What octane fuel you using?

[The Spaceman_imp]

Well the Germans were fond of using diesel in their armor. Then there are railroad power units (where torque is King, diesel electrics).

But not even Harley makes a diesel electric. Now THAT would be a Bike!

There's a company in Texas that is producing diesel-electric power systems for planing yachts and large sportfishing boats. The system (based on Siemens components designed originally for city buses) includes capacitor and battery reserves. When the boats accelerate "out of the hole," the diesel keeps running at a steady state, using far less fuel. Once at cruising speed the diesel is charging at about the same rate as the electric motors are discharging. The fuel savings is huge, but at the moment, the initial investment is big enough that it's almost a wash. However, if fuel prices go up a few bucks, the system will have a fast ROI and they should sell a boatload of them (har har har).