| Author | Message | ||
| Edward J. Sommers (Sommersed)
Registered Member Username: Sommersed Post Number: 49 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 148.63.161.138 Rating: N/A |
At first I thought this idea was a little over the top, but upon reflection I think it has merit if it only handled it's own weight. http://uanews.ua.edu/2009/09/engineering-professors-develop-electric-hybrid-vehicle-concep t-for-rv-travelers/ Ed | ||
| Peter River (Whitebus)
Registered Member Username: Whitebus Post Number: 149 Registered: 4-2009 Posted From: 204.62.64.30  Rating: N/A |
I don't know if this is a good idea, delivering any push through a flexible pivot point, I can imagine a few scenarios that it would become downright dangerous. | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 397 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 67.140.164.54 Rating: N/A |
I don't know how much help a hybrid's electric motor will be in pushing a 24-45,000lb bus up any decent hill. My guess is it will void the warranties of the car and the tow bar. I'm certain it will accelerate wear in the tow bar. But you might well charge the hybrid's batteries going downhill, but you'd only want to engage that just before you'd use the motorhome's brakes. There are lots of hills we just drive down, using the brakes only on the steepest ones. Sounds like lots of tweaking to get not much gain. | ||
| clint hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 509 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.237.52  Rating: N/A |
~but if a functional cheap & appropriate designed hybrid toad & it's battery system was dual purposed as a generator/APU for the bus or home, now we might have something to discuss . - I did view a presentation on a all electric car that had a toad "half a hybrid" made from a front wheel drive hybrid cut in half. The idea was to ad unlimited range with the toad gas engine and some cargo capacity to your otherwise limit tiny city-ass-hauler. Nothing to complex and it did work not bad for a compromise. Can't foresee how that works into a bus either, but kind of interesting. Run with it someone , run! | ||
| Rob Norgren (Robsedona)
Registered Member Username: Robsedona Post Number: 113 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 75.211.147.174  Rating: N/A |
If you put a lot of time into design and I would think a lot of money and a lot of time (years) on your hands (better get a big Corp to back you or get a Gov. Grant) a lot of problems to overcome I guess you could make it work.Then can you find a market to make your $$$$$$$$$$$$ back! But then look at how much Fuel you could buy and trips you could take in the mean time. I would think better to but all that time and money into finding a better method to power a Coach Then you could sell it to all the Coach Co., Truck Builders around the World!!!!!!! and be a trillionair and help the rest of us BusNuts | ||
| Edward J. Sommers (Sommersed)
Registered Member Username: Sommersed Post Number: 50 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 148.63.161.138 Rating: N/A |
My thoughts on this is that if the toad could be made to handle its own weight only (not push the coach), it would be of value. If this were the intent I don't think it would be so much of a problem to build. I picture just a new brain in it with a doodad that tells it when to push just a little (to handle its own weight), and when not to! Even if made I would probably never have one for I am too old and happy with the old bus,and my 1985 Toyota PU toad. My rototiller is just that, a 1947 ROTO-TILLER, and my motorcycle (scooter) is a 1950's Cushman Silver Eagle. Ed | ||
| Tony LEE (T_lee)
Registered Member Username: T_lee Post Number: 67 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 59.154.2.60 Rating: N/A |
Bloke here in Oz has an old very-underpowered Bedford bus with auto gearbox. He flat tows a Suzuki Grand Vitara with auto box. When the hills get too steep, his wife sits in the toad, starts the engine and puts it into drive and uses light throttle to assist. Just about doubles the power-weight ratio of the whole rig. Maybe not good for the tow coupling but it works |