Southwest Research Pump Motor

Design Concepts was selected to work together with researchers at Southwest Research, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Environmental Protection Agency to develop an innovative new pump/motor for the high-mileage future car program.

Designers created a powertrain that was more efficient than hybrid-electric engines at the time, using hydraulics. The team designed, prototyped and tested a variable displacement low-speed/high-torque hydraulic pump/motor for use in a hybrid-hydraulic vehicle. The pump/motor was designed to operate at a maximum speed of 1000 rpm (70 mph).

Designers demonstrated the efficiency and effectiveness of an alternative to typical hybrid vehicle power plants. While hybrid-electric vehicles are currently more common, hybrid-hydraulic vehicles offer even better performance due to a more efficient hydraulic-regenerative braking system.