Things That Amuse You

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Originally Posted by Alpinord

As an aside, during a recent a 3,000 mile trip, my mpg got worse the farther I got from elevation in Colorado through the plain states and WI. They dropped even worse coming back with a small U-Haul trailer. I’m not sure what make to of that. Not sure if it’s elevation, ‘inaccurate octanes’ or percentages of ethanol, but nothing was consistent.

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I think the computers in the trucks automatically adjust the fuel / air mixture for elevation changes, but it takes some time. So if your computer had the map dialed in for your normal driving at elevation and then you went much lower, it'd take a while for the fuel map to sort itself out. I had something similar - I had my computer re-flashed and mileage was terrible for the first tank or two of fuel as the computer sorted out the fuel mix.

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Originally Posted by toast2266

I think the computers in the trucks automatically adjust the fuel / air mixture for elevation changes, but it takes some time. So if your computer had the map dialed in for your normal driving at elevation and then you went much lower, it'd take a while for the fuel map to sort itself out. I had something similar - I had my computer re-flashed and mileage was terrible for the first tank or two of fuel as the computer sorted out the fuel mix.

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That doesn’t sound right to me, but maybe?

Regarding mileage at elevation: lower air density means you need wider throttle openings to get the same mass of air into the engine (to make the same power) as compared to low elevations. Wider throttle opening -> lower pumping losses -> higher mileage.

Lower density air also results in lower drag -> higher mileage at highway speed.

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Originally Posted by toast2266

I think the computers in the trucks automatically adjust the fuel / air mixture for elevation changes, but it takes some time. So if your computer had the map dialed in for your normal driving at elevation and then you went much lower, it'd take a while for the fuel map to sort itself out. I had something similar - I had my computer re-flashed and mileage was terrible for the first tank or two of fuel as the computer sorted out the fuel mix.

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I was wondering if it was something like that, but expected a much quicker 'reboot'. It cost a bit over 2.5k+ of miles at crappy mpg.

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Originally Posted by skaredshtles

Not to mention that if the battery range is reasonable, probably 90% of the trips that the average suburban soccer mom takes would be handled by electric power only.

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Yup! In fact there was a great Jay Leno's Garage episode where he was saying that he went through SO little gas overall that he'd have to let the battery die about once a year to kick on the engine so they could burn through enough fuel to put in a fresh tank. He seemed to really love the car! Evidently dailied it for a while. That's a good enough endorsement for me! I really wanted one for a while there but got caught up in post-Covid prices where it didn't make sense anymore and now they're getting a bit long in the tooth. Might still pick up a project one at some point just to dick around with one and see if I can revive for cheap. Still cranky that GM killed the product. Great car.

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Originally Posted by skaredshtles

Ultimately, it's kind of irrelevant because it's a Dodge. :D

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Fact!!!

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Originally Posted by skaredshtles

Almost all locomotives do this, I think.

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Originally Posted by BCMtnHound

Mostly yup. Big diesel gennies powering electric engines. Much better torque for those big loads.

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Originally Posted by Alpinord

The weight of these trucks and cost must be up there.

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For the really heavy haulers like locomotives (and ships, etc), a big reason for being D/E hybrid is the simplification of the drivetrain. The huge prime mover ICE can only run in a narrow RPM band, which would be a challenge to mechanically couple to the wheels (impractically huge clutches, giant geartrains)... but by sending juice to the electric traction motors, there's no mechanical connection required b/w the diesel and the drive wheels. No drivetrain losses from inertia and friction, way simpler maintenance.

Red flag warning and winter storm watch sent in the same day by the NWS.

Edison Motors from Merrit BC is making a hybrid (locomotive style) heavy hauler and making a retrofit system to convert old trucks.

So basically like a Honda Genny in the Frunk of a Tesla? Yep, see that a handful of times.

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Originally Posted by Foggy_Goggles

So basically like a Honda Genny in the Frunk of a Tesla? Yep, see that a handful of times.

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Originally Posted by Norseman

For the really heavy haulers like locomotives (and ships, etc), a big reason for being D/E hybrid is the simplification of the drivetrain. The huge prime mover ICE can only run in a narrow RPM band, which would be a challenge to mechanically couple to the wheels (impractically huge clutches, giant geartrains)... but by sending juice to the electric traction motors, there's no mechanical connection required b/w the diesel and the drive wheels. No drivetrain losses from inertia and friction, way simpler maintenance.

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The electric motor and few moving parts & torque sounds great vs an ICE with lots of moving parts & also there's the Toyota 1:6:90 Rule (and solid state batteries). There is a real environmental, economic & strategic impacts relying on Lithium batteries and their end game.

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The Edison system seems like a good intermediary between now and full electric. At this time there is just not the infrastructure or green energy available in this part of the world for every vehicle in the place to be running on electric only.

The great thing bout this is that these trucks are capable for full electric operation and when the time come you will be able get rid of the generator and just go from plug to plug.

I think this is supposed to be an American flag flower, but it mostly looks like an American flag butthole.

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Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

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A giraffe inspecting a drone

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Originally Posted by Norseman

For the really heavy haulers like locomotives (and ships, etc), a big reason for being D/E hybrid is the simplification of the drivetrain. The huge prime mover ICE can only run in a narrow RPM band, which would be a challenge to mechanically couple to the wheels (impractically huge clutches, giant geartrains)... but by sending juice to the electric traction motors, there's no mechanical connection required b/w the diesel and the drive wheels. No drivetrain losses from inertia and friction, way simpler maintenance.

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its all relative but junior the electro mechancal tradesman called those traction motors in the locamotives small

he showed me a pict of a motor from the Celgar pulp mill where er he could walk thru the middle and not touch the top of the windings and he thot that was big

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Driving through downtown Seattle this afternoon.

A beat up Hyundai Sonata pulls up next to me. Slammed suspension, wide wheels with narrow tires stretched over them, blacked out windows and an obnoxiously loud sub woofer blaring the worst rap "music" ever. So loud the body panels are moving and dust comes out of the wheel arches with every thud.

The "music" stops. Then at the same sound levels... "at the next intersection turn left onto Fourth Avenue".

"Music" resumes.

Gangsta GPS?

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Originally Posted by KQ

A giraffe inspecting a drone

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Giraffes are pretty cool.

This message from the weirdo who was going to fix my phone. Lol no thanks buddy I'll find somebody else.

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Moe finally got 'em.

I hate Florida Nazis.

https://youtu.be/4XjlvgcTXUM

This was pretty good

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBWocO-RiJL/

Witnessed some pretty sweet scaffolding in Saskatchewan recently.

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I’m amused that Danno is such a big pussy