Jim Dunmyer said the following to Mike Ross on the subject of
RE: ENGINE DESIGN (12 Oct 97  17:14:31)
 > Hybrid turbine powertrains are currently successfully driving buses
 > cheaply in the San Fransico transit system. That is not a negative
 > tradeoff.
 JD> Mike,
 JD> Let me quote MY part of the message:
 >JD> So-called 'hybrid' technology isn't at all new. The only problems are
 >JD> weight and complexity, both of which lead to expense. After all,
Turbines have 1 moving part and develop more HP pound for pound than any
reciprocating piston engine along with the attendant higher reliability
since there are so few parts. This is precisely why the old Otter planes
are being upgraded with modern turbine engines because it is the best
logical choice. The "weight and complexity" claim can't fly anymore.
(No pun intended)
Compare this with hundreds of moving parts in an IC engine. It is easy
to see that there is a huge savings to be made in avoiding the cost of
making the hundreds of moving parts used in an IC. A further huge
savings can made in the transmission, with its hundreds more moving
parts, because none is needed as electric drive motors are in the wheels
of a hybrid car.
 JD> EXPENSE, Mike, EXPENSE. The fact that something CAN be done doesn't
 JD> mean that it SHOULD be done nor is affordable. It must be affordable
 JD> to be practical.
On the contrary it is more affordable and it is being done because it is
practical and that it makes more sense to do it today than ever before.
If you compare a modern turbine side by side with an IC engine you would
seriously ask yourself if it makes any sense at all to use an IC engine
anymore. I believe the IC engine should be relegated to the scrap heap
of history to re-join the steam engine already there.
It is clear that car makers today are simply making a new pretty chassis
every year with evocative model names but still putting the same old
tired antique technology under the hood. The engine may have more hoses
and wires sticking into it but it's just like a patient on the ICU with
hoses and wires sticking into his body to keep him alive.
Sorry to have flustered you in the previous reply.
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