For the Gurus
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Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 529
From: Big Canoe GA
For the Gurus
For all you engineertype, at 60 mph, does the traction motor assist the ICE? or is it just a waste of ICE power to turn the generator and traction motor? What % if any does the traction motor run if it does at 60 mph compared to the % of ICE. Thanks for any info on this subject. sk
HSD Organic Interface
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 649
From: Toronto, ON
Re: For the Gurus
I wonder if you are really asking is when the traction "battery" is assisting?
The electric motor is providing drive power to the vehicle most of the time in conjunction with direct output from the engine sometimes (both interconnected thru the power split device). Of course, very often the electricity for the electric motor is coming from the engine via the generator. In other words, while the engine is actually the power source for the vehicle much of the time (no battery draw), it is not only providing drive power direct to the wheels but is also running the generator to provide drive power thru the electric motor.
The traction battery assists whenever the computer thinks it most efficient, and that can happen at 7mph or 70mph. The traction battery can deliver the equivalent of about 40hp by itself. The actual percentage at any given time, who knows? I read some technical info on the Prius that 72% of engine torque goes to the wheels and 28% of torque goes to generator based on the design of the power split device. But of course, torque is not HP (work). The work (HP) the engine outputs to the generator vs direct to wheels is variable and governed by the computer.
The electric motor is providing drive power to the vehicle most of the time in conjunction with direct output from the engine sometimes (both interconnected thru the power split device). Of course, very often the electricity for the electric motor is coming from the engine via the generator. In other words, while the engine is actually the power source for the vehicle much of the time (no battery draw), it is not only providing drive power direct to the wheels but is also running the generator to provide drive power thru the electric motor.
The traction battery assists whenever the computer thinks it most efficient, and that can happen at 7mph or 70mph. The traction battery can deliver the equivalent of about 40hp by itself. The actual percentage at any given time, who knows? I read some technical info on the Prius that 72% of engine torque goes to the wheels and 28% of torque goes to generator based on the design of the power split device. But of course, torque is not HP (work). The work (HP) the engine outputs to the generator vs direct to wheels is variable and governed by the computer.
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Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 529
From: Big Canoe GA
Re: For the Gurus
Droid, thanks a very good explanation. Now if you were in a parking lot going 5 MPH with only the traction motor (battery power) running, would the traction motor be turning the generator and charging the batt as opposed to the ICE? or would you need to be on the brake pedel to activate the charge? thanks SK
Ridiculously Active Enthusiast
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 685
From: San Diego
Re: For the Gurus
Originally Posted by skywagon
Now if you were in a parking lot going 5 MPH with only the traction motor (battery power) running, would the traction motor be turning the generator and charging the batt as opposed to the ICE? or would you need to be on the brake pedel to activate the charge? thanks SK
A very good explaination of the PSD operation is here
Pretty Darn Active Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 499
From: Yokohama, JAPAN
Re: For the Gurus
Originally Posted by skywagon
For all you engineertype, at 60 mph, does the traction motor assist the ICE? or is it just a waste of ICE power to turn the generator and traction motor? What % if any does the traction motor run if it does at 60 mph compared to the % of ICE.This is very good article, but it's for THS-I not for TCH though.
On page 56, all power distribution is shown for 60 mph.
Enjoy,
Ken@Japan
