Detroit may finally have learned a lesson from the success of Toyota Hybrid Vehicles. After the Chevrolet Volt last week, Chrysler announced this morning three new Electric Vehicle to hit showrooms in 2010.
Last week I was also discussing with Jean-Hugues, the design of electric Trial Motorbikes which requires high torque at low (zero) RPM and would therefore be a perfect match for and electric engine. Here are a few ideas that came to my mind:
- Replace Shock Absorbers by Electric Linear Motors much like those found in loudspeakers drivers for jumps and shock-absorption-energy reuse. Jumps / shock-absorption could be controlled by the release of the no-longer necessary clutch handle, a button, or biker-pumping.
- Wheel-embedded electric engines for forward propulsion and electromagnetic braking / energy reuse.
- Ultra-capacitors for instant delivery of enormous power for jumps and store of energy from braking and shock-absorption.
- The smallest Li-Ion battery (to reduce weight) good enough for the duration of a competition. The battery should be easily replaced (with only a theft-prevention lock).
- No transmission, no gear box.
Jean-Hugues proposed to make it Hybrid with a low-power gas-powered generator but I believe this would be heavier than the batteries required for the short duration of typical modern competitions of less than 10 miles. The generator if optional could be used for road-use or longer competitions.
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