And it was relatively simple. In fact, internal combustion engines and turbines are about the only engines that don't have this capability. However, it requires a lot of stored energy if it is to maintain that speed for many miles. The big HP requirement is for acceleration. However, it is actually the torque that the engine can produce that determines acceleration.
Acceleration requires high torque, but very little total energy.
Zero to 60 in 5 seconds at 2,000 pounds of weight requires only 0.121 HP-Hr . of energy, and you can recover most of that if you slow down by taking your foot off the throttle and coasting up to the red light rather than using your brakes. Thus we have two very different requirements. Thomas Hanson is a Santa Clarita resident. Search our online archive, or browse past editions. All rights reserved.