Jim Dunmyer said the following to Mike Ross on the subject of
RE: ENGINE DESIGN (01 Oct 97  08:30:59)
 > One advantage of the electric motor, in addition to its very high
 > efficiency (95% & better), is that it develops maximum torque at 0 rpm
 > while an IC engine develops maximum torque around 60% of redline. The
 > problem is clearly not with electric motor technology. The simple fact
 > is the problem is totally in supplying the power to make it run.
 JD> Mike,
 JD> This has been the problem for about 100 years now. Many folks don't
 JD> realize it, but electric cars actually outsold gasoline-powered autos
 JD> in the early days. If not 'outsold', they certainly held their own;
 JD> they were quiet, easy to start, and women could easily drive them
 JD> because of the latter. They were also probably more reliable than the
 JD> gas cars of the period.
 JD> Of course, IC engine technolgy kept evolving, and it does offer a HUGE
 JD> advantage over electric. That is the energy density in a small, light,
 JD> tank of gasoline; it's the equivilant of a monsterous battery. Plus it
 JD> can be easily transported and dispensed into the automobile.
 JD> Your comment about torque vs. speed applies to a steam engine, too.
 JD> And again, the Stanley Steamer was a popular car in its day, and was
 JD> even pretty practical. However, as IC engine technology improved, the
 JD> steamer became less attractive, as it was already at a high state of
 JD> development by that era.
Indeed! I just saw a rerun of that homepower show on pbs and it
refreshed my memory. For example they presented some California college
EV racing competition where the cars were doing 140 mph. That's not too
shabby considering they were carrying a full load of conventional
batteries.
Imagine a 10 times increase in battery capacity which is certainly
around the corner and those same or similar cars will likely be rivaling
F1 and Indy speeds of 240 mph no sweat.
One last thing I was reminded of was the hybrid powertrain that was
being developed by a company started by the founder of Compaq. I had
mentioned the fellow's name was Roston but it was really ROSEN.
No idea where that wrong name came from. Maybe I was thinking of Boston
and my brain stored the info all cockeyed. Oh, well!
 Mike
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