Jalopnik: hydraulics

Lightning Hybrids LH4: 100 MPG Biodiesel-Hydraulic Concept

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:45:00 EDT

Lightning Hybrids debuted their LH4 100 MPG hydraulic hybrid at this week's Denver Auto Show. The LH4 uses a three-cylinder biodiesel engine mated to a hydraulic pump/motor for both long-range mileage and short-range get-up-and-go.

The light-weight LH4 hopes to win the $10 million Automotive X Prize, set to be awarded to a safe, production-capable 100 MPG vehicle. We can't vouch for the marketability or safety of this vehicle, but the idea is an interesting twist on the gas-electric hybrid, substituting a hydraulic pump/motor for the electric motor. The goal for this vehicle is to sell in the $39,000 to $59,000 range, sip gas at a rate over 100 MPG, and achieve a respectable 0-to-60 MPH time of around six seconds.

We don't expect the little three-cylinder diesel to have much trouble in the fuel economy department and, for short bursts of acceleration, a large hydraulic motor hooked up to a tank of compressed liquid seems like a powerful enough source. Why store electrons when you can just store molecules?

[Poupular Mechanics]

Harlan Charles Shows Us The C4 Corvette ZR1 Active Suspension Prototype

Mark Arnold — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:40:00 EDT

To show off the history behind the 2009 Corvette ZR1 during our first drive at Milford, GM brought out some C4 ZR-1 'Vettes. The most interesting one was this 1990 prototype adorned in vents and scoops. Corvette commander Harlan Charles says this was a testbed for a complicated and heavy active suspension system that used hydraulics to lean the big black 'Vette into turns. Obviously, with the magnetic ride control system of today, this is an obsolete setup, but interesting nonetheless.

"Dance Jeep" Makes DARPA, Vegas Jealous

Travis Hudson — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:15:00 EDT

DARPA may have that whole "driver-less vehicle" thing locked down and Las Vegas may be the city of lights, but this tricked-out Jeep could probably take a run at making both of them jealous. That is if cities or quasi-public Department of Defense agencies were able to express emotion. Or if they were even alive. Or...right. Anyway. This Wrangler's been retrofitted with enough hydraulic equipment to clear the shelves at every custom shop in East L.A., as well as over 4,000 lights. OK, but big whoop — so it's got hydraulics and lights, what else is it bringing to the table? How about a remote-control system to make it Dance, baby, Dance! [YouTube]

Volkswagen Rabbitamino On Hydros?

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST

We were expecting some wacky stuff here at the Geneva Motor Show, but a VW pickup on hydros? What the what? Sure why not, the crazy part was the 8 switch Vee Dub was sitting next to a dropped Ferrari F40, which we thought was illegal to begin with, but what do we know. What does that say about us that both Spinelli and I walked right past the F40 like it was invisible? In any case, too bad this example wasn't seen at SEMA or some state fairground where we would have been no doubt treated to a couple of tasteful poses.

The Nuclear Waste Removing Hydraulic Robot Will Save Us All

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:20:00 EST

When you're cleaning up poorly stored nuclear waste you've got a few obstacles to clear. There's the highly toxic materials that would kill a person in a short period of time. Everything is stored in areas that are hard to access and dark. Then there's the fact that after a while nuclear waste separates into salts and liquids, making it hard to pump the material out. Finally, everything becomes explosive. The solution? A robot that runs completely on hydraulic power armed with a water cannon that could slice through concrete. Your tax dollars at work, America. [Lakeshore]

Government to Test Hydraulic Hybrid in Garbage Truck

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 09:55:04 EDT

The hydraulic hybrid-drive system the EPA may or may not have stolen appropriated from a guy named Car Man (or thereabouts) is ready for more real-world tests, the Wall Street Journal reports. The govs that be are planning to roll out their hydraulic system in a Peterbilt garbage truck, to be marketed by a Cleveland company starting next year. The truck uses a hybrid combination of diesel engine and hydraulic pump that saves braking energy as pressure, which it releases as force. UPS has been testing a similar system on two of its gajillion trucks since June.

EPA-Influenced Vehicles Get Set to Hit Road [WSJ.com]