The exchange of opinions on my proposal regarding the recuperative drive system with companies involved in hybrid systems makes me come to the conclusion that they are looking at the issue of a cheap vehicle drive systems from a different perspective based on different theoretical analysis results, different construction ideas and different judgment as to the choice of a buffering (hydraulic or electric) energy system.

My work related to recuperative drive systems goes back to 1974 when I published an article in the “Technika motoryzacyjna” magazine on the “Perspective of hybrid systems” in which I have shown a proposal of a petrol-electric system. The petrol-electric system seems to be the most practical solution and gives theoretical possibilities as to the development of this system into a, commonly believed as most ecological, strictly electrical system.

The analysis of the ecological aspect of electrical drive systems made me come to a conclusion the a strictly electrical system is, in fact, “locally” ecological (no noise, no emission) but “globally” it has nothing to do with ecology:

• Most power plants supplying electricity for battery charging are not ecological (radioactive emission, ash, coal burning). So eliminating petrol powered engines only “moves” the pollution from cars to power plants

• Global efficiency of strictly electrical car drive systems (power plant – transformers – wiring system – battery charger – battery) is smaller than hybrid drive system

For this reason the ecological aspect of electrical systems as the key solution to car power systems in the aspect of pollution and energy saving, being often brought up as the key criteria for car power system, was not the leading criteria for my choice of car power systems. During detailed analysis of electrical batteries I have come to the conclusion that the weak points of this idea, arising from the laws of phisio-chemistry, such as the limited power of recovery braking, large mass and difficult exploitation, make the practical use of such systems difficult and very expensive – as shown by many projects.

The leading criteria for my analysis of a car power system is the minimalisation of petrol usage achieved by braking energy recovery and minimalisation of pollution by lowering the engines’ power and, at the same time, maintaining its maximum performance capabilities. An important criteria of analysis is receiving such a system that would allow for the optimal placement of kinetically unattached elements of the power system.

During research is further years it has come to my attention that the developments in power hydraulics make it possible to construct a petro-hydraulic system. These developments, such as the possibility of working with oil pressure to 60MPa were introduced to the market in 1990s’. Using such developments allows planning for the possibility of receiving rational exploitation parameters of a hybrid petrol-hydraulic system taking into account such a modification of the hybrid system that would allow for accumulation of small portions of energy: such a system, with its main goal being recovery (recuperation) of breaking energy is called by me THE RECUPERATIVE SYSTEM. New ideas on the field of hydraulics allow also for optimalisation of placement of kinetically unattached elements of this system by connecting them by hydraulic cords of almost unlimited length.

Thanks to the usage of pump-engines and hydraulic batteries in the recuperative system it is possible for the recovery of the full breaking energy which allows for:

1. lowering the engine power to 40-50%

2. regulation of the engines work to its highest possibilities and lowest pollution

3. elimination of standard breaking (also emitting some pollution), standard breaks remain in the vehicle as emergency breaks.

In summary THE RECUPERATIVE SYSTEM IS TO:

1. Fully recover the breaking energy, both standard and emergency. All other systems recover only part of this energy. This is, of course, determined by electrical batteries used.

2. Provide for separate power module for each wheel. All other systems have a classic power transmission system being a big limitation in terms of construction possibilities.

3. Be constructed using widely available mechanisms and automatics. All other systems require complex power mechanisms that are forced by the characteristics of batteries.

4. Always work in tandem with a standard engine, it is not designed to eliminate any other power system in a vehicle and become the sole vehicle power module.

Usage of the recuperative system allows for the installation of its components in accordance with current standards, that is: the rear of a bus, or at the front or rear of a car, dependant on where the engine is (see attached).

THIS POSSIBILITY WAS USED WHILE BUILDING THE PREPROTOTYPE WHERE NO CHANGES WERE MADE TO A SERIAL CAR WHILE INSTALLING THE SYSTEM.

The preprototype was built using only elements widely available on the market with slight changes. Building a widely used vehicle will, of course, require the usage of specialized elements developed as modifications of currently available equipment.

The test results show that the theory was fully confirmed in those tests.