Off Topic — HabitableZone

Off Topic » in reply to But....

Research needed
TB — (archived)

The purpose of an APU is not to "boost" power, but to create a low-power fuel-burning method of greatly extending an electric car's range. Using batteries for this would negate the point.

A pure hybrid is an electric car with a fuel-burning generator that keeps the batteries charged. A diesel locomotive works this way, but since most of its functions require enormous power and very little "cruise," the diesel engine is enormous. I believe that a standard hybrid automobile could be made to work with a much smaller fuel-burning system. The current "hybrids" are basically only gasoline automobiles with a battery boost system.

I don't have the time to do the research required to figure out the best kind of engine to use in an APU. The truck drivers use a little diesel piston engine. Aircraft use a little turbine. If you custom-made something for automobile use, you might come up with either, or neither.

Needless to say, the car would normally be charged from conventional power sources at night, or when parked.

Log in or register to post.

The whole thread (37 posts)