Thread: ERAD-Diesel

"Land Rover may not be coming out with an electric car anytime soon but it is taking the 20% less carbon dioxide emissions by 2020 pledge seriously. A new green initiative started at the car company will begin to make it into the show room next year - starting with ERAD-Diesel hybrids. ERAD-Diesel hybrid prototypes are already being tested on the roads. ERAD stands for electrical rear axel drive, which will provide all-terrain capability while allowing the vehicle to run only on electric power. Although the ERAD system is clearly “rear axel drive”, the front wheels can run on electric power through the propshaft which gives the vehicle four-wheel drive electric only capability.
Also included in these prototypes, developed with UK Energy Saving Trust funds,is a crank integrated starter generator (CISG). It’s a supplementary motor that adds torque to the driveline and starts the diesel engine when the car moves beyond electric only mode.
The diesel engine is the cleanest currently on the market. Combined these features create a complete diesel hybrid with electric only, electric/diesel and diesel only driving when appropriate. Regenerative braking is also built into the system to recover lost kinetic energy and help charge the battery.
The battery used in this hybrid is an advanced Lithium-ion battery pack that will hold more energy and charge more quickly than the nickel metal hydride batteries that are currently used in most hybrids. The battery pack is designed to fit in the trunk in the same amount of space as a spare tire and jack.
The ERAD system also has special all terrain features built in. There are five modes: Eco; Dynamic; Grass/Gravel/Snow; Mud and Ruts; and Sand. Each mode changes whether the car is in rear wheel, front wheel, or all wheel drive; the amount of torque needed; and whether the vehicle is using electric only, switching between electric and diesel, diesel only, or both electric and diesel at the same time.
The ERAD Hybrid also has two power inverters. One inverter is located up front and runs the CISG system. The second inverter is located in the rear and runs the ERAD system.
ERAD-Diesel hybrids certainly change the hybrid conversation. Until now, it has been about combining electric/gasoline engines usually with regenerative breaking. Great as far as it goes, but generally the emphasis has been on increasing gas mileage, while cutting down on emissions. If the hybrid owners were lucky, with little sacrificed in performance.
The ERAD-Diesel hybrid combination provides more input possibilities for the driver and more environmental impact. Not only will ERAD-Diesel vehicles cut down on vehicle emissions by 20-30% depending on driving conditions but when used in off-road mode, the ERAD system will minimize damage to the terrain preserving more of the environment.
All in all, it certainly seems that Land Rover is creating the type of vehicles that have made them famous while improving the environmental impact of the vehicles significantly."

sounds like a clever idea to me!