SAE Congress '08: Raser to show Series PHEV drivetrain for trucks
This week at the SAE World Congress in Detroit, Raser Technologies will be displaying their new plug-in series hybrid powertrain designed for application in full size trucks and SUVs. Raser is working with FEV, who are doing systems integration work on the design. The Raser configuration uses an AC induction motor with 200kW of peak power and 100kW of continuous output, a 100kW generator and a 700V lithium ion battery. Think of it as E-Flex for big trucks.The system is expected to propel a truck up to 40 miles on battery power and yield an average of 100mpg. The system will also be able to provide up to 50kW of electrical power that can be used to power tools for commercial applications. We'll be looking for Raser at the Congress to learn more about their system.
[Source: Raser Technologies]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jonathan 10:59AM (4/13/2008)
"Think of it as E-Flex for big trucks."
I would rather think of it as something that actually may come about, rather than a perpetual concept used for publicity purposes only.
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Aimless 10:58AM (4/13/2008)
Looks like a promising hybrid system. But a PHEV ???
Good luck, finding a 100 kW wall socket to charge the battery.
If you start to think about it, the amount of power used in transportation is huge.
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rgseidl 11:50AM (4/13/2008)
Please define "big truck". Also, specify how the 100mpg claim came about, it seems wildly out of whack for any large commercial vehicle.
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Kevin Nugent 1:22PM (4/13/2008)
well that is no new idea i have though of that myself for the past 2 years . Ever since the volt came out i thought of using the same technology because it makes more sense. The only thing that is holding us back is the expense of lithium ion . The expense could go down drastically if everybody sued a carrier like a123 systems. . But everybody thinks that they have the solution to the battery prob elm so we will see whose technology will rain superior.
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Chris M 4:16PM (4/13/2008)
That amount of power would be great for a small car and adequate for a mid-size car or small pickup truck, but might be underpowered for a large truck - unless they used two.
The milage claim is misleading and possibly false - go 40 miles on electric only, then 60 miles on just one gallon of petrol? An aerodynamic car, sure, but not with a much less aerodynamic large truck! Still, it could dramatically cut fuel costs for trucks used mainly for local deliveries, as most of the miles would be driven on cheap electricity.
The ability to provide AC power would be a boon to contractors, "up to 50 Kw" would run lots of power tools!
Aimless, a 100 Kw wall socket isn't required unless you wanted a really fast recharge. While the article didn't state the battery size, I doubt it would be over 24 Kwh, considering the range figure given. A standard 240 volt 30 amp outlet could provide enough power to recharge in about 3.5 hours, a 110 volt 15 amp outlet would take 16 hours. Don't confues Power (Kilowatts) with Energy (Kilowatt-hours), that's like confusing Distance (miles) with Speed (miles per hour).
Nugent: A123 Systems is a LiIon battery developer and manufacturer, not a "carrier". I fail to see how suing them would bring down costs, with expensive lawyer fees to be paid, wouldn't lawsuits drive costs up, instead? What will bring down prices is improvements in battery design, improvements in manufacturing proceedures, and competition increasing available supplies.
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GenWaylaid 7:02PM (4/13/2008)
"That amount of power would be great for a small car and adequate for a mid-size car or small pickup truck, but might be underpowered for a large truck"
Actually, 200kW peak / 100kW continuous is equivalent to about 280hp peak / 140hp continuous. The continuous rating would keep a midsize car cruising at 100 miles an hour. A 50-ton big rig would require more power, sure, but I imagine most trucks and SUVs bought by individuals and small contractors would have no problem with highway travel at that power rating.
For comparison, the power numbers quoted in this article are greater than those claimed by Tesla: http://www.teslamotors.com/performance/acceleration_and_torque.php
The Tesla Roadster certainly isn't struggling for performance.
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RickM 10:55AM (4/14/2008)
Chris, I rather think Kevin meant to say "used," not "sued." I thought he was suggesting standardization - which I think might be premature at this point, but would be better than litigation. ;-)
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Noah 4:29PM (4/14/2008)
But the sheer amount of batteries going into a fullsize truck has got to be staggering! Heck the Tahoe hybrid costs $55,000! Sure, early production cost rates, different packages, yes they add to cost. But the battery cost is high. Plus, don't heavier vehicles drain batteries faster? Would the hydraulic hybrid setup be better for trucks?
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