[ausev] Series hybrids

[Christopher Robison]

On Mon, 2007-12-03 at 20:49 -0600, Carey King wrote:
> Does anyone have a basic Pro and Con description/comparison of parallel 
> versus series hybrids?
> 
> I kind of thought myself that the reason Chevy Volt is going for the 
> series is that Toyota must hold most of the patents on the parallel 
> versions, not that the series is inherently any better. But I really 
> don't know of the advantages and disadvantages of each.

The Honda Civic is a pure parallel hybrid; the engine and the motor both
turn to provide motive power. The Toyota system is a combination
series/parallel hybrid, as the main electric motor or the engine or both
can drive the vehicle, and in some situations the auxiliary motor can be
providing electrical power from the engine while the main motor turns
(or helps to turn) the wheels. The hybrid buses operated by Cap Metro
also have a parallel design, as do many others.

Toyota has patents on their Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain, which is
described here:

http://eahart.com/prius/psd

and in disgusting levels of detail here:

http://privatenrg.com

but not in the parallel hybrid concept itself.


-- 
Christopher Robison
chris at ohmbre.org
http://ohmbre.org          <-- 1999 Isuzu Hombre + Z2K + Warp13!