Quote :

" Ford Invents Hybrid that is *300% more efficient* than Toyota Prius ---Ford is developing a new form of automotive propulsion, and the implications for the American Auto Industry are huge. The Hydraulic Hybrid could be the greatest innovation since the internal combustion engine itself, and Ford is on the inside track with its F-150 Hybrid. New Tech Spy Has learned details about the system that are simply amazing and could put Ford in a commanding position in the fiercely competitive full size pickup market. ---The Idea behind the current crop of Hybrid cars is well known; the cars main energy comes from gasoline which recharges batteries that move the car at low speeds. Hydraulic Hybrids work in the same manner, only instead of batteries, excess energy is stored in hydraulic cylinders.That in itself is not revolutionary, except for the fact that Nickel Metal Hydride batteries used today are not an efficient way to store energy, and hydraulic storage blows them away with 3X the efficiency. Even next generation Lithium Ion batteries do not come close to Hydraulic Energy Storage. ---The standard F-150 has a curb weight of about 4800 lbs., which is 65% greater than theToyota Prius, yet incredibly the Hydraulic F-150 with a continuously variable transmission matches the Prius with 60mpg city rating, that’s an amazing 400% increase over its gasoline version. ---The F-150 makes for a perfect host for Hydraulic Hybrid technology because of its height and body on frame construction, adding this system to smaller vehicles will be challenging, but with those kind of numbers small vehicles as we know them may become obsolete...The Hydraulic F-150 is currently scheduled for launch in August of 2008, can Ford work out all the bugs by then? The people are waiting for Ford to come through in the clutch."

http://www.newtechspy.com/articles06/hydraulichybrid.html

Yay or Nay on this happening?

[Edited on June 19, 2006 at 6:56 PM. Reason : s]

6/19/2006 6:55:55 PM

Quote :

"adding this system to smaller vehicles will be challenging, but with those kind of numbers small vehicles as we know them may become obsolete"

Yes, because the only reason people drive around in small cars is because of gas mileage.

But it does answer one question I had.


Sounds good to me. Any progress is good. But I believe a few of those hybrid manufacturers are already planning the switch from NiMH to LiPoly, which will double the mileage of current hybrids. Wasn't there a thread about a 110mpg Prius here just a month ago or so?

6/19/2006 7:31:03 PM

I'd like to know what the highway mileage is.
And Ford has been developing this for a long time. I remember reading something about integrating this hydraulic storage system on the powerstrokes.

There is currently a conversion that you can perform on a Prius, swapping the NiMH to LiPoly, but it is $Texas.
The curious thing is if this technology, unlike the Prius, will work under heavy braking.

6/19/2006 8:16:06 PM

ummm, this shit has been around for close to 10 years on medium and heavy duty trucks

6/19/2006 10:40:31 PM

If I could, I would SO buy a 60mpg ford F150.

That's just fucking awesome, especially if it can actually tow stuff (unlike, say, the regular ford escape compared to the hybrid ford escape).

6/19/2006 10:57:29 PM

Quote :

"ummm, this shit has been around for close to 10 years on medium and heavy duty trucks"

it HAS? Show me.

6/19/2006 11:52:23 PM

didnt ford do this in a prototype f350 tonka a few years back? i would think it would be more pracical and/or efficient than electric hybrid but hat's just off top of my head

6/19/2006 11:58:38 PM

^thought that was just an elaborate hydraulic breaking system where it converted breaking energy into electricty. perhaps it's the same tech, but more evolved.

Btw LiPoly maybe the next gen battery, but they have horrible life-span. I think it was like 1-2years of normal usage before failure and they are expensive as hell. Apple Ipod's (believe 3rd gen's) used to have them until a year down the road when so many batteries failed. Not sure if they fixed the problem.

6/20/2006 7:06:30 PM

60mpg is a pipe dream. I think I read that they made a converted Excursion prototype that got around 32 city and 22 highway. Compared to the usual 20 or so highway and 14 city(and that's downhill with a stiff rear breeze)

The real shit would be aftermarket conversion kits for school buses, ton trucks, etc. Municipalities and businesses like UPS would pay out the ass for it.

[Edited on June 20, 2006 at 9:34 PM. Reason : yea, it's the same deal as that Tonka 350 show car. Nothing all that fancy, but it could work.]

6/20/2006 9:33:03 PM

how much weight does the system add to the vehicles?

6/21/2006 12:00:33 AM