X-Mozilla-Keys:                                                                                 
Bill Freeman wrote:

                             BIG SNIP

Wankel also has a hybrid engine/generator/electric motor set suitable
for use in hybrid type cars using this engine. This is a very small,
quiet,
light weight and smooth self contained package. Hybrids are the next
big thing in "green" cars. Honda and Toyoto are getting ready to sell
them in the U.S, and Mercedes has a hybrid package for the S Class no
less that I saw a couple of weeks ago at the Frankfurt Motor show.

wankturb.jpg picture of the aircraft engine version.

Paul Lamar

Paul,

One of the first things is that the term "hybrid" is a lot like
"composite" - useful in general, but cause of much confusion if
 you fail to specify what type of hybrid.  I *do* happen to have
been (at one time) one of the foremost researchers in this field.

My Master's thesis was "Optimization of Hybrid Electric Vehicle
Design Parameters by Computer Simulation".  I selected all the
pieces and we (Univ Fla) built a very workable, very low emission
diesel electric bus 25 yrs ago.  I worked fine, low emissions before a
lot of digital computer control was practical..

I am somewhat at a loss as to why this complex and heavy technology
is being dredged up again.  No real techno barriers, but it would seem
to me to mostly be a 'techno loss leader" sort of like the electric cars
to distract the Gore-Kazinski Unabomber technophobes while the
rest of us get on with our lives.

Hybrids worked, work, will work.  They are not particularly necessary if
you do an *honest* evaluation of the OVERALL energy balance of a
transportation system.  The electric cars are falsely legally defineded to be
"zero emissions vehicles" (on two accounts - one; most give off battery
fumes - nasty stuff and two; the power plant that makes the energy gives
of emissions) so all the dummies think they're great.  Hybrids are a bit like
that.  When you consider the overall battery, generator, electrical conversion,
electric motor and controller losses, they are significantly less efficient
than a
straight car. BUT - they can run as a pure electric some of the time and
when run as
a hybrid have OK performance ($$$$$$!!!) and can still drive you home if
the battery is dead,so they must be "good electric cars".

What a bunch of bullshit.  These technotoys are loss leaders to distract the
Luddites - the Communist, Socialist Democrat, Democrats and Green
loonies worldwide.

Bill

ROFL PL
 
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