Diesel Electric Vehicles Mike Warmack HC 399

Diesel – Electric Vehicles Mike Warmack HC 399 – Hybrid, Electric, and Fuel Cell Vehicles November 18, 2008

Diesel 101 What is diesel? • Petroleum diesel (petrodiesel) is a heavy distillate from crude oil • Chemical composition ranges from C 9 H 20 to C 16 H 34 • Gasoline ranges between C 5 H 12 and C 8 H 18 • Used in diesel engines, designed by Rudolf Diesel in 1892 • Can alternatively be produced from biomass, coal liquidification walbrofuelpump. org, Retrieved 11/11/08

Diesel 102 How does it compare to gasoline? Diesel Gasoline Energy content 129, 000 BTU 117, 000 BTU Specific gravity 7. 09 lbs. / US gal. 6. 01 lbs. / US gal. Engine compression 20 : 1 Current avg. price $2. 94 / US gallon $2. 22 / US Gallon Proportional cost 61 % from crude 67 % from crude Engine efficiency 40 % 25 % (Otto Cycle) 8: 1 eia. doe. gov, afdc. energy. gov, encarta. msn. com Retrieved 11/11/08 • Can be produced from hydrocarbons with transesterification • Not as explosive as gasoline, fewer vapors

Diesel 103 How does it work? Similar to a gasoline engine’s cycles: • Intake – pulls in air and fuel into the cylinder • Compression – piston reduces the volume • Ignition – a spark plug ignites the gas and volume expands o No spark plug in diesel, combusts under higher compression • Exhaust – piston reduces the volume with valves open nwwin. com Retrieved 11/11/08

Diesel 201 What are the advantages of using diesel? • Fuel Economy • Higher compression ratio results in more efficient combustion • Slower depreciation • Diesel power trains tend to last longer • More torque and power • Good for acceleration and towing • Longer cylinder stroke for compression, larger crankshaft • Tax benefits • Qualify for similar alternative vehicle tax incentives as hybrids • ~ $1, 500 tax credit • Biofuels are easy to use • Any diesel vehicle can use biodiesel with simple conversion kit

Diesel 202 What are the disadvantages of using diesel? • Vehicle availability (private vehicles) • Higher emission standards are difficult to design for • Fuel availability • Not all service stations carry diesel (private vehicles) • US refineries produce less diesel, smaller supply • Emissions • Less CO 2 emissions from more efficient combustion • Particulate and NOx emissions are greater • Price • In private vehicles, diesel can cost $1 K-5 K more • Emissions controls are expensive • Diesel fuel is taxed more in the United States autos. yahoo. com Retrieved 11/17/08

Common Diesels Pickup Trucks Mass Transportation motortrend. com, Retrieved 11/17/08 Commercial Trucking portlandonline. com, Retrieved 11/17/08 • Need to haul large loads • Higher torque for towing • Better fuel economy for power driverscdlstaffing. com, Retrieved 11/17/08

Diesel-Electric 101 What is diesel-electric? • The diesel-electric system is usually serial • Not necessarily hybrid, no energy storage • A diesel engine drives a electric generator • Electric motors are directly connected to propulsion Why not directly connect the engine to propulsion? • Complex systems necessary to connect to one engine • Extensive gearing required to stay in power band Why is diesel-electric used? • The diesel is used to generate electricity efficiently • Electric motors don’t need gearing to be efficient

Common Diesel-Electrics Shipping – Azimuth Thrusters Rail Locomotives siemens. com, Retrieved 11/17/08 • Large chassis – Able to house equipment • Large loads – Need lots of power • Multiple drives – Propellers, drive axels • Less aesthetic – For industrial use • Diesel-electric meets all of their needs Lostworld. pair. com, Retrieved 11/17/08

Diesel-Electric Hybrids Are they different than gasoline-electric hybrids? • Recapture kinetic energy and store for later use • Monitor idling • Will operate in a serial hybrid system • About 25% less fuel consumption Why current diesel-electrics are ideal for hybrid technology • Able to accommodate additional equipment • Not as concerned about size • Matches efficiency with more efficiency Other benefits • Smaller engine that is only run at maximum efficiency • Improved acceleration • Quieter, no idling, no startup plume jcwinnie. biz, Retrieved 11/17/08

Diesel-Electric Hybrid Buses jcwinnie. biz, Retrieved 11/17/08 • Similar buses used in Seattle, San Francisco, Eugene

Diesel-Electric Hybrid Buses Projected benefits of diesel-electric hybrid buses • 37% less CO 2 • Up to 50% less nitrogen oxide • Up to 50% less particulates • About 25% less fuel consumption Problems • Not a mature market • Design not perfected • Maintenance facilities will need to train on new tech jcwinnie. biz, Retrieved 11/17/08

DE Hybrid Locomotives Railpower Technologies – Green Goat • Rail yard switch locomotive • High idle time, stop and go • 2000 HP • 80% reduction of NOx • In production railpower. com, Retrieved 11/17/08 GE Ecomagination Locomotive • Long-haul locomotive • Equivalent to removing 1/3 cars • Not in production ge. ecomagination. com, Retrieved 11/17/08

Personal Diesel Hybrids Volkswagen Golf TDI Hybrid • Parallel hybrid • 70 mpg • Realistic concept wired. com, Retrieved 11/17/08 Citeron C 4 • Parallel/Dual mode • 69 mpg • Europe in 2010 autoblog. com, Retrieved 11/17/08

DE Thoughts Why not invest in all-electrics? • Gap between oil economy and next step • Progression in efficiency • Gasoline -> diesel • Diesel -> diesel-electric • Diesel-electric -> DE hybrids • DE hybrids -> full-electric • Proven technology • Minimal change in infrastructure • Service stations • Delivery • Refining • Better range than electric vehicles • Diesel easier to use in extreme environments • Commercial will resist /never change to 100% electric • Not economic • Compromise with DEH

DE Thoughts Diesel vs. ethanol • • • Ethanol has about half efficiency of gasoline, third of diesel Expensive engine controls to convert to ethanol/flexfuel Biodiesel can be used with minimal conversion to engines Ethanol has similar profile to gasoline and is closed cycle Biodiesel can be a closed cycle process Diesel emissions controls can limit particulates, NOx Higher diesel cost related to use • Higher cost will encourage efficiency • In turn, better technology • Also, more efficient means of use (train vs. truck) • Greater awareness of environmental impacts • Political will

DE Websites • • http: //www. hybridcars. com/ http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Diesel-electric http: //ge. ecomagination. com http: //www. tdiclub. com/ http: //www. edmunds. com/ http: //www. vw. com/ http: //www. autobloggreen. com/