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Fast Route to Plug in Hybrids?

By A Siegel

 visit EnergySmart for more great energy and environmental stories

 

  • Toyota
    (Prius) and Chevy (Volt) seem to be in a
    race as to who will provide the first mass-produced plug-in-hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) onto the market. The backfit
    market is building, with options coming to market for plug-in
    conversions for existing hybrids    . But what about the 10s of millions of
    normal, internal combustion engines out there? Is there any hope for them? If Poulsen Hydrid is to be
    believed, the answer is a resounding YES.The Poulsen Hybrid Power Assist System
    “creats a PHEV by retro-fitting electric motors, DC motor controllers, storage
    batteries and an on-board charger to a conventional new or used automobile.” The
    electric system would be used for maintaining speed, after acceleration.

     

    The development is based on the observation that only 10-15 horsepower is
    required to propel a compact or mid-size automobile along a level road at a
    steady 60-70 mph. leading to the conclusion that this relatively small amount of
    electric power would be able to cope with 70-85% of normal driving, only aided
    by the combustion engine during start up and when extra energy is required for
    acceleration and hill climbing.

    The systems puts hybrid electric motors on the outside of the rear wheels
    with an onboard charger.

    The system is expected to debut on the market next month. $3300 for purchase
    and $600 for “professional installation”.

    Honestly, mark me intrigued but questioning. For example,

  • This system doesn’t have regenerative braking, thus one is simply trading
    the cost of gasoline for electricity. At $4000, a break even point comes well
    after saving 1000 gallons of gasoline. Thus, how much gasoline is really saved
    as this system basically moves the ICE to idling while the electricity handles
    acceleration.
  • The addition of this system outside the car will increase wind drag. A
    meaningful amount? Don’t know.
  • Also, some basic safety questions must arise. What are the implications for
    adding these systems outside the car?

    Some questions and reasons for wondering, but still pretty intrigued with
    this ingenious approach to tackling the challenges of the huge existing fleet of
    internal combustion engine vehicles and moving miles from gasoline to
    electricity.

    • Widespread adoption of
      PHEVs can reduce GHG emissions from vehicles by more than 450 million metric
      tons annually in 2050 – equivalent to removing 82.5 million passenger cars from
      the road.
    • There is an abundant supply
      of electricity for transportation; a 60% U.S. market share for PHEVs would use 7
      percent to 8 percent of grid-supplied electricity in 2050.
    • PHEVs can improve nationwide air quality and reduce
      petroleum consumption by 3 million to 4 million barrels per day in 2050.

      But do we have 43 years to do this?
      Why not start
      with today’s automobiles?

     

     

    Hat tip to AutoBlogGreen.

    • A plug in Hybrid

    can get around 50 miles on the charge, after that it is like a regular Hybrid getting 50 mpg. For most commuters it operates as a full electric car, but can go anywhere a regular car goes and still get better mileage.

    By gt6May 16, 2008 - 12:07pm