The potential for hydraulic hybrids is great — and widely varied. Heavy off-road equipment and delivery fleets are logical applications. In time, hydraulic hybrids will make sense in personal vehicles. Meantime, I continue to be intrigued by the possibilities in racing.
Jeremy Kaminski of Kamien Performance Cars in New Buffalo, MI, writes, “Some supercars can put out about 600 lb/ft of torque to the wheels. Is this possible with a hydraulic motor and if so would a pressure recovery system (pump, accumulator) be able to keep up with the demand for an extended period of time?”
Hydraulic motors excel in torque, and it would not take a very large hydraulic motor to generate 600 lb/ft of torque. NRG Dynamix has built prototypes that far exceed that for specific applications. With potential weight saving and packaging flexibility due to smaller size, hydraulic motors are compelling consideration for any motor-drive application, including racing.
“Does a hydraulic motor ever reach a max rpm even if pressure is sustained? I ask this to get an idea for a limit in vehicle top speed.”
A hydraulic motor is not a self-governing device; if you can sustain pressure, it will continue to speed up until something breaks. This can be avoided by using systems similar to those that protect electric motors from the same issue, and with a properly funded project it would be fun to go after a land-speed record!
“How much would an entire assembly weigh (pump, accumulator, motors, etc.)?”
NRG Dynamix makes one of the lightest full hybrid systems in its NRG Drive with Drop ‘N Hybrid. But weight is tied more to what the vehicle has to do than a simple question of how much does it weigh.
“What kind of cost is associated with a conversion?
NRG Dynamix has developed NRG Drive and the Drop ‘N Hybrid to be price-competitive for fleet and OEM opportunities. The average projected return on investment is less than two 2 years. In time, I hope some of those production units will be available for individual and small shops to push our technology to the limits. Personally, I would like to see our stuff at the drag strip or at an endurance race.
For more information on NRG Dynamix, NRG Drive, Drop ‘N Hybrid, Hydraulic Pumps, Hydraulic Motors, Accumulators and more, go to nrgdynamix.com. Send your questions and comments to info@nrgdynamix.com. *Friend us on Facebook; Follow us on Twitter.
676 Responses to “Can Hydraulic Hybrids Measure Up With Other Motors On Performance?”
So whats the difference between regular Hydraulics and these Hybrids Hydaulics?
If by “regular Hydraulics” you mean the Parallel Hybrid systems currently being used, the NRG system is a full-series hybrid, meaning the Engine charges a hydraulic system, and then the hydraulic system provides the energy to turn the drive-wheels. So the engine does not propel the vehicle. It’s a role change for the engine.
Parallels require the engine to provide motive power for the vehicle and then they give launch-assist. That is, the energy created by braking is stored and then released when the vehicle takes off.
The effect of a series is that the engine, because it does not propel the vehicle, is allowed to operate in an efficient band of RPM’s at all times.