Quote:
Originally Posted by torqdork
I dunno, it's pretty close to what our much lighter cars with one-third the power produce:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.d...rue&details=on
And latest EPA testing methods produce numbers closer to real world than in the recent past:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/34292.shtml
Maybe down the road we'll see practical sports car applications of hybrid tech, but for now even F1 cars aren't producing 200 hp from their electric motors. It's a fantasy but makes halo cars like the 918 strengthen a brand and sell wall posters. |
If you're going to look at EPA testing methods, then you should be fair. 30mpg cruising on the highway and 30mpg average is very different. The Corvette is rated lower than 30mpg on the EPA cycle, and around town the gas mileage is absolutely horrendous. The EPA test is biased for city driving but even then you can't hide the 6+ liter engine which consumes more fuel at a fast idle than a typical car uses while travelling down the freeway.
The electric motor power is a function of regulation not technology. You can make an electric motor that pumps out 4hp/lb without even trying (if you try to compute the power density of a gasoline engine + transmission, hint, it's much lower than that even with crazy boost). If they wanted to, they could put larger capacitor banks and get twice the power with a slightly bigger motor.
That's the main issue really, the energy storage medium, and actually getting it done. I think it's ultimately a good thing that F1 is making this happen (only Audi, Toyota, and Porsche had hybrids running races before this I think), because car manufacturers need to get experience integrating what is in concept very simple into actual cars that drive around and need to be reliable, and they are getting experience by having to tune these systems. Hopefully it means that in a few years at least all cars will have a high voltage bus with minor assist/regen capability built into either a belted motor-generator or integrated into the block (even better, weight savings by getting rid of the pulleys). It shouldn't cost very much money to do, swap the alternator with a slightly more expensive motor + power electronics and a small battery pack, ~1000 dollars should be doable, and you'll get a meaningful hp boost on lower powered cars plus a very good torque boost, which will allow less compromised cam profiles for manufacturers that are too cheap to implement variable lift, which gives you even more efficiency. There are a ton of synergies that you get from upgrading the electrical system to a mild hybrid system that manufacturers and consumers have been reluctant to adopt but this hopefully will change.