For millions of Americans the answer – surprise – is yes! I was thinking about the odd position that Toyota has in going with the parallel drive train technology. That’s the system with an engine, clutch/transmission or automatic transmission, differential and drive shaft kit plus a generator and electric motors. Then there is the series system that most lately was shown by Volvo at the auto shows that has an engine, generator, batteries and electric motors. It occurs to me when you read about the Volvo that millions of us have driven a type of series hybrids.

I use one in the yard – that riding lawn mower is an engine connected to a hydraulic pump that is driving a hydraulic motor that turns the wheels. So I’ve been looking around and there are not only lawnmowers but also other little machines like bobcat loaders on up to some huge construction machines and giant farm equipment.

You might be correct to think that most equipment when a pedal or lever is pushed changes the speed would be a kind of hybrid. Exactly. You are changing the speed by the flow of energy to the wheels rather than changing the engine speed.

Oddly Toyota makes hydrostatic drive, the system that is currently used for series hybrid drive. A hydrostatic drive uses hydraulic oil moving from the pump to the motor and using fine controls is commonly seen in just the kinds of equipment noted above. It offers the benefit that hydraulic oil being uncompressible is quite precise with good metering.

What lots of us would like to see coming is electromagnetic drive. Set up just like the machines we are familiar with it would move electricity between the generator acting as the pump, to the motor. There can be batteries and capacitors mounted between them to store or recover energy as the generator runs or the brakes are applied which shifts the motor to generating mode. The great thing is that I know how that will feel, because I’m driving them now!

Of course there can be some engineering to soften or harden the feel. Engineers can design with lots more capacitor and larger motors to put some wow into acceleration. Batteries could be optioned by size for say 25, 50 or 75 miles as I simply wouldn’t need more than 25 miles worth of storage on board if even that much. I am not real sold on the idea that a motor on each wheel is a good idea, as one with a differential would suffice for my needs. But I’d like some wow for leaving and getting the h*ll out of the way.

I’ve driven this sort of thing, lawnmowers, construction equipment and farm machinery and many of you have too. So I’m not at all put off by the sensations that would come with a hybrid. An engine running at its steady most efficient rate, like the mower does to cut the grass, that instead is charging the battery, capacitor or just moving a car, minivan, or light truck along isn’t of concern to me. In fact I look forward to it.

What I am excited about is a doubling, tripling, or even more than quadrupling miles per gallon of fuel.

The more I think about the more I like it. Where are the cars, minivans and light trucks for sale? Don’t be pushing a parallel at me! I want the real thing!


Comments

3 Comments so far

  1. Automotive Blog » Have You Driven a Hybrid Lately? on October 3, 2007 2:09 PM

    […] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptSo I’m not at all put off by the sensations that would come with a hybrid. An engine running at its steady most efficient rate, like the mower does to cut the grass, that instead is charging the battery, capacitor or just moving a car, … […]

  2. Bobcat Equipment on October 3, 2007 10:26 PM

    I use Bobcat loaders and I didnt realize that. Hmm.

  3. New Innovations Could Equal Energy and Fuel Savings on December 20, 2007 7:19 AM

    […] ranges and small battery or super capacitor pack for short ranges for an anticipated 100-mpg.  (see “Have You Driven a Hybrid Lately”) This principle is aimed at the emerging and developing economies.  We already know from the work […]

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