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[SJKOO01]

They say Electric cars are the way to go, but I think there's a few more huddles to sort out before electric cars will be the normal.

Initial price - At the moment still costing like of a supercar !.

mpw (miles per watt), they need to be able to do a decent milage before top-up.  Around town is fine, but if your off on a family holiday, all packed up, and your destination is more than 100mls, then you'll have to do a few stop off's over night before you get to your holiday !!.

And if we go electric, as everyone thinks it's a good idea, just how much of a carbon foot print will we leave due to the power stations all charging our cars 

[Martin_1962]

cooooool so no more manuals. woo hooo. hail the automatic

Its not automatic either.......no gears at all

Hmm

Field Weakening

[Marks DTM Calib]

So Lizzie, what does an electric (or diesel for that matter as the prime mover does not shut down in off once its started - unless itrs faulty as 47292 was doing exactly this early in the year) do in 'Engine Only' that it does not do in 'off' (a bit of trivia)

Engine remains turning over to power all internal electrics and maintain air brake system?

If wrong not surprised!  As you know I understand steam traction far more than the modern stuff.  Steam is far more complicated:

When a steam engine is stationary the drain cocks are kept open, the reversing gear in mid position, and the regulator tightly shut, blower on, with the tender brake on, train brake on, and the engine brake on. Steam continues to be supplied to the engine (if applicable) and train electric generators, along with steam heating during the winter months. 

 And of course when the driver gets the 'right away' all has to be released, repositioned, and opened up (with the drains cocks shut) = no pressing buttons!

The engine remains running in all positions unless you press the stop button.

Engine only keeps key ancillaries running such as the compressors and/or exhausters to supply air/vac for brakes etc.

Off still leaves the engine running but such items as compressors etc are off. This is only used to change ends really as the desk is locked and the key can be removed.

474292 had a fault where she DID shut down the prime mover in Off due to a faulty triple pump contactor

[Marks DTM Calib]

cooooool so no more manuals. woo hooo. hail the automatic

Its not automatic either.......no gears at all

Hmm

Field Weakening

Unlikely as I doubt they will use DC motors, much more likely to be induction motors and cyclo convertors.

[Psychoca]

cooooool so no more manuals. woo hooo. hail the automatic

Its not automatic either.......no gears at all

Hmm

Field Weakening

Unlikely as I doubt they will use DC motors, much more likely to be induction motors and cyclo convertors.

So does theory stand that they will go just as fast backwards as forwards then???

[Chris_H]

cooooool so no more manuals. woo hooo. hail the automatic

Its not automatic either.......no gears at all

Hmm

Field Weakening

Unlikely as I doubt they will use DC motors, much more likely to be induction motors and cyclo convertors.

So does theory stand that they will go just as fast backwards as forwards then???

They will have a control system and that may well be deemed fit to limit speed going backwards!

[Entwood]

cooooool so no more manuals. woo hooo. hail the automatic

Its not automatic either.......no gears at all

Hmm

Field Weakening

Unlikely as I doubt they will use DC motors, much more likely to be induction motors and cyclo convertors.

So does theory stand that they will go just as fast backwards as forwards then???

Theoreticaly, yes. Just like a train does .. one engine at the front running forwards, one at the back running backwards ... both at the same speed .. (else it gets very messy !!)

Logic control however will probably limit "reverse" to a low percentage of forward ability.

[Chris_H]

cooooool so no more manuals. woo hooo. hail the automatic

Its not automatic either.......no gears at all

Hmm

Field Weakening

Unlikely as I doubt they will use DC motors, much more likely to be induction motors and cyclo convertors.

So does theory stand that they will go just as fast backwards as forwards then???

Theoreticaly, yes. Just like a train does .. one engine at the front running forwards, one at the back running backwards ... both at the same speed .. (else it gets very messy !!)

Logic control however will probably limit "reverse" to a low percentage of forward ability.

That's how you build stretched limos!!!!

[Lizzie_Zoom]

So Lizzie, what does an electric (or diesel for that matter as the prime mover does not shut down in off once its started - unless itrs faulty as 47292 was doing exactly this early in the year) do in 'Engine Only' that it does not do in 'off' (a bit of trivia)

Engine remains turning over to power all internal electrics and maintain air brake system?

If wrong not surprised!  As you know I understand steam traction far more than the modern stuff.  Steam is far more complicated:

When a steam engine is stationary the drain cocks are kept open, the reversing gear in mid position, and the regulator tightly shut, blower on, with the tender brake on, train brake on, and the engine brake on. Steam continues to be supplied to the engine (if applicable) and train electric generators, along with steam heating during the winter months. 

 And of course when the driver gets the 'right away' all has to be released, repositioned, and opened up (with the drains cocks shut) = no pressing buttons!

The engine remains running in all positions unless you press the stop button.

Engine only keeps key ancillaries running such as the compressors and/or exhausters to supply air/vac for brakes etc.

Off still leaves the engine running but such items as compressors etc are off. This is only used to change ends really as the desk is locked and the key can be removed.

474292 had a fault where she DID shut down the prime mover in Off due to a faulty triple pump contactor

Thanks Mark, that is very interesting information for me as I am always keen to know more about 'modern' traction 8-) 8-) 8-)

[Lisa]

I thought hydrogen fuel cell cars were the future. Well according to James May they are

[Kevin Wood]

I thought hydrogen fuel cell cars were the future. Well according to James May they are

They are far too fragile to survive at the moment, especially given the state of our roads.

Fuel cells are currently mainly of interest to those who operate industrial processes that result in large quantities of hydrogen and/or oxygen being generated.

We do need to crack the problem of energy storage for electric cars. Motors and the control systems required are already there.

Kevin

[Marks DTM Calib]

Yes, control systems are indeed already there as are the motors, chopper drives etc and all very efficient to.

Its just energy storage that is the challenge.

I have to say that on the mum bus, when the turbo kicks in whilst in reverse it cn get a little bit larey!

[Kevin Wood]

Bike engined kit cars are reasonably lively in reverse - if the owner hasn't got fed up with rebuilding the reverse box and gone for the Fred Flintstone human powered reverse gear option.

Then again, I haven't seen many drivers demonstrate this reverse gear performance - well, a few have with plenty of runoff area but it didn't go well.

Kevin