Objective The project intends to demonstrate that the use of combined diesel-electric propulsion systems with intermediate gyromagnetic energy accumulation, is likely to enable town buses to be run with a considerable reduction in energy consumption.It is also intended to demonstrate that this type of propulsion system constitutes an economical alternative to the conventional diesel engine by virtue of its advantages with respect to both utilisation and profitability.Savings of 8 TOE/year/vehicle (40% of the consumption of conventionnal vehicles) are to be expected. In application, payback time would be 4.6 years.The power developed by the conventional type diesel-engines which equip town buses exceeds, by a factor 5, the average power needed for the acceleration phases of the operational cycles.Furthermore, conventional drive units do not have a braking energy recovery system. To date, all systems developed for reducing consumption by recuperation of the braking energy (electro-chemical accumulator, flywheel hydraulic accumulator) involve a number of disadvantages such as low efficiency, high accumulator weight, limited operational range and high cost of component parts.The diesel-electric bus fitted with an energy recovery accumulator operates by the reciprocal action of the following elements: - An electric drive motor working as a generator during the braking periods, - a gyromagnetic energy accumulator with an integrated motor-generator unit which converts the electrical power into rotary power, - an electronic control system for current regulation and distribution betweenthe different elements, and - a diesel-electric generator set, power source.The diesel-electric generator set must be able to meet the vehicle's average power needed for study running conditions.The peak power required during acceleration is supplied by the gyromagnetic accumulator which recovers most of the braking energy and redistributes it directly by means of the electronic control system.Profitability calculations should take into account an additional investment of DM 5000 of per mass produced vehicle, which, considering fuel saving of 9,600 Litres/year/vehicle, produces a payback time of 4.6 years. Programme(s) ENG-ENALT 2C - Programme (EEC) of demonstration projects relating to the exploitation of alternative energy sources and to energy saving and the substitution of hydrocarbons, 1983-1985 Topic(s) 3.3 - TRANSPORT Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme DEM - Demonstration contracts Coordinator MAGNET MOTOR GMBH EU contribution No data Address PETERSBRUNNER STRAßE 2 82319 Starnberg Germany See on map Total cost No data
