What is a Hydraulic Hybrid
The automotive industry is still trying to find its place in the new millennium; a world in which “going green” is no longer a mere suggestion, but is at the fore when it comes to policy making in Washington.
Several years ago, the electric car came on the scene as a possible answer to the future’s need for eco-friendly transportation after years of trying to develop alternative fuel sources failed to come to practical fruition.
However, there is another hybrid option that, in comparison, makes the electric car seem woefully inefficient, and that is the new hydraulic hybrid.
Although similar in form to the electric car, the hydraulic hybrid streamlines the process wherein energy is converted into power; power that is strong enough to propel a car forward without polluting the environment.
The electric car has ushered in the new generation of hybrid vehicles; in principle, it has led the way when it comes to offering a viable alternative for energy production and consumption. It is powered by both gasoline and lithium ion batteries, and relies on its braking mechanism to fuel itself.
When the brakes are applied, the brake pads rub together, causing friction. In traditional automobiles, the energy released by putting on the brakes was simply lost. Hybrid cars attempt to channel that energy to keep the vehicle moving forward.
Simply put, in an electric car, the kinetic energy from the braking system is sent to the electric motor, which in turn sends the power to the drive shaft.
There are, however, some kinks involved with the electric car that, in fact, make it less inefficient than its gas guzzling counterparts. First of all, electric cars are significantly heavier, which means more energy is required to make it run.
Secondly, batteries are comprised of a number of toxic chemicals which aren’t in the least biodegradable.
This is where the hydraulic hybrid picks up the baton and improves the proverbial mousetrap; it is comprised of three components which help provide an even, clean energy flow.
Like the electric car, the braking system provides energy to the car; but while the electric car sends the power to its electric motor, the hydraulic hybrid activates a pump as soon as the brakes are applied and the vehicle slows down.
The pump transfers fluid into the accumulator, which also holds nitrogen. The accumulator then sends power to the drive train. Then, as the car accelerates, the process begins again; fluid from the accumulator is pushed back into the reservoir until the brakes are applied, once again.
And, unlike the electric car, the hybrid hydraulic functions just the same at higher speeds than it does at a lower mph. Electric cars, when speeds exceed 20-30 mph, revert to operating exactly like any other car. Hybrid Hydraulics, on the other hand, maintain functionality, regardless of speed.
