(ET) Re: JohnDeereHybrid

[Dan Conine <dconine dotnet com>]

Perhaps, as I have, they were thinking in terms of the current state of 
the art, which is hydrostatic tractors. Hydraulic drive systems are 
inherently inefficient because of friction and fluid losses, and noisy 
and expensive to repair. Using electricity to transfer power gives 
better control, more options for traction, remote, and computer control, 
and the ability to recover a little of your used energy in braking. (Not 
much in most traction applications, though, since the implement will 
usually stop the tractor.)

Bottom line is: Batteries are nice, but they aren't going to run a 
professional landscaper's machine all day. Future use of instant 
recharge, zinc-air refill, fuel cells, blacklight power, etc, might 
prove out, and until then, the hybrid system lets development of drives 
and motors and chassis continue unabated.

Dan Conine
E10
E15
12V dirt bike


> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2004 14:28:33 -0400
> From: "Markus Lorch" <mlorch vt edu>
> Subject: (ET) John Deer Hybrid Electric Tractor Developed
> To: <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
> Message-ID: <000001c46387$0dcf7110$6500a8c0@Voyager>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="us-ascii"
>
>
> http://www.electrifyingtimes.com/uqm_deere_hybrid_tractor.html
>
> If we could just order one of these without the 
> generator and the gas motor. 
>
> Look at the complicated ICE. 
>
> Six 8V batteries would possibly fit in there nicely and be much
> less complex, .... what were they thinking?
>
> Markus
>
>
>
>
>