http://www.electricmarinepropulsion.org/index.html
AND
http://re-e-power.com/index.html

http://www.electricmarinepropulsion.org/index.html
AND
http://re-e-power.com/index.html

You’re right about the limits on the amount of diesel fuel that can be gleaned from a barrel of oil. I touch upon this problem in my post, “Is Diesel the Solution” (http://www.2-speed.com/2008/07/is-diesel-the-solution/). The thing is, that amount is set sorta arbitrarily. It’s how we have structured our refining capacity that limits diesel availability more than the technical limits which create the problem. European refineries, for example, produce more diesel from a barrel of oil than American refineries. While it would be a difficult change to make (and, perhaps not even a cost-effective one), American refineries could be “updated” to produce more diesel.

Granted, there are probably better solutions, economically, than doing this.

You’re right about the limits on the amount of diesel fuel that can be gleaned from a barrel of oil. I touch upon this problem in my post, “Is Diesel the Solution” (http://www.2-speed.com/2008/07/is-diesel-the-solution/). The thing is, that amount is set sorta arbitrarily. It’s how we have structured our refining capacity that limits diesel availability more than the technical limits which create the problem. European refineries, for example, produce more diesel from a barrel of oil than American refineries. While it would be a difficult change to make (and, perhaps not even a cost-effective one), American refineries could be “updated” to produce more diesel.

Granted, there are probably better solutions, economically, than doing this.

I know you’ve been an advocate of diesels for some time (at least reviewing your posts). I would fully agree that a diesel electric hybrid is a good idea. In cars I think it is an even better idea but for reasons that aren’t obvious in this marine application.

Diesel engines really like to run in particular RPM range, so in fact, they are not that good for vehicle applications that demand a wide RPM range. This is why diesel cars have such a bad performance reputation. Electric motors on the other hand don’t mind the wider RPM range in vehicles, and in fact are quite good at very low RPMs. By coupling them together, you can likely eliminate all the performance disadvantages associated with diesel cars. Additionaly, the higher pollution output of the diesel during non-optimum operation, would be greatly reduced.

That being said, their is a practical limit on the number of diesel vehicles that can be put on the road as there is a limit in the amount of diesel fuel that can be derived from a barrel of oil.