Alternative fuel vehicle
The term alternative drive technology (synonym "Alternative Drives" ) includes concepts for use in vehicles, which differ in terms of energy or constructive solution of the spread on the market driving techniques.
With such techniques, it is hoped that allows emerging problems of conventional drives such as environmental pollution or depletion of fossil fuel sources to solve (petroleum).
- 3.1 reciprocating engines
Electrification of the powertrain
Here propulsion concepts are treated, the. Essentially of a combination of conventional engines with internal combustion engines as well as a more or less large proportion of electrical drive components In the illustrated scheme and conventional drives are recorded without any electrical component. In pure electric vehicle as well as fuel cell vehicles ( or mixed forms ) is not a part of conventional proportion longer available.
Hybrid drive
Under hybrid vehicles are generally understood hybrids of conventional and electric drive components. They are listed in the adjacent drive pattern in columns C to H. Which the respective pattern identifying the components are also included in the scheme. The (conventional) drives listed in columns A and B are, for obvious reasons, no hybrid drives. This also applies to the actuators among the columns I, J and K. In the case of J ( mixed form of the stored forms of energy - not of the type of drive ) also is no hybrid, since the power generated by the same device, the electric motor.
Here in hybrid vehicles Energy conversion and output separated in time by energy storage and / or there are two energy conversion machines used in parallel (electric motor and internal combustion engine ). As energy storage for the electric part of the drive accumulators or double-layer capacitors are used.
In city traffic, characterized by smaller journeys, lower speeds and frequent acceleration and deceleration, the hybrid drive usually has advantages in energy consumption. When overland transport, so rather longer journeys at higher speeds, a hybrid drive affects more than inconvenience to the energy consumption, because in this mode anyway usually only the engine is running and the hybrid drive has the disadvantage of higher mass with it.
Examples of currently produced hybrid drives are Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive and the E-Flex drive by General Motors.
Electric drive
Electric vehicles will be powered mostly from the energy carried memories which are previously refueled or recharged sufficiently. Fuel cells produce electricity directly from a fuel. Solar cars usually lead to smaller energy storage and can absorb additional entrained by solar power by solar energy. However, very fuel-efficient vehicles and boats with direct sunlight can drive, because for most vehicles, the energy required is much higher than the income from entrained solar cells ( see also electric car, electric mobility).
To the electric drives are also those in which energy is not stored in the form of electricity (such as a lithium-ion battery), but in the form of fuel have to be converted, for example, hydrogen. The conversion would happen in this case, in a fuel cell, the so- generated power would be made available for driving. In the case one also speaks of a fuel cell vehicle.
Alternative fuels with conventional internal combustion engine
Alternative fuels can help reduce dependence on fossil fuels and the net emissions of CO2. The efficiency is still improvable especially with new fuels, making the environmental balance could shift yet.
Also for the conventional road with conventional internal combustion engines alternative fuels are already being used on a large scale: As an additive to conventional gasoline or diesel. EU ethanol be blended with conventional gasoline up to 10 %, for conventional diesel up to 7% biomass-derived vegetable oil.
Alternative fuels require an adjustment in automotive technology. This may be the fuel supply, storage in the car, the internal combustion engine or the safety devices concern.
Diesel engines can operate with pure biodiesel in principle, most vehicles are only for max. 10 to 20% released as technical problems with seals occurred. The dilution of the engine oil is another problem, however, could be monitored. Particle filter are the same as the diesel operation used.
Other concepts
Here a number of other concepts are still listed because they represent alternate drives the purposes of this lemma. However, one must assume that this means no economic relevance is connected in the automotive sector, be it for technical or economic reasons. In other sectors, however niche applications may well be covered with such concepts, such as stationary power generation or in areas that are critical with respect to the off-gas production.
- Gas expansion engine
- Heat engines with external combustion ( Ericsson engine, Stirling engine, vacuum motor)
- Compressed air car
- Multi-fuel engine
- Wood engine
- Battery-powered trailer
Reciprocating engines
Requirements for the use of alternative drives
To avoid costly bad investments, technologies must be matched to the application particularly in commercial fleets, as they rarely unite all the advantages of the engine at the same time in itself. The most important criteria are:
- Range
- Maximum performance (acceleration, gradients )
- Stability or constancy of the energy stored or pre -preserved on board
- Tank acceptable procedure in terms of safety, duration and efficiency of the entire energy chain, from the source to the wheel
- Safety for occupants and environment