Hello
Somewhere around five years ago MB tested Sprinter Hybrids. I suspect that the cost and weight of battery banks was, and still is the reason this idea never progressed. However, I thought that I would ask to see if anyone had any insights on the results.
My primary interest in hybrids is the theory that a Sprinter with an installed roof solar system could at the very least increase the mpg of the vehicle. An extra couple hundred watts of DC power while driving down the road (he says confidently) ought to be worthy of a few extra mpg. Toss in enough battery power to accommodate stop and go traffic and perhaps be more efficient in the engine actually producing power in city traffic; it seems like an interesting theory. Of course, if the drag of the solar system took away the extra mpg...yea. "In theory," MB "could" build removable solar panels/tiles into the roof design to eliminate the extra drag.
While I am tossing out a theory for discussion, I would think a vehicle the size of a Sprinter could accommodate say four DC generating engine systems rather than one large engine as found in hybrids today. For flat highway travel or for city driving, perhaps one smaller engine system would produce enough DC power while running at peak performance. When demand passed a certain point, the second engine system would automatically start to add to the DC power being produced. Such a concept is used in efficient HVAC systems, therefore I would think this concept would work well in a Sprinter hybrid.
Just wondering out loud. Thanks.
Somewhere around five years ago MB tested Sprinter Hybrids. I suspect that the cost and weight of battery banks was, and still is the reason this idea never progressed. However, I thought that I would ask to see if anyone had any insights on the results.
My primary interest in hybrids is the theory that a Sprinter with an installed roof solar system could at the very least increase the mpg of the vehicle. An extra couple hundred watts of DC power while driving down the road (he says confidently) ought to be worthy of a few extra mpg. Toss in enough battery power to accommodate stop and go traffic and perhaps be more efficient in the engine actually producing power in city traffic; it seems like an interesting theory. Of course, if the drag of the solar system took away the extra mpg...yea. "In theory," MB "could" build removable solar panels/tiles into the roof design to eliminate the extra drag.
While I am tossing out a theory for discussion, I would think a vehicle the size of a Sprinter could accommodate say four DC generating engine systems rather than one large engine as found in hybrids today. For flat highway travel or for city driving, perhaps one smaller engine system would produce enough DC power while running at peak performance. When demand passed a certain point, the second engine system would automatically start to add to the DC power being produced. Such a concept is used in efficient HVAC systems, therefore I would think this concept would work well in a Sprinter hybrid.
Just wondering out loud. Thanks.