Forum Discussion
wa8yxm
Oct 12, 2015Explorer III
I'm lubing up a very rusty old memory here but I believe such a vehicle was designed for the Military around 1970 give or take a few years. All Electric wheel drive (No drive shaft, Transmission by wire)
The problem is most RV's are in the 400-500 HP class. A Generator is at most around 90% efficient and a motor almost exactly the same.. Very little improvement since the days of Thomas Edison in this area. So by using a Diesel to make power then delivering to the wheels via wire and using an electric motor to turn them you are loosling nearly 20 percent of your fuel as heat. OVER AND ABOVE what would be lost if you just put in a drive shaft.
The problem is most RV's are in the 400-500 HP class. A Generator is at most around 90% efficient and a motor almost exactly the same.. Very little improvement since the days of Thomas Edison in this area. So by using a Diesel to make power then delivering to the wheels via wire and using an electric motor to turn them you are loosling nearly 20 percent of your fuel as heat. OVER AND ABOVE what would be lost if you just put in a drive shaft.
About Motorhome Group
38,728 PostsLatest Activity: Jun 26, 2025