http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/
UPS is buying seven new "Hydraulic Hybrid" trucks that use diesel motors to run hydraulic pumps that actually turn the wheels. Slowing the vehicle stores hydraulic pressure. Studies found the trucks use 40% less fuel and emit 1/3 less pollution. The biggest "complaint" is the motor is so quiet the drivers think it has stalled!
Now if only that could be reworked for taxis in big cities.
1 comment:
Any kind of kinetic energy recovery can be good. Whether it is generators storing energy in batteries / ultracaps, compressors storing compressed air / fluid in kevlar tanks, or giant flywheel devices (don't laugh, they're using these in F1!) .. it all helps when you're otherwise turning it into heat and flushing it out into the atmosphere.
I wonder if eventually hybrid vehicles will reduce the heat island effect.
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