Discovery Channel - Electric Snowmobile vs Gas

[jecornel]

Pretty cool, & very interesting. The electric snowmobile did very good vs the gas considering it was just a prototype..might be our future (or a hybrid) in 15 years...


Lots of pro's and cons, but worth a look.


Here is the link to see it again.

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv-schedules/series.html?paid=237.15646.123162.35149.x

 

[Ollie]

Pretty cool, & very interesting. The electric snowmobile did very good vs the gas considering it was just a prototype..might be our future (or a hybrid) in 15 years...


Lots of pro's and cons, but worth a look.


Here is the link to see it again.

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv-schedules/series.html?paid=237.15646.123162.35149.x

I watched that.
What a load.
That machine was a serious piece of chit. Yea, it ran.
Of cource it was designed for flat ground, serious hardpack. Short distance, no load etc.

The people with the electric sled are complaining about the nasty smell of the 4 STROKE YAMAHA sled. Guess they need to take a wiff out of the tail pipe of the car they drove up there in.

Put that electric sled up against a real sled and see what happens with their little tests.

 

[jecornel]

I dont think you got it..its a prototype. Ever hear the saying "What good is a newborn baby?"

Also just because the snowmobile was presented by some "Green" college kids doesn't mean you toss it, if it was presented by a bunch of rednecks would it be better? No.

 

[maluchm]

I watched that.
The people with the electric sled are complaining about the nasty smell of the 4 STROKE YAMAHA sled. Guess they need to take a wiff out of the tail pipe of the car they drove up there in.

Some people need a cause.... no matter how double standard they come across. How did Rednecks get pulled into this and have judgment passed on them?

 

[Ollie]

I dont think you got it..its a prototype. Ever hear the saying "What good is a newborn baby?"

Also just because the snowmobile was presented by some "Green" college kids doesn't mean you toss it, if it was presented by a bunch of rednecks would it be better? No.

Given current battery tech. as well as cold effects on batteries, it is not a solid concept. It is just a bunch of people saying they can build it.

Like building a solid gold house. You can, but it isn't practical and won't be, so why bother.

 

[jecornel]

mmm..because technology isn't ready yet the prototype is a waste of time.

When the Wright Brothers first flew,, it was a lousy flight..a real waste of time and money, only went 120ft. Not practical.

I think some may be getting the excitment of new technology confused with environmental issues....

Ollie - your right about battery technology not being ready yet...but maybe in 10 years it may change ..or not.

 

[KMMAC]

It was like comparing apples to oranges, those two sleds could'nt have been more different. First off, the bunny sled was just a simple trail sled, semi narrow ski stance, short track base, compared to the Yamaha which is pretty much a full blown trail sled. I get the reason for the comparison, but why did'nt they use a same type chassis to compare performance?

 

[Trinity Taz]

Consider this idea, something I've been working on the viability of...

A snowmobile that operates on compressed air.
An ultra lightweight carbon fiber snowmobile chassis and tunnel is built around two cylindrical carbon fiber air tanks that run stem to stern. These tanks hold air that has been dried and compressed to 4500 psi by a simple multi-stage compressor ,available in the paintball market, that stays at home and refills the tanks for a mere $2 of electricity (you and your friends can use the same one).
The compressed air is discharged at 120 psi via a dual regulator and is fed into a very simple piston or rotary vane air engine (huge torque at 0 rpms) that is hooked up direct drive to the drive shaft. Your thumb operates an air valve and thats it. The entire sled could weigh as little as 200 lbs and deliver as much as 100 hp, a 2 lb to the hp ratio.
Lightweight components including a skeletonized track are employed because the vehicle does not need conventional structural demands because the vehicle is half the weight. Compressed air weighs very little as well.
Spare tanks could be brought along, but would probably not be needed. At 120 psi output at 250 cfm, the tanks would probably last all day.

Kinda exciting, huh? Now imagine 10,000 psi in those tanks, as they have the technology in use right now. Can you say range?

 

[RX1Guy]

I watched it, too. I thought it was stupid that they compared it to a Yamaha Venture. At least compare it to a Vector or an Apex, a sled that actually has power to do stuff people want it to do... Comparing a tiny sled that wont move with 2 people on it to a sled thats made for 2 people is a terrible comparison.