Diesel and Hybrid Newbie

Oak Ridge National Labs did a dissection of a 2004 Prius, sort of like a reverse engineering exercise. They are difficult to make out in this photo



but maybe you can see the thermister leads in the winding

The connector at the case, at around the 10 o'clock position, is for the thermistor signals. The heavy leads at the 2 o'clock position are for power

 

did know the electric motor was liquid cooled, same cooling system as engine? or seperate?

 

The engine and electric motor/inverter cooling loops are completely separate

 

I have done some work near Diesel-Electric Hybrids: Komatsu 830E with Pantagraphs to use overhead 'trolley' lines.

Komatsu America Corp. - Equipment - 830E-AC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantograph_(rail)

 

Also long as you are staying civil, I will too ---

I had understood that the inverters and electric motors were not designed for 100% duty cycle at high loads, making the Prius not all that well suited for even plugin electric conversions, let alone towing.

It will need heavier duty components and a bigger cooling system to be able to tow much and still have the long term reliability that the automotive market expects.

 

that makes sence, didnt think about the duty cycle.

 

If designed for it, variable speed motors will absolutely handle 100% duty cycles. Eg, the variable speed drives and "inverter rated" motors used for industrial duty, are almost always run at 100% duty cycles

The Oshkosh Defense ProPulse in the HEMTT is also designed for severe duty cycles, including the typical military requirement for severe ambient temps (Desert to arctic)

Obviously, a passenger vehicle isn't designed for such a duty cycle. Though the Prius appears ideally suited for taxi cab service. Here in Winnipeg, Duffy's has a large fleet of Prius zipping around as taxi's. Winnipeg is a harsh environment, with winter lows of -40 F and summer highs of +95 F. Their Prius taxis are holding up very well, certainly better than the crown vic's

About Us - Duffy's Taxi - 1100 Notre Dame Avenue

This article is dated 2005

Taxidriver.ca

This article is from 2008, the Winnipeg Taxicab Board.

http://www.gov.mb.ca/mit/taxicab/pdf/news/newsaug08.pdf

According to page 3, hybrids were introduced in 2005 to the taxi fleet in Winnipeg. They quickly gained acceptance and a very loyal following among the drivers, and by 2008 there were 219 Prius taxi's in Winnipeg

Hybrid taxi's make up 55% of the Winnipeg taxi fleet. There is no way operators would use them if they didn't hold up