Thread: EV general discussion

Originally Posted by Gav 110

Seems there are a few people who would like one

Australia’s Warrego hydrogen ute claims $50 million of order requests in just 4 days

Orders From around the world

Proves you don’t need brains to be rich.

I follow this thread but have had thoughts about electric drive similar to diesel electric.

I dont know how much power you need to produce from an alternator to drive 4 motors on a vehicle?

do you need to drive 4 motors independently or would one suffice and use an almost conventional drive line?

a small turbine similar in size to the lighter of the current light helicopters might work.....you can carry them in one arm.

the current , small single and twin turbine aeroplane engines are almost silent and the engines appear to be too small to do the job, but they are just jets and not running an alternator to a drive line.

Chrysler played with the idea in the 60's .

I'm guessing diesels are really out of the equation with diesel going out of fashion in the centre of the world.

Does any one else here share my thoughts?

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

I follow this thread but have had thoughts about electric drive similar to diesel electric.

I dont know how much power you need to produce from an alternator to drive 4 motors on a vehicle?

About as much power as you want at the wheels, plus about 15-20% for losses. Not a new idea, goes back to the early 1900s.

do you need to drive 4 motors independently or would one suffice and use an almost conventional drive line?

No, you don't, but the advantage of the motor at each wheel is that it gives you four wheel drive with none of the complications of a drive train. Again, was used from the early 1900s, and I believe one British bus manufacturer persisted with it into 1930s - but you are basically replacing the clutch and gearbox with an alternator and electric motor plus a control system - and it is far heavier, much less efficient, and a lot more expensive. Now add a battery - and the advantage of being able to save and use braking energy can outweigh the disadvantages. (Used by some hybrids i believe.)

a small turbine similar in size to the lighter of the current light helicopters might work.....you can carry them in one arm.

These turbines, while very light, are much less efficient that large turbines, nowhere near as efficient as a modern diesel or petrol motor, and vastly more expensive.

the current , small single and twin turbine aeroplane engines are almost silent and the engines appear to be too small to do the job, but they are just jets and not running an alternator to a drive line.

Chrysler played with the idea in the 60's .

Yes, and so did Rover in the forties and fifties.

I'm guessing diesels are really out of the equation with diesel going out of fashion in the centre of the world.

Does any one else here share my thoughts?

These are not new ideas, but have, except in the case of some hybrid electrics, been unable to overcome the efficiency and manufacturing cost issues. Without breakthroughs in these area - not promising.

I just reread AFAIR the March LRO where they do a 300mile test of the new Defender hybrid 6 cylinder diesel.

It managed 31.5MPG on the test which included motorways secondary roads and a bit of off road.

That is good but not really that good.
So all the technology that has gone into the damn things is worth maybe 3MPG?
Admittedly it is cleaner than say a D4 3 litre but at what cost and complexity?
I guess the milk is already spilt .

Regards PhilipA

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

I follow this thread but have had thoughts about electric drive similar to diesel electric.

I dont know how much power you need to produce from an alternator to drive 4 motors on a vehicle? ......

Does any one else here share my thoughts?

What you're describing sounds like the Nissan e-Power vehicles:

e-POWER | NISSAN | Technology

The motor doesn't run the wheels, it just works as a generator. The Holden Volt had the same arrangement and some of the BMWs default to that arrangement when they run out of charge.

The Rivians have a motor at each wheel:

What is Quad-Motor Drive? - Support Center - Rivian

Sign of the times - a mate whose cars have included a blueprinted FJ Holden, an SS Commodore, a Renault Megane RS and a BMW M2 has put a deposit on a Tesla Cybertruck ....

I thought the Cybertruck was ruled out for OS markets and for USA only? Did they do another backflip? That Musk fellow must be very flexible…

Edit - latest article I can find from a month ago says it’s still not known if it will be available here, but other articles say definitely not, but with a fully refundable deposit there’s not much to lose putting your hand up I suppose if you’re into that kind of thing.

This research into lithium-sulphur batteries sounds promising, particularly if the batteries could be made here and generate exports.

Batteries of the future set to be cheaper and better — just by adding sugar
Batteries of the future set to be cheaper and better — just by adding sugar - ABC News