Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2007 20:37:15 -0700
Reply-To: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Hybrid Engine Conversion (LVC, but it is nearly Friday!)
In-Reply-To: <d1ea9acf0710042024g6c23cdc1w8f48f7c3abe75a5a@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Until Jim explains properly:
The rotary isn't very efficient Craig. Smooth, yes, powerful, yes, good on
gas, no.
Its also more difficult to keep the lubricating oil out of the combustion
chamber, so the hydrocarbon emissions are a little high.
On 10/4/07, craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I've spent the last hour reading the various articles i could find on that
> "little engine that could". I'm quite familiar with the Wankel Rotary
> design, but this is awesome! I am suprised and amazed at this little bit
> of
> potential. If this eventually comes out, and becomes cheap, and a cheap
> hybrid system comes into the market as well for it.....this would seem
> like
> an amazing conversion for many cars. That brings me to wondering why
> people
> dont use more rotary engines for conversions, and not just in vanagons. My
> understanding is that its a far superior technology in many ways, yet
> doesnt
> only mazda use it? I've heard of a bus with a rotary in it, but am yet to
> find a link to it.
>
> A hybrid would be cool. Have you guys seen that link to the electric
> vanagon
> project? I dont still have the link, but it was a pretty cool looking
> project. Inovative thinking keeps the world turning.
>
> -Craig
> '85GL
>
> On 10/4/07, Ron LK Johnson <adhocMedia@comcast.net> wrote:
> >
> > A quick follow-up to Mark's note - lots of nice links - thanks!
> >
> > Diesel hybrid systems for city buses do operate the diesel engine at
> > peak power production - essentially running continuously or near
> > continuously at a constant rpm to maximize efficiency. There are
> > several such buses in the Portland, OR fleet (TriMet).
> > The diesel engine is connected to a generator that only feeds the
> > battery pack - i.e., it is completely out of the drive train. The bus
> > is driven by an electric system that is fed by the battery pack. In
> > the case of the TriMet buses, the batteries are located on the roof.
> > This arrangement allows for a much smaller diesel engine, reduced
> > maintenance, increased engine life, reduced emissions, etc.
> >
> > http://www.regtech.com/
> >
> > Above is a link to company with a promising rotary diesel engine
> > design: 40+ HP in a 6" x 6" package. The claim is the design is
> > easily scalable. One of the applications papers on the site describes
> > the type of hybrid system above that could be adapted to passenger
> > vehicles owing to the small size of their diesel design.
> >
> >
> >
> > Ron Johnson
> > Portland, OR
> > '91 Weekender
> > '04 Prius (& former '01 Insight owner)
> >
>
--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/
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