Engineers modify hybrid cars to get up to 250 mpg

Iria · Aug 13, 2005, 07:29 PM

Politicians and automakers say a car that can both reduce greenhouse gases and free America from its reliance on foreign oil is years or even decades away.

Ron Gremban says such a car is parked in his garage.

It looks like a typical Toyota Prius hybrid, but in the trunk sits an 80-miles-per-gallon secret — a stack of 18 brick-sized batteries that boosts the car's high mileage with an extra electrical charge so it can burn even less fuel.

Gremban, an electrical engineer and committed environmentalist, spent several months and $3,000 tinkering with his car.
__________
Read More / Source: SFGate

Customgamer1 · Aug 13, 2005, 11:58 PM

I want one!!!! that would be so nice if we all could get 250mpg on our cars

CDsDontBurn · Aug 14, 2005, 12:41 AM

lol.......i get that on one tank

Paradox Enigma · Aug 14, 2005, 01:52 AM

...and while that engineer is burning less gas, he is consuming MORE electricity to keep those batteries charged...which also puts a load on our energy infrastructure. Less pollution is good - less energy is even better.

I'm waiting for the day we can all run our cars on banana peels and beer...

cheese_thief · Aug 14, 2005, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paradox Enigma

I'm waiting for the day we can all run our cars on banana peels and beer...

And peanuts, of course.

Dark Lord · Aug 14, 2005, 02:01 AM

its no good if the cars cant put out power to match.

oh sure, you may get 250mpg but your only putting down 70hp..... id like to see a car that will get good mileage, and be able to perform with the likes of Corvettes and Vipers.

Paradox Enigma · Aug 14, 2005, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheese_thief

And peanuts, of course.

...ah yes - need some protien too!

CDsDontBurn · Aug 14, 2005, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by another-user

oh sure, you may get 250mpg but your only putting down 70hp..... id like to see a car that will get good mileage, and be able to perform with the likes of Corvettes and Vipers.

one of the guys here at my work is supposed to be getting a prius in november. he's been reading up on them, and he says that the net power of both the gas and electric engine put out about 110HP, and net torque of 377lbs.

more info on prius

pr0digal jenius · Aug 14, 2005, 04:53 AM

hybrids have some torque...i'll vouch for tht with my mom's civic...no HP to speak of tho

Necrosis · Aug 14, 2005, 05:32 AM

Ok, this really doesn't count when it comes to the cars you guys are talking about. Oh well I'll post it anyway.

http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/alterna...car-023835.php

Dark Lord · Aug 14, 2005, 06:27 AM

now where talking. an electric car that has some serious balls.

Dark Lord · Aug 14, 2005, 06:38 AM

here we go. i knew i rememberd reading about this awhile ago.

On the Volta, the 3.3 liter V6 petrol engine is fitted behind the rear axel and not connected directly to the wheels. Indeed, motion is ensured by two electrically powered engines, one per axle thereby securing all-wheel drive and enhanced safety. As such, this epoch-making mechanical layout paves the way to eliminating the traditional transmission and gearbox longitudinal encumbrance.

Weight 1250 kilo / 2755.8 lbs

Engine Electric motors and V 6

Engine Location Mid , transversely mounted

Displacement 3.300 liter / 201.4 cu in

Valvetrain 4 valves / cylinder, DOHC

Fuel feed Fuel injection

Aspiration Naturally Aspirated

Gearbox N/A

Drive All wheel drive

Power 408 bhp / 304 KW

Torque N/A

BHP/Liter 124 bhp / liter

Power to weight ratio 0.33 bhp / kg

Top Speed 250 km/h / 155 mph

0-60 mph Acceleration 4.0 s

its no 250mpg but at 31.7mpg and 400HP its not to bad either.

ronnn · Aug 14, 2005, 07:16 AM

I would like a prius also.

CDsDontBurn · Aug 14, 2005, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by another-user

here we go. i knew i rememberd reading about this awhile ago.

On the Volta, the 3.3 liter V6 petrol engine is fitted behind the rear axel and not connected directly to the wheels. Indeed, motion is ensured by two electrically powered engines, one per axle thereby securing all-wheel drive and enhanced safety. As such, this epoch-making mechanical layout paves the way to eliminating the traditional transmission and gearbox longitudinal encumbrance.

Weight 1250 kilo / 2755.8 lbs

Engine Electric motors and V 6

Engine Location Mid , transversely mounted

Displacement 3.300 liter / 201.4 cu in

Valvetrain 4 valves / cylinder, DOHC

Fuel feed Fuel injection

Aspiration Naturally Aspirated

Gearbox N/A

Drive All wheel drive

Power 408 bhp / 304 KW

Torque N/A

BHP/Liter 124 bhp / liter

Power to weight ratio 0.33 bhp / kg

Top Speed 250 km/h / 155 mph

0-60 mph Acceleration 4.0 s

its no 250mpg but at 31.7mpg and 400HP its not to bad either.

question is.....how much??? It looks pretty sleek IMO, but w/all them gadgets, it's just ALOT more stuff to fix if it gets in a wreck

Dark Lord · Aug 14, 2005, 07:33 AM

last i heard it was never going to production. its just a technical show car.

CDsDontBurn · Aug 14, 2005, 07:40 AM

total waste of money then

kelticknight · Aug 14, 2005, 04:29 PM

need to some thing soon as fuel keeps going up like heating oil,getting ridilous

Aug 13, 2005, 07:29 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 87	Engineers modify hybrid cars to get up to 250 mpg Politicians and automakers say a car that can both reduce greenhouse gases and free America from its reliance on foreign oil is years or even decades away. Ron Gremban says such a car is parked in his garage. It looks like a typical Toyota Prius hybrid, but in the trunk sits an 80-miles-per-gallon secret — a stack of 18 brick-sized batteries that boosts the car's high mileage with an extra electrical charge so it can burn even less fuel. Gremban, an electrical engineer and committed environmentalist, spent several months and $3,000 tinkering with his car. __________ Read More / Source: SFGate

Aug 13, 2005, 11:58 PM	#2
Customgamer1 Fell off the tech wagon Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,273 Rep Power: 73 System Specs	I want one!!!! that would be so nice if we all could get 250mpg on our cars __________________ Asus Laptop: 2.5 Intel Core 2 Duo, 4gigs DDR 2, Windows 7 64bit! Windows 7 > OSX!

Aug 14, 2005, 12:41 AM	#3
CDsDontBurn 127.0.0.1 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,458 Rep Power: 202 System Specs	lol.......i get that on one tank __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Aug 14, 2005, 01:52 AM	#4
Paradox Enigma Lurker Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Planet Earth (I think) Posts: 126 Rep Power: 0	...and while that engineer is burning less gas, he is consuming MORE electricity to keep those batteries charged...which also puts a load on our energy infrastructure. Less pollution is good - less energy is even better. I'm waiting for the day we can all run our cars on banana peels and beer... __________________ ...thread killer...

Aug 14, 2005, 02:01 AM	#6
Dark Lord HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 5,945 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	its no good if the cars cant put out power to match. oh sure, you may get 250mpg but your only putting down 70hp..... id like to see a car that will get good mileage, and be able to perform with the likes of Corvettes and Vipers. __________________

Aug 14, 2005, 04:53 AM	#9
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	hybrids have some torque...i'll vouch for tht with my mom's civic...no HP to speak of tho

Aug 14, 2005, 05:32 AM	#10
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 129 System Specs	Ok, this really doesn't count when it comes to the cars you guys are talking about. Oh well I'll post it anyway. http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/alterna...car-023835.php

Aug 14, 2005, 06:27 AM	#11
Dark Lord HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 5,945 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	now where talking. an electric car that has some serious balls. __________________

Aug 14, 2005, 06:38 AM	#12
Dark Lord HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 5,945 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	here we go. i knew i rememberd reading about this awhile ago. On the Volta, the 3.3 liter V6 petrol engine is fitted behind the rear axel and not connected directly to the wheels. Indeed, motion is ensured by two electrically powered engines, one per axle thereby securing all-wheel drive and enhanced safety. As such, this epoch-making mechanical layout paves the way to eliminating the traditional transmission and gearbox longitudinal encumbrance. Weight 1250 kilo / 2755.8 lbs Engine Electric motors and V 6 Engine Location Mid , transversely mounted Displacement 3.300 liter / 201.4 cu in Valvetrain 4 valves / cylinder, DOHC Fuel feed Fuel injection Aspiration Naturally Aspirated Gearbox N/A Drive All wheel drive Power 408 bhp / 304 KW Torque N/A BHP/Liter 124 bhp / liter Power to weight ratio 0.33 bhp / kg Top Speed 250 km/h / 155 mph 0-60 mph Acceleration 4.0 s its no 250mpg but at 31.7mpg and 400HP its not to bad either. __________________

Aug 14, 2005, 07:16 AM	#13
ronnn DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 617 Rep Power: 0	I would like a prius also.

Aug 14, 2005, 07:33 AM	#15
Dark Lord HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 5,945 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	last i heard it was never going to production. its just a technical show car. __________________

Aug 14, 2005, 07:40 AM	#16
CDsDontBurn 127.0.0.1 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,458 Rep Power: 202 System Specs	total waste of money then __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Aug 14, 2005, 04:29 PM	#17
kelticknight DriverHeaven Knight Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: EIRE{great for black stuff ,bulmers cider and Munster rubgy Posts: 1,095 Rep Power: 0	need to some thing soon as fuel keeps going up like heating oil,getting ridilous __________________