Chrysler Trying To Implement Hydraulic Engines In Smaller Cars

Automaker czar Chrysler group is carrying out experiments to use the energy efficient hydraulic hybrid engines in minivans and small segment cars. It has collaborated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to conduct research and analysis for replacing the conventional hybrid systems with the cheaper hybrid hydraulic systems. The hydraulic engines promise better fuel economy and are thus a cheaper and greener alternative as compared to the contemporary hybrid engines. The hybrid hydraulic engines are already in use in big trucks and buses. However they are unfamiliar in smaller hatchbacks and minivans. EPA and Chrysler are investing $ 2 million each for this project and believe that the on-road tests can commence as early as next year.

The conventional hybrid engines save a lot of fuel by using the energy from braking process to charge the capacitors in a battery. However the hydraulic hybrid technology is more profitable as it uses hydraulic pumps in place of the frictional braking system to slow down the truck or any other vehicle for that matter. This stored energy in the pump is then utilized to force a fluid into a tank which compresses the air. The compressed air can be then employed to propel the vehicle.

#-Link-Snipped-#So you must be thinking that why these super efficient and simple engines are restricted to garbage trucks and carrier vehicles only. The reason for this thing is that the hydraulic systems are heavy, bulky and louder. But this seems to be the only drawback of this engine. It has a long list of salient features that prove it to be a better option as compared to conventional hybrid technology. For example, the pumps and compressed air storage tanks are much cheaper than batteries. They can store energy very quickly hence can improve the gasoline requirement reduction is remarkably greater than the other hybrid engines. The normal hybrid can improve the fuel efficiency by 25% but this hydraulic hybrid engine does that up to 35%. Also, in the city driving limits and conditions, the hydraulic engine can increase the efficiency by an astounding margin of 60%. David Haugen, manager of the technology development group at EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory is of the view that no other technology offers such large improvement.

Now the challenge is that how can this big bulky system be fitted inside a small minivan. This can be achieved by incorporating smaller air storage tanks so that there is enough cargo and passenger space. Also, the safety of the vehicles must not be compromised. The sound of the hydraulic system should also be suppressed to lower the noise levels. Once these design specifications are successfully achieved, then this engine can be incorporated in all the cars to reduce carbon emission and that will ultimately reduce the global warming.

Image credit: AutoCarGreen