An Idea...Hmm.

I've been seeing those "Ideas For Good" Advertisements all over the web, mostly on hulu and it got me thinking. So i went over to the site to post this, but then i read the terms, i have to be 18 .

Then i thought, I'd share it here! .

This idea probably would be best for alot of highway driving, not so much city driving.

Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive is pretty darn amazing and ive had this idea that could MAYBE further improve it. I've always thought, would it be possible to attach generators or something akin to an alternator to the rear wheels and have those help generate electricity as the rear wheels spin instead of them just only spinning freely. Could this vehicle possibly, just be self-sustaining (or maybe a plug in hybrid, with no petrol motor, just rechargeable at home/work and self-generated power) with just Using the electric motor to get it's self up to speed on the highway (say 70MPH), Once above a certain speed (like 60~MPH) the rear generators/alternators kick in and start providing power to the on board electrical systems, the battery or the electric motor. Or maybe just one of those or a combination? Let's say the electric motor and battery, if somehow these generators could create a constant stream of electricity to the electric motor and battery maybe it could just be enough electricity to keep the car at a steady pace of 70MPH. Of course this will still have the regenerative braking and all that is already on the hybrid synergy drive.

I don't know if this idea has ever been thought of before, but i'd like to hear someone's input. Especially the engineers on this forum, i am still in high school so my understanding of electricity and generators is probably rather bland and basic

 

A car that's self-sustaining is not possible in the physical world we live in due to friction. If I'm understanding your idea correctly, you're saying have the hybrid system power the front wheels and an electrical generator powered by the rear wheels spinning to provide electricity to the batteries? This would mean as you drain the batteries powering the front wheels, you'd be recharging them with the back wheels spinning. The generators at the rear wheels would be like driving with the e-brake on and mean you'd need a more powerful engine to overcome this effect. It's a good idea in theory but friction will get the best of you.

 

^^This

 

Yeah i knew there was faults to my idea lol.

Maybe a small alternator type device could be good enough? Or would that still be "like driving with the e-brake on"?

 

Yup.

Energy is neither created nor destroyed, merely converted to other things. Heat, light etc.

What you're describing is essentially a perpetual motion device which is impossible according to the laws of physics. Sorry bud.

 

There would be resistance applied to the tires by whatever drive mechanism was used for the generator.
The other problem I see would be the variable speed. Alternators like one fairly constant speed....The rear tires speed up and slow down all the time. So there would need to be an advanced control system for that too I think....