Hybrids are planning to use electric propulsion systems which prove to be very efficient and also environmentally friendly. There may be various approaches and methods in order to accomplish movement using electric power but the main idea is still the same. These systems are already working and will further help develop alternate fuel.
What is Electric Propulsion?
Electric propulsion is the acceleration of gases in order to produce propulsive thrust through electric and magnetic body forces, electric body forces or electric heating. The electric propulsion system is usually incorporated in rocket science wherein it manages energy enough to produce a powerful thrust. An electric propulsion system is an alternative to nuclear propulsion system. The total thrust is less powerful compared to a nuclear rocket but still enough to produce effects.
According to a number of studies, any engine used as a primary source of such powerful propulsion must produce exhaust velocities of around 10 to 20 km/s. There are also storable chemical systems used in rockets with an exhaust velocity of around 5 km/s but overall is less efficient.
Propulsion systems that do not require energy through chemical reactions are still needed. There are electric propulsion thrusters able to produce exhaust velocities of around 10 to 20 km/s which increases payload and reduces propellant mass. The consequences however, are less powerful thrusters consuming larger quantities of power.
The 3 Categories of Electric Propulsion
Electro thermal propulsion is when the propellant is electrically heated then isentropically expanded through a C/D or convergent/divergent nozzle. The system works as electrical energy heats propellants that produce gases as a result. The gases are sent through the C/D nozzle creating thrust. Catalyzed hydrazine or another neutral gas is used in thrusters like arc jets and resistojets.
Arc jets can also be used to heat the propellants via an electrical arc discharge. The arc in the arc jet is a beam of electrons produced from the cathode tip then gathers at the anode. Since an arc jet has a cathode and an anode, a constrictor is also present which is a narrow pathway between the two charges.
Electrostatic thrusters are also called ion thrusters. These use an ionized propellant accelerated through electric fields applied directly like gridded ion thrusters and Hall thrusters. The technique of propulsion is also known as ion propulsion technique since ions are mainly used in the process. Electrostatic energy is used to produce propulsion.
The electrons from an atom are stripped off then converted to ions. The ions are accelerated by electrical forces to high temperature without needing thermal energy producing thrust. The atoms after losing electrons become positively charged.
Electromagnetic thrusters produce thrust using electric and magnetic forces that interact with charged plasmas like ions and electrons. An example of these is the magnetoplasmadynamic thruster or MPD. The system heats the propellant to a plasma state before being accelerated. A large current is passed by electromagnetic forces through gas in order to ionize the propellant. Plasma is the ionized propellant which is then accelerated by Lorentz force, an electromagnetic force producing thrust.
Effect on Fuel
Decoupling engine speed and power output from the propeller will provide the opportunity to improve propeller efficiency. Since electric forces and electromagnetic forces kick in for support, gasoline and diesel propulsion systems in vehicles will decrease the chances of wasting a huge part of power and energy.
The chances of engine overload are eliminated resulting to better fuel economy and better gas mileage. In addition, there is higher efficiency over longer distances and various speeds and loads.
A study conducted to check how much electric propulsion systems can help diesel and gasoline engines showed that at least 10% fuel savings is achieved by simply allowing the engine to move along with the load reducing inefficiencies due to low load with high speed. Larger propellers can also save as much as 7% of fuel compared to traditional models.
With the total load split between multiple generators, as much as 20% of fuel can be saved plus another 13% by matching the power produced by the engine to the power required by the propeller. A variable-speed generator will help accomplish this. Overall, 30% to 50% can be saved compared to a very efficient diesel-electric or gasoline-electric system.
10.08.2008
9.05.2008
Honda Insight Concept Hybrid Vehicle to Debut at Paris International Auto Show
TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Honda will reveal a concept
version of its new small hybrid vehicle, to be named Insight, at the 2008
Paris International Auto Show, October 2, the company announced today. The
new Insight Concept shares styling cues with the Honda FCX Clarity fuel
cell vehicle and will provide an early look at the highly-anticipated
five-passenger hybrid vehicle.
TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Honda will reveal a concept
version of its new small hybrid vehicle, to be named Insight, at the 2008
Paris International Auto Show, October 2, the company announced today. The
new Insight Concept shares styling cues with the Honda FCX Clarity fuel
cell vehicle and will provide an early look at the highly-anticipated
five-passenger hybrid vehicle.
Going on sale in the U.S. next spring, the all-new purpose-built
Insight will come to market at a price significantly below hybrids
available today. From this unique position in the marketplace, the Insight
will advance the affordability and accessibility of hybrid technology to a
new generation of buyers.
"The original Honda Insight pioneered hybrid technology in the U.S. and
remains a symbol of Honda's commitment to innovative technology and fuel
efficiency," said Takeo Fukui, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. CEO. "This new Insight
will break new ground as an affordable hybrid within the reach of customers
who want great fuel economy and great value."
The Insight Concept defines a new stage in the evolution of hybrid
technology by utilizing a more cost-efficient version of Honda's Integrated
Motor Assist(TM) (IMA(TM)) hybrid technology, resulting in a new level of
affordability for hybrid customers worldwide. Evoking the innovative
styling cues first seen in the FCX Clarity, the Insight Concept is designed
with a low center of gravity and a generous five-passenger cabin, offering
the kind of driving pleasure and roomy interior that customers have come to
expect from Honda. While the Insight Concept's aerodynamic design clearly
identifies its fuel efficient purpose, its five-door access and folding
rear seats speak to functionality that is designed to meet the needs of
customers with an active lifestyle. The Insight Concept is a small, fuel
efficient hybrid car that delivers big style and functionality with a
healthy dose of fun.
Honda achieved a significant cost reduction in Integrated Motor Assist
(IMA) components which should make Insight the most affordable hybrid
vehicle to date. The production Insight will be offered as a five-door,
five-passenger hatchback. Numerous technologies, including a function to
assist customers in achieving more fuel efficient driving habits, will be
applied to achieve a further improvement in real world fuel efficiency.
With its affordable price, the new hybrid vehicle will represent the best
value in its segment. Along with the Civic Hybrid, the new vehicle will be
produced at an expanded hybrid vehicle production line at the Suzuka
factory in Japan.
The Insight is expected to have annual global sales of 200,000 units
per year -- approximately 100,000 in North America. Following the launch of
the new Insight, Honda also plans to introduce another unique sporty hybrid
vehicle based on the CR-Z, first shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. All
together, Honda's global sales of hybrids should increase to approximately
500,000 units a year, or more than 10 percent of its total worldwide annual
automobile sales.
The original Honda Insight was introduced in December 1999 as America's
first gas-electric hybrid car. The first vehicle to break the 70-mpg fuel
economy barrier, Insight was designed from the ground up to demonstrate the
ultimate potential for fuel-economy in a two-seater subcompact automobile.
A leader in the development of cleaner, more fuel-efficient mobility
products, Honda introduced the first low-emission gasoline vehicles;
America's first gas-electric hybrid car and the world's first EPA-certified
hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, the FCX. In 2007, Honda was named "greenest
automaker" by the Union of Concerned Scientists for the fourth straight
time.
version of its new small hybrid vehicle, to be named Insight, at the 2008
Paris International Auto Show, October 2, the company announced today. The
new Insight Concept shares styling cues with the Honda FCX Clarity fuel
cell vehicle and will provide an early look at the highly-anticipated
five-passenger hybrid vehicle.
TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Honda will reveal a concept
version of its new small hybrid vehicle, to be named Insight, at the 2008
Paris International Auto Show, October 2, the company announced today. The
new Insight Concept shares styling cues with the Honda FCX Clarity fuel
cell vehicle and will provide an early look at the highly-anticipated
five-passenger hybrid vehicle.
Going on sale in the U.S. next spring, the all-new purpose-built
Insight will come to market at a price significantly below hybrids
available today. From this unique position in the marketplace, the Insight
will advance the affordability and accessibility of hybrid technology to a
new generation of buyers.
"The original Honda Insight pioneered hybrid technology in the U.S. and
remains a symbol of Honda's commitment to innovative technology and fuel
efficiency," said Takeo Fukui, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. CEO. "This new Insight
will break new ground as an affordable hybrid within the reach of customers
who want great fuel economy and great value."
The Insight Concept defines a new stage in the evolution of hybrid
technology by utilizing a more cost-efficient version of Honda's Integrated
Motor Assist(TM) (IMA(TM)) hybrid technology, resulting in a new level of
affordability for hybrid customers worldwide. Evoking the innovative
styling cues first seen in the FCX Clarity, the Insight Concept is designed
with a low center of gravity and a generous five-passenger cabin, offering
the kind of driving pleasure and roomy interior that customers have come to
expect from Honda. While the Insight Concept's aerodynamic design clearly
identifies its fuel efficient purpose, its five-door access and folding
rear seats speak to functionality that is designed to meet the needs of
customers with an active lifestyle. The Insight Concept is a small, fuel
efficient hybrid car that delivers big style and functionality with a
healthy dose of fun.
Honda achieved a significant cost reduction in Integrated Motor Assist
(IMA) components which should make Insight the most affordable hybrid
vehicle to date. The production Insight will be offered as a five-door,
five-passenger hatchback. Numerous technologies, including a function to
assist customers in achieving more fuel efficient driving habits, will be
applied to achieve a further improvement in real world fuel efficiency.
With its affordable price, the new hybrid vehicle will represent the best
value in its segment. Along with the Civic Hybrid, the new vehicle will be
produced at an expanded hybrid vehicle production line at the Suzuka
factory in Japan.
The Insight is expected to have annual global sales of 200,000 units
per year -- approximately 100,000 in North America. Following the launch of
the new Insight, Honda also plans to introduce another unique sporty hybrid
vehicle based on the CR-Z, first shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. All
together, Honda's global sales of hybrids should increase to approximately
500,000 units a year, or more than 10 percent of its total worldwide annual
automobile sales.
The original Honda Insight was introduced in December 1999 as America's
first gas-electric hybrid car. The first vehicle to break the 70-mpg fuel
economy barrier, Insight was designed from the ground up to demonstrate the
ultimate potential for fuel-economy in a two-seater subcompact automobile.
A leader in the development of cleaner, more fuel-efficient mobility
products, Honda introduced the first low-emission gasoline vehicles;
America's first gas-electric hybrid car and the world's first EPA-certified
hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, the FCX. In 2007, Honda was named "greenest
automaker" by the Union of Concerned Scientists for the fourth straight
time.
9.03.2008
How to Conserve More Fuel with Hybrid Cars?
How to Conserve More Fuel with Hybrid Cars?
Most hybrid cars are made for fuel efficiency but you can further squeeze extra miles out of a gallon of gasoline buy adapting the same good driving habits you do in your gasoline-engine vehicles.
1. Go easy on the brakes. Your hybrid car has the regenerative braking system that recaptures the energy lost from braking and stores it back to your batteries. If you brake slowly, you give your electric motor more time to store power thus, recovering more energy back to the batteries. If you brake hard and abrupt, the regenerative braking system will not be able to recapture much of this energy and your brakes will take most of the work.
2. Drive at slow speed. When you drive at a slow speed, you are running the electric motor. This saves a lot of gas. Also high speed driving requires your engine to produce extra power to drive the car forward and push it through the air. This consumes more gas just to overcome the aerodynamic drag. (Take note: the air is much denser on snowy, rainy, and slushy conditions. This makes the engine consumes more fuel to push the vehicle through the air.)
How to Conserve More Fuel with Hybrid Cars?
Most hybrid cars are made for fuel efficiency but you can further squeeze extra miles out of a gallon of gasoline buy adapting the same good driving habits you do in your gasoline-engine vehicles.
1. Go easy on the brakes. Your hybrid car has the regenerative braking system that recaptures the energy lost from braking and stores it back to your batteries. If you brake slowly, you give your electric motor more time to store power thus, recovering more energy back to the batteries. If you brake hard and abrupt, the regenerative braking system will not be able to recapture much of this energy and your brakes will take most of the work.
2. Drive at slow speed. When you drive at a slow speed, you are running the electric motor. This saves a lot of gas. Also high speed driving requires your engine to produce extra power to drive the car forward and push it through the air. This consumes more gas just to overcome the aerodynamic drag. (Take note: the air is much denser on snowy, rainy, and slushy conditions. This makes the engine consumes more fuel to push the vehicle through the air.)
3. Avoid quick acceleration. The electric motor can only give your car a certain amount of power. When you require more speed and step on the gas pedal, the combustion engine kicks in to provide that extra speed you need, thus consuming more fuel. Quick acceleration in gasoline- or diesel-engine car wastes a lot of energy and so with hybrid vehicles. If you need to accelerate, do it gradually if possible.
4. Check your tire pressure. Tires are made to improve safety and the quality of the ride. It is not actually made for efficiency but you can actually use the tire to significantly improve your gas mileage. Use and maintain the maximum recommended tire pressure for your car on the sidewall and not the psi supplied by the manufacturer on the doorframe. Also use low-resistance tires for better mileage.
5. Avoid rush hour. Stop-and-go traffic consumes a lot of gas.
6. Use low octane gasoline. Not only it is cheaper, vehicles are actually designed to run well on low octane gas. Check your manual.
7. Glide. If you are comfortable with driving back and forth to neutral, you can get the best out of your speed. Coasting in neutral gives you a longer cruise and better use of energy.
Most hybrid cars are made for fuel efficiency but you can further squeeze extra miles out of a gallon of gasoline buy adapting the same good driving habits you do in your gasoline-engine vehicles.
1. Go easy on the brakes. Your hybrid car has the regenerative braking system that recaptures the energy lost from braking and stores it back to your batteries. If you brake slowly, you give your electric motor more time to store power thus, recovering more energy back to the batteries. If you brake hard and abrupt, the regenerative braking system will not be able to recapture much of this energy and your brakes will take most of the work.
2. Drive at slow speed. When you drive at a slow speed, you are running the electric motor. This saves a lot of gas. Also high speed driving requires your engine to produce extra power to drive the car forward and push it through the air. This consumes more gas just to overcome the aerodynamic drag. (Take note: the air is much denser on snowy, rainy, and slushy conditions. This makes the engine consumes more fuel to push the vehicle through the air.)
How to Conserve More Fuel with Hybrid Cars?
Most hybrid cars are made for fuel efficiency but you can further squeeze extra miles out of a gallon of gasoline buy adapting the same good driving habits you do in your gasoline-engine vehicles.
1. Go easy on the brakes. Your hybrid car has the regenerative braking system that recaptures the energy lost from braking and stores it back to your batteries. If you brake slowly, you give your electric motor more time to store power thus, recovering more energy back to the batteries. If you brake hard and abrupt, the regenerative braking system will not be able to recapture much of this energy and your brakes will take most of the work.
2. Drive at slow speed. When you drive at a slow speed, you are running the electric motor. This saves a lot of gas. Also high speed driving requires your engine to produce extra power to drive the car forward and push it through the air. This consumes more gas just to overcome the aerodynamic drag. (Take note: the air is much denser on snowy, rainy, and slushy conditions. This makes the engine consumes more fuel to push the vehicle through the air.)
3. Avoid quick acceleration. The electric motor can only give your car a certain amount of power. When you require more speed and step on the gas pedal, the combustion engine kicks in to provide that extra speed you need, thus consuming more fuel. Quick acceleration in gasoline- or diesel-engine car wastes a lot of energy and so with hybrid vehicles. If you need to accelerate, do it gradually if possible.
4. Check your tire pressure. Tires are made to improve safety and the quality of the ride. It is not actually made for efficiency but you can actually use the tire to significantly improve your gas mileage. Use and maintain the maximum recommended tire pressure for your car on the sidewall and not the psi supplied by the manufacturer on the doorframe. Also use low-resistance tires for better mileage.
5. Avoid rush hour. Stop-and-go traffic consumes a lot of gas.
6. Use low octane gasoline. Not only it is cheaper, vehicles are actually designed to run well on low octane gas. Check your manual.
7. Glide. If you are comfortable with driving back and forth to neutral, you can get the best out of your speed. Coasting in neutral gives you a longer cruise and better use of energy.
How Does Hybrid Electric Vehicle Work?
You probably own a gasoline- or diesel-engine car. You may have heard of electric vehicles too. A hybrid vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a combination of both. Hybrid vehicles utilize two or more sources of energy for propulsion. In the case of HEVs, a combustion engine and an electric motor are used.
How it works depends on the type of drive train it has. A hybrid vehicle can either have a parallel or series or parallel-series drive train.
How Does Hybrid Electric Vehicle Work?
You probably own a gasoline- or diesel-engine car. You may have heard of electric vehicles too. A hybrid vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a combination of both. Hybrid vehicles utilize two or more sources of energy for propulsion. In the case of HEVs, a combustion engine and an electric motor are used.
How it works depends on the type of drive train it has. A hybrid vehicle can either have a parallel or series or parallel-series drive train.
Parallel Hybrid
The parallel hybrid car has a gas tank, a combustion engine, transmission, electric motor, and batteries.
A parallel hybrid is designed to run directly from either the combustion engine or the electric motor. It can run using both the engine and the motor. As a conventional vehicle, the parallel hybrid draws its power from the combustion engine which will then drive the transmission that turns the wheels. If it is using the electric motor, the car draws its power from the batteries. The energy from the batteries will then power the electric motor that drives the transmission and turns the wheel.
Both the combustion engine and the electric motor are used at the same time during quick acceleration, on steep ascend, or when either the engine or the motor needs additional boost.
Since the engine is directly connected to the wheels in a parallel drive train, it eliminates the inefficiency of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy and back. This makes a very effective vehicle to drive on the highway.
Series Hybrid
The series hybrid car also has a gas tank, a combustion engine, transmission, electric motor, and batteries with the addition of the generator. The generator can be the electric motor or it can be another separate component.
The series configuration is the simplest among the 3. The engine is not connected to the transmission rather it is connected to the electric motor. This means that the transmission can be driven only by the electric motor which draws its energy from the battery pack, the engine or the generator.
A hybrid car with a series drive train is more suited for city driving conditions since the engine will not be subjected to the varying speed demands (stop, go, and idle) that contributes to fuel consumption.
Series-Parallel Hybrid
The series-parallel configuration solves the individual problems of the parallel and series hybrid. By combining the 2 designs, the transmission can be directly connected to the engine or can be separated for optimum fuel consumption. The Toyota Prius and the Ford Escape Hybrid use this technology.
How it works depends on the type of drive train it has. A hybrid vehicle can either have a parallel or series or parallel-series drive train.
How Does Hybrid Electric Vehicle Work?
You probably own a gasoline- or diesel-engine car. You may have heard of electric vehicles too. A hybrid vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a combination of both. Hybrid vehicles utilize two or more sources of energy for propulsion. In the case of HEVs, a combustion engine and an electric motor are used.
How it works depends on the type of drive train it has. A hybrid vehicle can either have a parallel or series or parallel-series drive train.
Parallel Hybrid
The parallel hybrid car has a gas tank, a combustion engine, transmission, electric motor, and batteries.
A parallel hybrid is designed to run directly from either the combustion engine or the electric motor. It can run using both the engine and the motor. As a conventional vehicle, the parallel hybrid draws its power from the combustion engine which will then drive the transmission that turns the wheels. If it is using the electric motor, the car draws its power from the batteries. The energy from the batteries will then power the electric motor that drives the transmission and turns the wheel.
Both the combustion engine and the electric motor are used at the same time during quick acceleration, on steep ascend, or when either the engine or the motor needs additional boost.
Since the engine is directly connected to the wheels in a parallel drive train, it eliminates the inefficiency of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy and back. This makes a very effective vehicle to drive on the highway.
Series Hybrid
The series hybrid car also has a gas tank, a combustion engine, transmission, electric motor, and batteries with the addition of the generator. The generator can be the electric motor or it can be another separate component.
The series configuration is the simplest among the 3. The engine is not connected to the transmission rather it is connected to the electric motor. This means that the transmission can be driven only by the electric motor which draws its energy from the battery pack, the engine or the generator.
A hybrid car with a series drive train is more suited for city driving conditions since the engine will not be subjected to the varying speed demands (stop, go, and idle) that contributes to fuel consumption.
Series-Parallel Hybrid
The series-parallel configuration solves the individual problems of the parallel and series hybrid. By combining the 2 designs, the transmission can be directly connected to the engine or can be separated for optimum fuel consumption. The Toyota Prius and the Ford Escape Hybrid use this technology.
8.31.2008
The Benefits of Hybrid Vehicles
Buying a hybrid car may give you the bragging rights of being the first person in your neighborhood to drive a hybrid vehicle. But that does not end there. Harnessing the hybrid technology can actually give you several benefits you cannot expect from a conventional gasoline-engine car.
1. Fuel economy. Depending on the driving condition and driver's habits, a gasoline powered family sedan can run 15-34 miles on a gallon of fuel. Hybrid cars, on the other hand can run 40-60% longer at 20- 60 miles on a gallon of gas. This is perhaps the biggest reason why hybrid cars are so popular today. And with the uncontrollable increase in pump prices, hybrid cars can solve at least one of the obvious problems.
2. Durability. The hybrid vehicle automatically shuts off its combustion engine when idling. Not only does it help to conserve gas, it also reduces the wear on the engine. Also, the regenerative braking system that recaptures the lost energy when braking reduces the wear on the brakes.
3. Tax credit reward. While the sticker price of one hybrid car can set you back several thousands more than its non-hybrid counterpart, you can actually enjoy a tax reward of as much as $3000 depending on what hybrid car you buy. Also, the government imposes several incentives exclusive to hybrid car owners like free parking among others.
4. Environmental impact. Hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter (diesel), and formaldehyde also known as formalin are 5 noxious gases emitted by gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles. These gases contribute to the greenhouse effect. In short, these gases are harmful to the environment. Since hybrid cars consume less fuel, they also emit less fumes.
5. Sophisticated design. If you only care about the looks of the car, then choose among one of the available hybrid cars on the market today and you'll surely fall in love with one of them. Hybrid cars are among the best looking cars today.
6. Exclusivity. There are only a few hybrids among 200 million cars on the road today. And if you own one, then you'll feel that you own an exotic car. While this won't last long since many car manufacturers have announced more hybrid models in the future plus more and more hybrids are being sold everyday, it is still a good feeling that you are one of the first.
1. Fuel economy. Depending on the driving condition and driver's habits, a gasoline powered family sedan can run 15-34 miles on a gallon of fuel. Hybrid cars, on the other hand can run 40-60% longer at 20- 60 miles on a gallon of gas. This is perhaps the biggest reason why hybrid cars are so popular today. And with the uncontrollable increase in pump prices, hybrid cars can solve at least one of the obvious problems.
2. Durability. The hybrid vehicle automatically shuts off its combustion engine when idling. Not only does it help to conserve gas, it also reduces the wear on the engine. Also, the regenerative braking system that recaptures the lost energy when braking reduces the wear on the brakes.
3. Tax credit reward. While the sticker price of one hybrid car can set you back several thousands more than its non-hybrid counterpart, you can actually enjoy a tax reward of as much as $3000 depending on what hybrid car you buy. Also, the government imposes several incentives exclusive to hybrid car owners like free parking among others.
4. Environmental impact. Hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter (diesel), and formaldehyde also known as formalin are 5 noxious gases emitted by gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles. These gases contribute to the greenhouse effect. In short, these gases are harmful to the environment. Since hybrid cars consume less fuel, they also emit less fumes.
5. Sophisticated design. If you only care about the looks of the car, then choose among one of the available hybrid cars on the market today and you'll surely fall in love with one of them. Hybrid cars are among the best looking cars today.
6. Exclusivity. There are only a few hybrids among 200 million cars on the road today. And if you own one, then you'll feel that you own an exotic car. While this won't last long since many car manufacturers have announced more hybrid models in the future plus more and more hybrids are being sold everyday, it is still a good feeling that you are one of the first.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
