I totally concur regarding simplicity. I'm saying perhaps we need to redefine it. Instead of a heavy expensive power robbing transmission, transfercase, driveshaft, and 2 axles, what if you had an engine/generator and 4 wires, each going to an electric motor in a wheel hub. Electronic components are way more reliable than mechanical ones. This would be much more efficient than a purely mechanical system, and more controlable. Diesel locomotives use this system.

Great point - the diesel-electric drive system has been proven reliable and cost effective in the locomotive industry for decades. There's no reason the technology couldn't be adapted for cars or Jeeps.

Imagine a four wheel drive system that could sense the turn angle of the steering wheel, then drive each of the four wheels at it's mathematically correct speed, and (as stated in an earlier post) with 100% torque on the very first rpm.

How about if each of the four electric drive motors were coupled to portal axle style gears? Then there would be no clearance-robbing axles and pumpkins under the vehicle and the motors would be up higher out of harm's way.

The system could be powered by a small diesel generator at first, then as battery tech gets better the generator could later be dropped.

Better still - hire me to design the thing! I need a job...

Glenn

X2 for O1TJ

My last Wrangler was a '94 (pre-airbags!) and I put 247,000 miles on it. No major mechanical maintenance. I had to replace that damn ELECTRIC wiper motor though!

Sold it for $3400, it was still running strong --and NOT burning oil. Go figure.

I'm not saying it has to run on batteries, just that the powertrain loses and weight/cost would be drastically reduced by going from a mechanical drivetrain to an electric one with a gasoline or diesel engine powering a generator. It would actually be even more simple than our current systems that date to the late 1800's. My XJ has 287,000 on it and I just came inside from changing out the original starter. That probably proves both our points. My very lightweight Suzuki Swift 4 cylinder car can equal a hybrid for fuel mileage on the highway (45+ MPG). I think a lightweight, small Jeep with some aerodynamic improvements and light electric hub motors w/o the mechanical 30% drivetrain loss could equal or beat a Toy Pruis for highway mileage and still be very capable off road, with 100% TORQUE AVAILABLE FROM 0 RPM.

That's what I was teasing about. U had to replace your ELECTRIC starter motor, yet your MECHANICAL engine is doing just fine at 287K!

Why would you ever want anything different than your good ol' durable & reliable 4.0L? Forget better gas mileage for a minute. Think of all the money you've saved taking the reliable 4.0L toward 300Kmiles! That trumps fuel economy... well, at least until gas gets to $5/gallon...

All that electrical gimmickry makes me bilious. It probably won't last you as many miles as your 4.0L, would be expensive to manufacture & repair, and would be a constant worry through every stream & mud puddle... It will have to be "proven" before it's ever embraced by many Jeepers.

But, if someone wants to revive the little lightweight dune buggy-looking Jeep Willys Concept... with a small reliable torquey diesel, at a reasonable price... Hmmmmmm... That could go a long way to helping reach that 34+mpg CAFE standard coming up...

the moparized jeep wrangler with its chrome mirror covers, stainless jeep doors sill, chrome guards,exhaust tip and grille is the most accessorized vehicle right after the dodge ram..