When it comes to diesel electric hybrid automobiles, the US has to wait until 2010 before we see the first commercial iteration, the VW Golf. For those who cannot wait, and have access to a garage full of power tools, there is an option. That option is the XR3 Hybrid. The kit car is a two passenger diesel electric hybrid. The car can achieve a maximum speed of 80 miles per hour, weighs in at about three quarters of a ton, and can get anywhere from 125 mpg to 225 mpg.
The design is based upon a three wheel platform, which combined with a specially designed hybrid drive system, results in the phenomenal fuel economy so far described. When just using the diesel component, the vehicle achieves 125 miles per gallon. Running hybrid enables the car to be used at the jaw dropping 225 mpg.
The plans that are available for the vehicle can be used to build the XR3 Hybrid, or the system can be integrated into an existing vehicle to improve fuel economy. The overall features that bestow upon the XR3 Hybrid its fuel economy are understood so that they can be implemented into other vehicles to boost their economy. For the enthusiast or experimenter, this is a vehicle that can improve fuel efficiency and provide enjoyable learning.
Fuel economy is achieved through maintaining two limits. The machine must be made as light as possible. Heavier cars need more energy to move, and as a result burn through more gasoline. The overall internal design and features of the system must remove enough mass so as to light, but not so much as to hinder structural stability. After this balance is achieved, the second limit to push is the efficiency of moving the remaining mass of the vehicle. That is where hybrid energy gets utilized.
The hybrid drive is a plug in based system. If you plug in the car, you can get around on the battery alone, for about 40 miles. Combined with the diesel engine, the vehicle becomes able to achieve up to 200 miles per gallon efficiency. Other hybrids are mild hybrids, in that they maintain charge. The electric system helps with acceleration, while the fuel system is what charges the electric system. The plug in hybrid gets its charge from the grid, and uses the electric system for all operations.
Mild hybrids like the Prius also require computer control and intervention to make sure the electric and fuels based systems are in sync. The XR3 is based upon the idea that the two are separate from each other. The front is controlled by the diesel engine while the rear is electric. Choices that are made for the various drive components will ultimately affect the efficiency of the vehicle. To build the vehicle completely to spec would cost upwards of $25,000 dollars. The diesel side of the vehicle would only cost less than $10,000. The separation of the two systems allows the builder to start with diesel, and then later upgrade to hybrid. If you are willing to put in the work and time, the XR3 is the vehicle to get.
Originally posted 2009-01-23 05:57:18. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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Hybrids are made to operate in all of the same conditions and temperatures that standard automobiles are, while being powered by multiple fuel technology. The use of a rechargeable energy cell system supplements the gasoline engine for propulsion. The basic principals are not hard to understand: hybrid automobiles use the electric engines to get up to a basic speed, usually around 35 miles per hour, at which point they turn on the gasoline engine. This saves energy because the electric motors are more efficient at getting the car up to speed, whereas gasoline engines are not really efficient until they are at cruising speeds. Hybrids further save energy by making the electric motors act as generators when you apply the brakes, charging the batteries back up a little at a time. This is what they are talking about when they speak of regenerative braking.
