rlw999 wrote:Reisender wrote:
That’s essentially what a Chevy Volt was. Nice little car. Just didn’t catch on. BMW still makes the i3 that has a small motorcycle engine as a range extender. Just like the volt the little gas motor works as a generator.
I think manufacturers are reluctant to put to much R and D into hybrids right now.
JMHO
Honda came out with an interesting hybrid system -- there's just a fixed ratio gear box, no transmission (at least not in the traditional sense). It has a gasoline engine, a generator, and an electric motor, the gearbox just has a couple clutches. It can run the electric motor off battery alone, electric motor powered by the engine running the gnerator, or the engine can be coupled to the drive wheels at higher speeds. I think the direct engine drive can't engage until > 45mph due to the fixed gearing, at speeds below that it's powered only by the electric motor, the engine just drives the generator.
Here's a teardown and explanation: https://youtu.be/QLUIExAnNcE
It's not exactly new technology though, it's been around since at least 2017.
