Comments on: 100 MPG Hydraulic-Hybrid vies for X Prize, Runs on Biodiesel

By: Viro vidieo | Syr21

Viro vidieo | Syr21 — Mon, 30 May 2011 12:01:59 +0000

[...] 100 MPG Hydraulic-Hybrid vies for X Prize, Runs on Biodiesel – GasThe automotive research and manufacturing company Lightning Hybrids says they’ve designed a 100 MPG hydraulic-hybrid with sports sedan performance (0-60 mph in 5.9s). The company hopes to score the $10 million purse from the Automotive … [Update, Mar. 13] Check out an even better vidieo of the UPS hydraulic hybrid: [...]

By: MattBurk

MattBurk — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:47:41 +0000

On Biofuels: the reports that I have seen show biodiesel from virgin feedstocks product about 160% of the energy used to make them. It depends on the feedstock and the system used to product it.

A hydraulic hybrid uses compressed gas to store energy instead of a battery. The pressurized gas can push oil back though motors and pumps. They have a much higher power density than today’s batteries, meaning you can get the energy in and out of them much faster than batteries. I don’t know about energy density.

Hydraulic systems are used in many applications. I have had engineers tell me that single speed hydraulic systems are more efficient than mechanical. Most hydraulic systems loss efficiency at the low end of their operating range, which makes them poorly suited for vehicles. Several people claim to have solved this problem. I hope we see some examples soon.

By: MattBurk

MattBurk — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:47:00 +0000

On Biofuels: the reports that I have seen show biodiesel from virgin feedstocks product about 160% of the energy used to make them. It depends on the feedstock and the system used to product it.

By: Jellymuscles

Jellymuscles — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 03:22:06 +0000

What Russ Finley said about polution on March 28 (I think)was absolutely, completely, and shockingly false! When you grow plants, you take carbon out of the air to make a plant through photosynchysis. When you burn the plant you just put the same carbon back into the air. This is completely different than burning gas and oil from the ground. Practically all 7th graders know that.

By: Jellymuscles

Jellymuscles — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 03:22:00 +0000

By: Alternative fuels blogger

Alternative fuels blogger — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:50:17 +0000

I have never heard of hydraulic hybrids before today. I like the idea. I work on some John Deer tractors that use the hydraulic pump to drive cutting blades on butterfly mower decks.

I always wondered when they would get around to driving the wheels with this same technology. It’s good to see it is moving foreword! Thanks for the information and the videos as well.

By: Alternative fuels blogger

Alternative fuels blogger — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:50:00 +0000

I have never heard of hydraulic hybrids before today. I like the idea. I work on some John Deer tractors that use the hydraulic pump to drive cutting blades on butterfly mower decks.

I always wondered when they would get around to driving the wheels with this same technology. It’s good to see it is moving foreword! Thanks for the information and the videos as well.

By: WillG

WillG — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:33:19 +0000

Thanks for writing this article.

This is fantastic!! Hydraulic systems store more energy per lb than electric, and you don’t have chemical batteries to dispose of! Good luck to these folks.

I have read a couple articles about hydraulic hybrids, though they usually involve trucks. The latest one I found was “Big Green Trucks” found here: http://economicefficiency.blogspot.com/2008/12/big-green-trucks.html

I would love to see this hydraulic hybrid technology take off!

By: WillG

WillG — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:33:00 +0000

Thanks for writing this article.

This is fantastic!! Hydraulic systems store more energy per lb than electric, and you don’t have chemical batteries to dispose of! Good luck to these folks.

I would love to see this hydraulic hybrid technology take off!

By: Russ Finley

Russ Finley — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:15:07 +0000

“…The biodiesel component is important for the car’s overall score in the Automotive X Prize race, which requires both 100 MPGe fuel economy and low emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants…”

If the biodiesel isn’t made from waste veg oil it is worse for global warming than conventional fuel on global life cycle basis.

Source: http://home.comcast.net/~russ676/biodiesel/page3.html

Tail pipe emissions regulated by the EPA may be worse for this car than a gasoline version, depending on how effective the air pollution systems are.

Source: http://home.comcast.net/~russ676/biodiesel/page6.html

http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/1/5/13333/12308