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US Army Unveils Hybrid-Electric Propulsion System
Gary writes to mention that the U.S. Army recently unveiled a new hybrid-electric propulsion system for use in a new line of manned ground vehicles (MGVs). The new line will have eight different variants, all using the same chassis. The unique feature of the new MGVs is that the traditional engine has been decoupled from the drive train and is used only to recharge the battery and power other systems within the vehicle.
The lastest design for naval destroyers from both the USN and RN have also gone all-electric, and have decoupled all fuel-burning engines from the drive train. If it can work for destroyer, I guess it should work for relatively small ground vehicles.
Bleh... I need to go back to english class
Next thing you know we'll be seeing diesel-electrics in big trucks such as semis.
Then it'll trickle down to pickups and SUVs.
Small cars actually make the least amount of sense to try to make into a hybrid - you have a lot of static costs, making them proportionally more expensive(IE $3k for a $13k car vs $5k for a $30k SUV). Plus - you have the least to gain. Going from 30mpg to 40mpg saves you less fuel per mile than going from 15mpg to 25mpg. Over the course of 10k miles, you'd save 83 gallons of fuel for the car, vs 267 gallons for the SUV replacement.
Then again, we're also finding out that they can produce a four-door 40mpg car without making it a hybrid. The biggest difference I've seen in them is going from a 4 speed auto or 5 speed manual to systems with six gears. Extra gears equals extra expense, and probably extra weight, though the efficiency gains clearly beat it.
I don't read AC A human right
From what I heard nuke ships are a pain in the ass.
nuke plants are expensive, you need a LOT of training (the navy nuke program is essentially a bachelors degree w/o the English and basket weaving courses crammed into a two year school), the navy is perpetually strapped for the personnel and offer insane reenlistment bonuses for those that stay in (I've heard of $100k, but it might have been a rumor).
Also the plants are never really off, so being a nuke in the navy is an awful job in port. Reactor Officer is considered an even worse job than being the lowliest deck seaman.
Gas Turbines (I'm on a Gas Turbine DDG Navy ship, so I know a little more about them), are powerful, cheaper, and easy as hell to maintain. The Gas Turbine Techs on the ship barely even touch the things since they are warrantied by the manufacturer (just a little bit of preventative maintenance).
The great part about them is that they start up in a minute or two, put out a TON of power, and if they do happen to break it's a VERY simple job of having them replaced.
The only reason I can see for running a nuke ship is either a) the ship is so big gas would be $$$$ (you cant make it independent from gas since a carrier always needs fuel for the planes) or b) you want it to be independent from air (Submarine).
Just my $.02
Remember folks, slashdot doesn't have a -1 "disagree" moderation!
Don't forget extra power at low RPMs, which should mean quicker turning and starting.