The feat was accomplished by hypermiling a Tesla Model S P100D.
The Tesla Model S P100D rated range is 315 miles on a single charge.
Although The S model has an extra motor and thus extra weight, the trade-off is there is an extra 10 kWh of battery capacity. This provides the Model S with a 21 mile (34 km) range boost.
Even though there are a front and rear motor, the extra motor does not engage all the time.
Steven Peeters and Joeri Cools said they drove a Model S P100D around a closed loop in Belgium, adding that it took them 23 hours and 45 minutes to complete the feat.
Hypermiling involves driving a car at maximum fuel (or electrical) efficiency to see how long it can run on one charge or tank of gas
Among some of the Hypermiling techniques used to achieve this feat were…
Adjusting for speed:
Even a difference between 35 – 45 mph the fuel savings are drastic. They found 40 km/h (24 mph) to have the lowest possible energy consumption.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Peeters stated while driving without use of windows or A/C “It was just like sitting in hell and the sun was really burning”[/perfectpullquote]
Tires:
Adjusting the tire pressure way up to get the least resistance while still remaining safe on the road, for this trip it was set to 55psi or 3.7bar.
Cruise Control:
It was used in order to maintain the average speeds used
Using Efficient Routes:
— in this case trying to use roundabouts as to keep the car from frequent stops.
No Extra Electric Use:
— no use of extraneous electronics and that means no radio, windows or air conditioning!
Peeters stated while driving without use of windows or A/C “It was just like sitting in hell and the sun was really burning”
Although this is a case of extreme hypermiling, how far would you go to see how efficient of a driver you are?
]]>
Saturn forerunner was a 100-mpg car, see full story here
200 Year Old Engine
MacDowell’s innovation is based on the Stirling engine, which was created in 1816. The closed-cycle air engine uses the expansion of hot air and the compression of cold air to generate the power needed to drive an engine. Unlike steam engines which utilize a similar principle, the Stirling engine has an internal regenerative heat exchanger that keeps the hot and cold air at the correct temperature. This recycling feature boosts the engine’s efficiency to a whopping 50 percent. For comparison, a standard internal combustion engine operates only at 14 percent efficiency.
Sterling Engine + Modern Technology
Though mechanically sound, the Stirling engine never caught on in the 1800s, with most businesses choosing to use steam engines for their industrial applications. NASA even experimented with the engine in the early 1980’s, and was able to achieve 54 miles per gallon, but the Space Agency never went any further with the technology. MacDowell borrowed one of these Stirling engines from NASA and began experimenting with it to see if he could use the regenerative engine with 21st-century automotive know-how.
Hybrid at Heart
MacDowell coupled the engine with existing hybrid technology, creating a system that will deliver 58 miles per gallon to a Ford F-150 and at least 100 miles per gallon in a smaller SUV. In his model, the Stirling engine runs at a fixed RPM generating electricity that is used to charge the batteries, which drive motors that propel the vehicle.
[perfectpullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Using this thermopile technology, a Stirling-powered vehicle can drive at highway speeds without having to recharge.[/perfectpullquote]
MacDowell also redesigned the Stirling engine to have the dimensions and appearance of a standard four-cylinder engine, making it compatible with existing automobiles. His idea was so brilliant that Texas A&M University became involved in the project, providing MacDowell with technical expertise and a testing environment to aid in the development of the engine.
The High Mileage Challenge
To showcase his original engine, MacDowell intends to drive an SUV across the country on less than 40 gallons of gasoline. He also plans to submit his laboratory findings to the Texas Transportation Institute, which will verify his 100 miles per gallon claims. Once proven and tested, MacDowell believes his idea will revolutionize the hybrid engine industry leading to the eventual end of the internal combustion engine.
]]>