Science Forums 2

[DFINITLYDISTRUBD]

Also you failto note that ALL motors consume the most power when accelerating...and the greater the additional load at startup the greater the consumtion between stopped and cruising. You could put a 7litre diesel in a beetle and never need more than one gear + reverse but it would never be as efficient as a 1.8 litre turbo diesel with a few gears between the engine and the wheels...

Yes... you could for example fit a 200Hp electric motor and appropriate generator and direct drive a vehicle...but you could also use a 60HP electric with apropriate generator driving the wheels via a variable ratio driveline and move the same weight at highway speeds...(I reserve the right to finish this at a later date as it's bed time)

Now more (whatever) to the subject the general idea of a internal combustion electric driveline...example A GE Evo series locomotive makes 4400HP at the wheels
to make that power a massive 4800HP V12 Cat turbodiesel works VERY hard and gulps down masive amounts of fuel to get things moving...but once moving is quite efficient.