Track T-800 CDI

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by andreis

(not to mention they're more efficient)

Might want to check your figures on that one

With diesel-electric like a submarine or a train or something as you suggest then you're using a generator and motor instead of a gearbox.

I bet a gearbox is more efficient than that powertrain.

[_Stretchie_]

I like the idea of a diesel bike, might not be the best for stright lines but you'd just ride the torque for the corners, that's where the fun is anyway, it'd probably be like going from a four pot to a twin????

Maybe???

Anyone?

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Exactly. See people off roading round here wondering why their new 4x4s are stuck in puddles with guys in 40 year old 2 1/4 diesel 2A's laughing at them.

We were out with a 1965 series yesterday, but it was a petrol, he had a few problems when we went through some puddles, nearly come to a standstill a few times.

Stretchie, thats what I think! Also, how good would it be offroad? Combined with the CVT aswell.

Feel free to come join me over here in Diesal Corner

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Might want to check your figures on that one

With diesel-electric like a submarine or a train or something as you suggest then you're using a generator and motor instead of a gearbox.

I bet a gearbox is more efficient than that powertrain.

I don't know about that... Seems to me that a gearbox is simply a component of the powertrain that is independent (in some sense) of the choice of where the power actually comes from. I think it can be also connected to an electric motor, though needing a smaller number of gears.

So the question of efficiency can be asked regarding just the power producing unit, considering that the way that power will be transmitted to the wheel can be the same on both motoring options.

An electric engine has an efficiency of about 90%. A variable rpm internal combustion engine is somewhere around 50% (from what I know, diesels are more efficient that petrols). Now, a diesel running at a constant rpm i.e. a generator is far more efficient than its variable rpm counterpart because, essentially, the rpm can be kept at the efficiency peak of the engine. Transmitting current from a generator to a capacitor is without any loss of power (probably somewhere around 99% of what the generator produces reaches the capacitor).
The only remaining problem would be losses within the capacitor itself, which I don't know how high they are, but I suspect not that high

And the electric engine has, regarding power transmission to the wheel a clear advantage: it's small enough to actually put inside the wheel, and so power from it is transmitted directly, resulting in far less power loss. I've seen this done with this : http://www.e-traction.com/TheWheel.htm
But this already brings to the table the gearbox, and I said I wouldn't do that

Hmm.. of course, the gearbox, if enough gears are available can be used to actually keep the engine within a certain interval of rpms.. But as real life shows, it's not used as such

[_Stretchie_]

Originally Posted by Alpinestarhero

Stretchie, thats what I think! Also, how good would it be offroad? Combined with the CVT aswell.

Feel free to come join me over here in Diesal Corner

I'll be there waiting for you as soon as I win the lotto, I'll buy one. Hell, if you don't like the look/style of it you could do some fettling and fit it to a VFR frame or something

; )

Btw, found this on wiki : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_vehicle_drivetrain

Originally Posted by andreis

... engine. Transmitting current from a generator to a capacitor is without any loss of power (probably somewhere around 99% of what the generator produces reaches the capacitor).
The only remaining problem would be losses within the capacitor itself, which I don't know how high they are, but I suspect not that high

Perhaps they could use a Flux-Capacitor then you'd get home in no time - Or sooner! Of course you'd have to be able to get up to 86MPH in the first place.

[_Stretchie_]

Originally Posted by merlin427

Of course you'd have to be able to get up to 86MPH in the first place.

No point fitting one to an SV then eh...!

Actually, I think it needed 88mph

Btw, there has been a "flux capacitor" proposal in 2008 by Dr. Leon Chua, in the sense that it operates as a function of the flux