Going Green!

The Universal Transmission will make hybrid and electric cars affordable.

As noted battery expert John Wyall states: "As far as the difference between using a controller and using an IVT (Infinitely Variable Transmission like the Universal Transmission) is concerned, the IVT is cheaper and safer than the controller. The IVT allows you to use fewer cells, thus making the battery a manageable system with lower voltage, and a safer system. The controller-electric motor and gearbox system has about the same overall efficiency as a controller-less electric drive with an IVT."

Let's enlarge on this. Let's first discuss some basics of electrical generation and storage. We currently see two sources of energy for "alternative energy" vehicles, namely hydrogen and plug-in electricity.

HYDROGEN

There are two technologies surrounding hydrogen. One is called a "hydrogen converter" which uses DC voltage to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. These gases are used as the fuel in internal combustion engines and many other energy applications.

The other hydrogen technology is called the "hydrogen fuel cell." This uses hydrogen gas to produce electrons. Batteries also produce electrons. The use of electrons is described basically in two ways. The force pushing the electron "volts" and how many electrons are passing a particular point "amps." If we compared electricity to water the volts would be pressure and the amps would be flow.

PLUG-IN ELECTRICITY

Like hydrogen cells, batteries produce electrons to use instead of gasoline or diesel. Electrons from "plug-in electricity" must be stored and then drawn as acceleration is required. Just like water in a tank there are only so many electrons available to take with you. That's why the number of electrons (amps) you use is so important. It's all a trade off. One battery will provide enough voltage and amps to move a midsize car, just not very far. The further you want to go the more electron storage (batteries) you need to take with you. A good analogy would be this: consider a battery is equal to a gallon of gas. The tradeoffs are: Cost (for the batteries or hydrogen tanks), weight and range. Everyone wants low cost and weight and long range.

We all know the principles of "an object at rest tends to stay at rest" and "an object in motion tends to stay in motion." But it's a fact that it takes more energy to get something moving than it does to keep it moving. Similarly, it takes more electrons (amps) for an electric motor to accelerate a car than it does to keep it going. Amps (number of electrons) melt things, explode things and kill people. To control this, a "controller" is needed. The controller in the hybrid or the electric car has to manage the amps when a lot of them are needed. Therefore, it has to be very robust to keep from melting-and that becomes expensive. Just like the combustion engine, an electric motor has an rpm where it runs most efficiently.

We're advocating that it would be better to conserve the precious electron energy by using the mechanical advantage of VMT's Universal Transmission (which is a full IVT), especially when the transmission costs less than the controller. Another benefit is a lower requirement for amps means you don't need as many volts. A lower voltage battery is safer and less expensive.

Does this apply to fuel hybrids, hydrogen and plug-in electric cars? Yes. Same principles.

So, the question is: "Do you need both a controller and a transmission?" The answer is "NO."

Now the next question is: "What's the better choice, the controller or the transmission?" Both have advantages and disadvantages.