pump mode to both slow the truck and pressurize fluid, thereby capturing energy.

Ford was interested, too, showing a hydraulic parallel-hybrid powertrain in the F-350 Tonka concept at the 2002 Detroit auto show and nudging the technology toward the showroom. Then, cash became tight, and the program was abandoned.

Very interesting, IMO. and definitely sounds like a better plan than putting 400+LB battery packs in cars to go 40miles

 

[Skandocious]

Holy crap that's awesome! I wish they'd tell us how many mpg it gets, just curious how efficient that hydraulic system is...

 

[dragogt]

Cant be any worse...

 

[Fellro]

Not entirely a new idea, as they have been discussing that setup for a while now. Problem is the heat of the system, and the parasitic loss. Other than the pressure storage, it is a lot like many of the skid loaders and zero turn mowers.

 

[LEB Paul]

There was a page floating around with this on the newer F150 (04-09) and they were claiming something around 60 mpg out of it. Impressive, but I haven't heard anything about it lately.

 

[Old_Paint]

I'm still waiting for the Hybrid with a huge key on the back to wind it up. Same basic stored energy principle. Can only imagine how much a giant watchspring would weigh that's big enough to propel a car.