IMPROVING VEHICLE FUEL ECONOMY WITH HYBRID POWER SYSTEMS

Hybrid vehicles (i.e. those containing two or more sources of power) have the potential of increased fuel economy under urban driving conditions, but little if any potential for high-speed highway driving. Systems currently being investigated include combinations of heat engines, electric drives, flywheels, and accumulators. For improved fuel economy, efficient components and good system design are required. Hybrid powerplants appear more promising for heavier vehicles, yet lighter vehicles are required for overall fuel economy. Schemes which have frequent changes from one form of energy to another have little chance of good fuel economy, since losses occur at each change. For electric hybrid concepts, more efficient and lighter weight motors and generators, and better batteries are needed. For flywheel hybrids, the main need is a better continuously variable transmission. For hydraulic accumulator hybrids, new accumulator designs are needed which have reduced weight, minimal thermodynamic cycling losses, and more efficient hydrostatic components. Production hybrid vehicles may appear within the next decade. Ultimately, other engines such as the gas turbine and Stirling may prove better in hybrids than the internal combustion engine.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01487191
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at SAE Milwaukee Section Meeting, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 14 April 1977.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Beachley, N H
  • Frank, A A
• Publication Date: 1978

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 12 p.
• Serial:
  • SAE Technical Paper
  • Publisher: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • ISSN: 0148-7191
  • EISSN: 2688-3627
  • Serial URL: http://papers.sae.org/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Electric drives; Flywheels; Fuel consumption; Hybrid vehicles; Storage batteries; System design
• Old TRIS Terms: Accumulators
• Subject Areas: Energy; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00396345
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 780667, HS-025 551U
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1985 12:00AM