Here is a bit of trivia for all you geeks... What and when was the first widespread use of hybrid technology? Answer. About 60-70 years ago. Submarines used hybrid diesel / electric technology. When submarines operated on the surface, they use diesel engines to power the submarine and recharge the batteries. Underwater, the batteries and electric motors were used to power the sub. Regards, Keith
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tech_Guy @ Jan 14 2007, 01:32 PM) [snapback]375517[/snapback]</div> Just thinking... When do you consider submarines "widespread" use? How many are there total?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usbseawolf2000 @ Jan 14 2007, 03:27 PM) [snapback]375551[/snapback]</div> If I recall correctly, nearly all of the German and American submarines of WWII era were diesel/electric. It was not until the mid-fifty's (1954?) that nuclear power was used (first nuclear submarine - the Nautilus). Not sure, but Japanese subs of that era might also have been diesel/electric. Keith
Back to the Past: The History of Hybrids Timing is often everything in the automotive world. Take American engineer H. Piper for example. In 1905, Piper filed a patent for a gasoline engine-electric motor powertrain—a hybrid. But unlike today, the purpose of Piper's hybrid design wasn't to increase a vehicle's fuel mileage and lower its emissions. According to the patent application, an electric motor would augment a gasoline engine, allowing a vehicle to accelerate from zero to 25 miles an hour in a sizzling 10 seconds—three times faster than contemporary cars.
You might conside diesel locomotives. Diesel locomotive use an electric starting motor. They have for many years. the diesel motor generates electricty for the traction motors. The traction motors generate electricity when braking. check this link: http://travel.howstuffworks.com/diesel-locomotive.htm There is also a hybrid locomotive but I'm not sure which company makes it.
