Any body doing electric hybrid in a LandRover?

[pavel]

Adam - when you say "The combustion motor does not drive anything directly other than a power generator" you are mistaken. In the case of the Toyota Prius for example, you can run the vehicle exclusively on the IC engine if you choose - that is there is still a direct (conventional) mechanical link between the gas engine and the wheels. The electric motor is an alternate or an adjunct. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Adam in NYC USA]

You are correct and incorrect. A better explanation is available elsewhere.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car14.htm

The Prius can be made to run with the gasoline engine only but only if you desire it or if there was a "limp" mode available. Currently there is no limp mode should something happen with the electric side of the equation. Should you lose the electric motor, for example, you would not be able to start the car. The same electric motor is the starter for the gas engine.

BTW,FYI,The fatal error diagnostic that caused the safe shutdown of several Prius in the field were caused by beta safety software which has been replaced by software updates.

The engine was not designed to run from 0 to 6000 rpm but rather only at a narrow power band of 5000 rpm. When you accelerate up to 40, you are electric from 0-40. After 40, the engine assists until you reach the cruise speed you desire. It then operates as needed.

I am incorrect in thinking it is a true hybrid but rather it is what they call a parallel hybrid with a planetary gear drive. The PGD is basically a Continously Variable Transmission using a planetary gear drive.

I am always thinking for hybrid as true hybrid such as fuel engine to generator to electric motor, which is how the technology first started.

I stand corrected. The Prius is a automotive compromise between the automotive world and the true hybrid world of heavy industry and construction, using unique and rather innovative technologies.

These technologies however, don't look like they would work in a Land Rover environment unless it is a road-only hardware-software platform.

I have a mental picture in my head of that planetary drive going into a rock on a trail and the resultant damage imagined is considerable.

[Alvin]

Just an FYI, the Orion buses have crappy mileage when the IC engine dies. I ran out of Diesel fuel the other day and I was able to make it all of about 2 blocks on battery power.

[pavel]

Alvin, your Orion bus may not be the best in electric/battery mode but consider the typical person in a conventional 'car'. As in most big cities, it has become virtually impossible to drive across my little city on Canada's west coast during lunch time and rush 'hours'. I don't drive at those times because of the huge amount of idling - in fact, many people are turning their engines off and on multiple times to save fuel. I just paid $75 Cdn to fill our 96 Disco (we drive it the absolute minimum now). We simply must get hybrids onto the roads asap. Apparently, Ford has got itself into a pickle over its leased electric Ranger pickups in california. People love them but Ford is insisting on recovering & destroying them (Toyota has taken the high ground with its electric Rav4s).

I am convinced that we are caught up in an IC engine addiction at the moment which will be difficult but possible to break. I will get excited when an auto manufacturer releases an electric vehicle with or without a diesel generator on board. For most people I know range is not an issue at all - 80 km range is fine). Ford/Volvo/LR/Mazda are obvious candidates to release a real hybrid - now often refered to as a 'plug in hybrid', along with Toyota or Honda.

[moses]

Having driven a Prius, I'd say it was a little odd and took some getting used to, especially when it switches off at junctions. But that wouldn't put me off owning one.

Personally I'd love an electric Landy. One of the things I feel most guilty about is the poor fuel economy and high level of pollutants that my 2.25 engine puts out. I don't feel guilty enough to stop driving it, but if I could easily convert it I probably would.

Also the electric motors would give you plenty of low speed, high torque, controllable power which would make it ideal for off roading.

Cheers,

Neil.


Oh and one of the key points to getting the most out the regenerative braking, is you have to use the brakes! As a long distance commuter it's never going to work, but in town with a lot of stop start driving is where it really comes into it's element.