Dispatches from a rapidly changing, rapidly improving world

Special Dispatch April 12, 2009

I don't know how much time I'll have for blogging while I'm on paternity leave from work, but it'all going to be good news stories. Let's get this party started.

Item:
Lightning Hybrids Develops Biodiesel-Hydraulic Hybrid

The LH4 was designed by a company called Lightning hybrids and as stated above, is powered by a Biodiesel engine. Only 3 cylinders are needed to get the vehicle moving and power the hydraulic pump that takes the place of a traditional electric motor. Combined, the system is good for 100mpg, which will do very well in the race for the Automotive X Prize.

The Biodiesel-Hydraulic combination is also a wonderful choice in terms of performance. When the need arises, the LH4 can launch to 60mph in just under 6 seconds, which is nothing to sneeze at given the high fuel economy number it is able to return. The looks of the LH4 aren't bad either.

The Good News

When I first read about hybrid automobiles 20 years or so ago, two models were on the table: electric and hydraulic. With the advent of the Prius a few years back, and the rush of other car companies to follow suit, the term "hybrid" has become almost synonymous with "electric hybrid." There were a few announcements early on that some automakers were looking at the hydraulic approach, but announcements have been few and far between and production vehicles available to the consumer or commercial markets have been non-existent.

Please correct me if I'm wrong on this; if anyone is selling hydraulic hybrids I'd like to hear about it. Plus I'd be very interested to know how they're doing...

I always liked the elegance of the hydraulic model for hybrid automobiles: capture the forward momentum you normally lose every time you brake in the form of hydraulic compression. Then turn around and unleash that pressure next time you want to acelerate. This approach may provide a better fuel savings than electric hybrids can -- it certainly will for larger vehicles whose greater mass will pump massive amounts of force into the hydraulics system. You've got to love that 0 to 60 in six seconds. That's some pretty nice acceleration for a car that gets 100 MPG. Plus, the expectation is that hydraulics systems are more economical than the battery systems used in electric hybrids -- giving the hybrid shopper less sticker shock.

Perhaps most imortantly, having two working models for how to deploy a hybrid vehicle means competition. Hydraulic hybrids will drive improvements to electric hybrid systems and vice-versa. And one day, these two models might meet to provide the ultimate hybrid. Get that fossil-fuel-burning engine out of the loop and provide your primary power with an electric engine. Then use hydraulic brakes to capture your lost forward momentum. Now that would be an efficient model.

Live to see it!