WO2014021714A1

WO2014021714A1 - Hybrid drive device, hybrid vehicle and hybrid motor management system

Info

Publication number: WO2014021714A1
Application number: PCT/NL2013/050568
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arie AANEN
Original assignee: Aanen Arie
Priority date: 2012-08-03
Filing date: 2013-07-30
Publication date: 2014-02-06

Abstract

The invention relates to a hybrid drive device comprising a combustion engine (20), an electric motor (5), both arranged for driving a drive axle (10), an electric generator (4), a closed chamber (10 in heat receiving contact with and surrounding the combustion engine (20), and a piston unit (3) arranged for driving the generator (4). The chamber (1) has an inlet (11) for receiving a fluid and an outlet (12) connected to the piston unit (3) for driving a piston of the piston unit (3), such that in operation fluid inside the chamber (1) is pressurized by heat transferred from the combustion engine (20) to the chamber (1) and the pressurized fluid is operating the piston unit (3). The hybrid device may be used in a hybrid vehicle. An independent claim is included for a hybrid vehicle operated by a hybrid motor management system based on a geographic position determining system.

Description

Title

Hybrid drive device, hybrid vehicle and hybrid motor management system. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a hybrid drive technology and, more particularly, to a hybrid drive device comprising a combustion engine and an electric motor/generator unit, and a hybrid vehicle comprising such a hybrid drive device. Background

Hybrid vehicles comprise a drive device including a combustion engine generally powered or fueled by gasoline, diesel, compressed natural gas, hydrogen gas, or other fossil fuel, and an electric motor/generator unit powered by a battery inside the vehicle. The battery can be re-charged by connecting same to an electric power line or the like and/or from the generator unit driven by the combustion engine.

Operation of the combustion engine and the electric motor/generator unit is controlled by a motor management system or control device.

A conventional combustion engine for driving a motor vehicle or the like emits its generated heat to the environment. This generated heat is lost and contributes in a negative manner to the overall efficiency of the engine.

Summary

It is a first object to provide an improved hybrid device. It is a second object to provide an improved hybrid vehicle. It is at third object to provide an improved hybrid motor management system.

The first object is solved, in a first aspect, by an improved hybrid drive device comprising a combustion engine, an electric motor, both arranged for driving a drive axle, an electric generator, a closed chamber in heat receiving contact with and surrounding the combustion engine, and a piston unit arranged for driving the generator, the chamber having an inlet for receiving a fluid and an outlet connected to the piston unit for driving a piston of the piston unit, such that in operation fluid inside the chamber is pressurized by heat transferred from the combustion engine to the chamber and the pressurized fluid is operating the piston unit.

With this hybrid device or hybrid motor the heat emitted by the combustion engine is used to generate electricity, in that the piston unit drives the electric generator. This electricity may then be used, among others, to power the electric motor to drive the drive axle, such that heat generated by the combustion engine is effectively used, thereby increasing the overall efficiency of the hybrid drive device.

The chamber is constructed to surround or enclose the combustion engine as much as possible, thereby effectively using all the heat generated by the combustion engine.

In a further example, of the hybrid drive device the chamber is constructed in close contact with the combustion engine and exhaust of the combustion engine, for transferring as much as heat as possible from the combustion engine to the chamber.

To improve the heating of the fluid in the chamber, in another example of the hybrid drive device the chamber comprises a ventilator device, arranged for circulating air inside the chamber form the outlet to the inlet.

To keep as much as possible heat inside the chamber, in a further example of the hybrid drive the chamber is constructed to provide an as much as possible one way heat transfer from the combustion engine to fluid inside the chamber. It will be appreciated that the wall or walls of the chamber have to be constructed to resist the pressure inside the chamber. The chamber is preferably constructed in one piece to fit over and against the combustion engine.

For controlling operation thereof, in another example, the hybrid drive device comprises a computer operated hybrid motor management system, and temperature and pressure sensors for sensing fluid temperature and fluid pressure inside the chamber, the hybrid motor management system being arranged for operating the inlet and outlet of the chamber for receiving fluid and driving the piston unit, and for controlling operation of the electric motor, electric generator, and combustion engine. The fluid used in the chamber for driving the piston unit may be any of a gas or a liquid. In an example the fluid is air.

The second object is solved, in a second aspect, by a hybrid vehicle, having a hybrid drive device comprising a combustion engine, an electric motor, both arranged for driving a drive axle of the hybrid vehicle, a battery unit for powering the electric motor, a closed chamber in heat receiving contact with and surrounding the combustion engine, and a piston unit arranged for driving the generator, the chamber having an inlet for receiving a fluid and an outlet connected to the piston unit for driving a piston of the piston unit, such that in operation fluid inside the chamber is pressurized by heat transferred from the combustion engine to the chamber and the pressurized fluid is operating the cylinder unit.

It will be appreciated that the improved hybrid drive device can be used for all types of motor vehicles, such as motor cars, trucks, motor bikes, and the like, but is not restricted to this type of vehicles. The improved hybrid drive device or hybrid motor may also be used for driving machines in a factory, for driving a propeller of a ship, for driving a locomotive or to generate electricity for general use. In an example of the hybrid vehicle, the battery unit is arranged for being charged or recharged by one of the electric generator and an electric power source external of the vehicle.

For optimum use of the improved hybrid drive device in a hybrid vehicle there is provided a computer operated hybrid motor management system, and temperature and pressure sensors for sensing fluid temperature and fluid pressure inside the chamber, the hybrid motor management system being arranged for operating the inlet and outlet of the chamber for receiving fluid and driving the piston unit, and for controlling operation of the electric motor, electric generator, battery unit, and combustion engine.

In another example, wherein the hybrid vehicle comprises a chassis including a drive device compartment closable by a vehicle hood, the hood forms part of the chamber. The third object is solved, in a third aspect, by a computer operated hybrid motor management system arranged for controlling operation of a hybrid drive device comprising a combustion engine, an electric motor, both arranged for driving a drive axle, an electric generator, a closed chamber in heat receiving contact with and surrounding the combustion engine, and a piston unit arranged for driving the generator, the chamber having an inlet for receiving a fluid and an outlet connected to the piston unit for driving a piston of the piston unit, such that in operation fluid inside the chamber is pressurized by heat transferred from the combustion engine to the chamber and the pressurized fluid is operating the piston unit, and comprising temperature and pressure sensors for sensing fluid temperature and fluid pressure inside the chamber, the hybrid motor management system being arranged for operating the inlet and outlet of the chamber for receiving fluid and driving the piston unit, and for controlling operation of the electric motor, electric generator, and combustion engine.

For use in a hybrid vehicle comprising a battery unit for powering the electric motor, the computer operated hybrid motor management system is arranged for controlling charging or recharging of the battery unit by one of the electric generator and an electric power source external of the vehicle.

The third object is solved, in fourth aspect, by a computer operated hybrid motor management system arranged for controlling operation of a hybrid vehicle, comprising a combustion engine, an electric motor, both arranged for driving a drive axle of the hybrid vehicle, a battery unit for powering the electric motor, and a geographic position determining system, wherein operation of the combustion engine and the electric motor for driving the drive axle is controlled by the hybrid motor management system based on a current geographic position determined by the geographic position determining system. By this example of the hybrid motor management system, the operation of the electric motor for driving the vehicle can be controlled such that based on the available charge or electric power of the battery unit and a current geographic position of the vehicle, for example a distance of the vehicle to a set destination indicated by the geographic position determining system, only the electric motor is used for driving the vehicle at the part of a journey from the current geographic position to a set destination.

Other examples of controlling the hybrid drive device of a hybrid vehicle based on its geographic position are the availability of an external electric power source at the destination for charging or recharging the battery unit, based on environmental parameters, for example the entrance of the vehicle in a polluted area or an area with noise nuisance restrictions, and the like, indicated by the geographic position determining system.

The invention will now be described in more detail by means of specific embodiments, with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein equal or like parts and/or components are designated by the same reference numerals. The invention is in no manner whatsoever limited to the embodiments disclosed.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows, in a schematic form, an example of a hybrid device in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 shows, in a schematic form, an example of a hybrid device in accordance with the invention.

Figure 3 shows, in a schematic form, an example of an inlet pump for use in the hybrid device in accordance with the invention.

Figure 4 shows, in a schematic form, an example of a piston unit for use in the hybrid device in accordance with the invention, in a first operational state. Figure 5 shows, in a schematic form, the piston unit of Figure 4 in a second operational state.

Detailed description

Figure 1 shows a very schematic example the electric part of a hybrid drive device in accordance with the present invention, in which reference numeral 1 indicates a closed chamber surrounding or enclosing as much as possible a combustion engine 20. The wall of the chamber 1 is in heat receiving contact with the combustion engine 20 and is arranged for transferring heat from the combustion engine 20 to fluid inside the chamber 1 .

The chamber 1 comprises an inlet 1 1 connecting to a fluid inlet pump 2, such as a piston pump, for pumping a fluid under pressure into the chamber 1 , such as external air indicated by arrow 13. The inlet pump 2 may be driven by an electric motor (not shown). The chamber 1 comprises an outlet 12 that connects to a piston unit 3. The piston unit 3 drives an electric generator 4 by a mechanical drive axle 9, as schematically indicated by a curved arrow.

The hybrid device comprises an electric motor 5 for driving the wheels 7 of a vehicle through a mechanical drive axle 10, as indicated by broken lines. The electric motor 5 is powered from a battery 6, via an electric connection 17, and/or from the electric generator 4 via an electric connection 18.

The battery 6 may be charged or recharged by the generator 4 through the electric connection 15 and/or by connecting an external electric power source to a connector or electric socket 8, which connects to the battery 6 by an electric connection 16 and, if applicable, a charge regulating electric circuit (not shown).

In operation a volume of air inside the chamber 1 is heated by the heat transferred form the combustion engine 20. Because the volume of the chamber 1 remains constant, i.e. the inlet 1 1 and the outlet 12 are closed, the air or fluid inside the chamber 1 becomes more pressurized by the temperature increase thereof. The volume of air stays inside the chamber 1 until a set temperature and/or a set pressure is build up. Next, the pressurized air is passed through the outlet 12 of the chamber 1 to the piston unit 3 in which the air is allowed to expand by driving one or a plurality of pistons. The pistons eventually drive the drive axle 9 such that the generator 4 generates electricity for driving the electric motor 5 and/or recharging the battery 6 or to power other electric devices of the hybrid device, such as an electric motor for driving the inlet pump 2, for example. The expanded air may leave the piston unit via an air outlet, as indicated by arrow 14.

The volume of the of the driven pistons of the piston unit 3 has to be larger than the volume of the pistons of the inlet pump 2. These volumes depend on a plurality of variables, among other things the temperature of the heated air within the chamber 1 .

Figure 2 shows a very schematic example of a hybrid vehicle, comprising a hybrid device shown in Figure 1 . The combustion engine 20 is, for example, a conventional four or six cylinder block, fuelled by gasoline, diesel, compressed natural gas, hydrogen gas, or other fossil fuel, with an exhaust pipe 22, a fuel inlet 21 to the carburettor and a crankshaft 23 connected to a gear box 24 to which also the electric motor 5 connects via a mechanical shaft 17. The gear box 24 drives the wheels 7 of a vehicle via the mechanical drive axle 10.

It will be appreciated that the chamber 1 , in practice, may take a form or contour adapted to the shape of the combustion engine 20 such that the chamber 1 is into close contact with all the het transferring parts of the combustion engine 20, inclusive the exhaust or exhaust pipe 22, to exchange and transmit as much heat of the motor block and exhaust pipe to the air inside the chamber 1 . This provides cooling of the combustion engine 20 and the exhaust pipe 22.

The combustion engine 20 preferably is of an air cooled type. The inflated air from outside the chamber 1 can be partly directly transmitted to the motor block to cool the inside of the motor block. It is also possible to fabric a radiator construction inside the combustion engine 20 for water cooling of the cylinder block of the combustion engine 20 such that the air inside the chamber 1 flow through this radiator which is surrounded by the cooling water (not shown).

It will be appreciated that the wall of the chamber has to be constructed to resist a certain pressure of fluid, such as air, inside the chamber and to be temperature resistant for the temperatures of the combustion engine 20. The objective or goal of the wall of the chamber is to keep as much of the heat inside the chamber while transferring as much as possible heat from outside the chamber 1 to the fluid inside the chamber.

A computer or microprocessor 19 manages/governs the operation of the hybrid device in the hybrid vehicle as described above, to obtain the most profitable operation in the divers circumstances. The computer 19 senses the temperature and the air pressure inside the chamber 1 (sensors not shown). The computer 19, amongst other things, governs that the air temperature inside the chamber 1 stays within pre set limits, governs that the air pressure inside the chamber 1 stays within pre set limits, how fast the inlet pump 2 has to pump outside air into the chamber 1 to sufficiently cool the combustion engine 20 and exhaust pipe 22, when the wheels 7 of the car are driven by the electrical motor 5 with electricity from the electrical storage battery 6 or with the electricity of the electric generator 4 directly, or both, when and/or whether the vehicle is only driven by the combustion engine 17, or by both the combustion engine 20 and the electric motor 5, how many fuel has to flow trough the fuel pump to the fuel inlet 21 of the combustion engine 20, and so on. The computer 19 calculates when the gearbox 24 has to be uncoupled and when the gearbox 24 has to change gear, such as for its highest gear or an other gear, and so on. The various controls of the computer 19 are schematically shown by dashed- dotted arrows in Figure 2.

In a further example the air or fluid inside the wall 1 is circulated back from the outlet 12, with the help of a ventilator 25, in the direction of the inlet 1 1 . In this way the air or fluid inside the chamber 1 is re-circulated to obtain a homogenous heating of the air or fluid in all parts of the chamber 1 until the set temperature is reached.

Besides the electric motor 5, the electric generator 4 and/or the battery 6 may power other appliances of the hybrid device and/or the hybrid vehicle such as, but not limited to an electric motor driving the inlet pump 2, a starter motor of the combustion engine 20, a fuel pump of the combustion engine 20, and many other parts.

Figure 3 shows an example of a piston type inlet pump 2 of the hybrid device. Reference numeral 26 designates a moveable piston in a cylinder 27. The piston 26 can make an inward stroke in a direction indicated by a solid arrow 30 and an outward stroke in a direction indicated by a dashed arrow 31 . The piston 26 connects by a common crankshaft driven by an electrical motor (not shown).

The cylinder 27 defines an inner volume 35 to which an inlet 32 connects that can be closed or opened by a valve 28 for receiving a fluid, such as ambient air 13, into the inner volume 35, and an outlet 33 that can be opened or closed by a valve 29 for providing compressed or inflated air, indicated by an arrow 34, to the inlet 1 1 of the chamber 1 .

In operation, when the piston 26 makes an outward stroke 31 , valve 29 is in its closed position and valve 28 is in its open position such that external air 13 under low pressure is received in the inner volume 35 of the pump 2. Schematically shown by dashed lines. When the piston 26 makes an inward stroke 30, valve 28 is closed and valve 29 is opened and the air or fluid is inflated from the volume 35 into the chamber 1 . Schematically shown in Figure 3 by solid lines.

In a preferred embodiment, the inlet pump 2 is constructed of at least two cylinders and pistons, to get an as equal as possible air or fluid flow into the chamber 1 . Figures 4 and 5 show an example of a piston unit 40 of the hybrid device. The piston unit 40 comprises a first piston 36 moveable in a first cylinder 38 and a second piston 37 moveable in a second cylinder 39. The first 38 and second cylinder 39 define two separated compartments, i.e. a first compartment 45 and a second compartment 46. The first compartment 45 comprises an inlet 47 of the piston unit 40 and has a first opening terminating in the first cylinder 38 and a second opening terminating in the second cylinder 39. The first opening can be opened and closed by a first inlet valve 41 and the second opening can be opened and closed by a second inlet valve 42. The second compartment 46 comprises an outlet 48 of the piston unit 40 and has a first opening terminating in the first cylinder 38 and a second opening terminating in the second cylinder 39. The first opening can be opened and closed by a first outlet valve 43 and the second opening can be opened and closed by a second outlet valve 44.

The inlet 47 of the piston unit 40 connects, in operation, to the outlet 12 of the chamber 1 of the hybrid engine and receives pressurized hot air or fluid from the chamber 1 . The first 36 and second piston 37 connect to a same drive axle or crankshaft 9, such that when the first piston 36 makes an outward stroke, i.e. in the direction away from the compartments 45, 46, the second piston 37 makes an inward stroke in the direction towards the compartments 45, 46, and vice versa. Figure 4 shows a first state of operation of the piston unit 40 in which the first

41 and second inlet valve 42 are controlled such that the first opening of the compartment 45 is open to the first cylinder 38 and the second opening of the compartment 45 is closed to the second cylinder 39, and in which the first 43 and second outlet valve 44 are controlled such that the first opening of the compartment 46 is closed to the first cylinder 38 and the second opening of the compartment 46 is open to the second cylinder 39. In this state the first piston 36 makes an outward stroke due to the pressurized air or volume entering the first cylinder from the first compartment 45. By this stroke, the first piston 36 drives the axle 9. At the same time the second piston 37 moves towards the second compartment 46 such that expanded air or fluid in cylinder 39 leaves the piston unit 40 via the second compartment 46 and the outlet 48.

Figure 5 shows a second state of operation of the piston unit 40 in which the first 41 and second inlet valve 42 are controlled such that the first opening of the compartment 45 is closed to the first cylinder 38 and the second opening of the compartment 45 is open to the second cylinder 39, and in which the first 43 and second outlet valve 44 are controlled such that the first opening of the compartment 46 is open to the first cylinder 38 and the second opening of the compartment 46 is closed to the second cylinder 39. In this state the second piston 37 makes an outward stroke due to the pressurized air or volume entering the second cylinder from the first compartment 45. By this stroke, the second piston 37 drives the axle 9. At the same time the first piston 36 moves towards the second compartment 46 such that expanded air or fluid in cylinder 38 leaves the piston unit 40 via the second compartment 46 and the outlet 48.

The states shown in figures 4 and 5 follow each other repeatedly, such to drive the axle 9. The opening and closing of the valves 41 -44 may be controlled by the computer or microprocessor 19.

Further examples comprise that the combustion engine 20 drives, for example, the front wheels and the electric motor 5 drives the back wheels of a hybrid vehicle, or the other way around. When the combustion engine 20 and the electric motor 5 are both in operation the hybrid vehicle operates as a four wheel drive vehicle or car. In such a case, the electric motor 5 may directly drive the respective wheels as shown in Figure 1 , thereby omitting the coupling via the gear box 14 as shown in Figure 2.

In another example, wherein the hybrid vehicle comprises a chassis including a drive device compartment closable by a vehicle hood, the hood may form part of the chamber, such to provide easy access to the combustion engine 20 for maintenance purposes when the hood is opened.

In a further example the side of the combustion engine 20 where the crankshaft 23 is arranged to drive the gearbox 24, can be part of the chamber 1 to prevent leakage of air from the chamber 1 .

Reference numeral 50 in Figure 2 indicates a geographic position determining system that operatively connects to the computer or microprocessor 19 for operating as a motor management system for controlling a hybrid device or hybrid vehicle based on a current geographic position of the hybrid device or hybrid vehicle determined by the geographic position determining system 50. A hybrid device or hybrid engine a is understood to be a driving device of a hybrid vehicle comprising a fuel powered combustion engine and an electric motor, wherein the combustion engine may or may not generate electricity for the electric motor and may or may not generates electricity for charging or recharging a battery of the vehicle which powers the electric motor, and may or may not comprise a generator powered by a chamber surrounding the combustion engine following the principle as explained with the above examples. The computer 19 and the geographic position determining system 50 may be integrated into one system or component.

For the purpose of the invention, thee geographic position determining system may involve any of Position Determining Equipment (PDE) identifying the location of a mobile communication device, a Geographic Information System (GIS), operating based on geographic contents that consists of streets, road maps, addresses, and points of interest, the Global Positioning System (GPS) and other automotive navigation systems, whether or not satellite based.

An external charger is understood to be an electric charger for charging a battery with relatively cheap electricity of the public grid or mains, for example.

The computer or microprocessor 19 comprises data processing means and memory for executing a software application arranged such that when a destination of a vehicle is set in the memory of the computer or the geographic position determining system 50, for example by a driver of the vehicle, the geographic position determining system 50 knows, or asks the driver, if at the set destination an external charger for the battery of the vehicle is present and available for use when parking the vehicle, in order to recharge the battery of the hybrid engine. Based on the current position of the geographic position determining system

50 the software application may, in case there is an external charger available at the destination for recharging the battery during parking, control the motor management of the hybrid engine such that the hybrid engine during a number of X kilometres or miles before the destination is reached, exclusively uses the electric motor 5 of the hybrid engine, and not the combustion engine, to move the vehicle. The battery is then discharged.

The geographic position determining system 50 may have information how far, that means how many kilometres or miles, the electric motor 5 of the hybrid engine at a certain speed, without too much speed loss, can move the vehicle without using the fuel engine. As will be appreciated, the time of parking at a destination may also be an input to the motor management, such to determine how much time for recharging of the battery is available.

The software application may also be manually switched on or off, such to provide the driver an opportunity to switch on or off the application, because it may happen that it is not the intention of the driver to park at the destination for a sufficient long time to let the battery become recharged by an external charger.

The software application and/or the geographic position determining system 50, in an example, may be provided with information of the location of dense residential areas or when there is a passage through a tunnel ahead, in which areas or tunnel, from environmental perspective, it is desirable that as much as possible pollution caused by fossil fuels is prevented, and/or otherwise for example where it is desirable that there is the minimum possible noise nuisance. In other words, when it is desirable that in such areas the vehicle equipped with the hybrid engine exclusively or predominantly uses the electric motor, and not the fuel engine, to move the vehicle, the computer 19 of the motor management, or the geographic position determining system 50, controls in those cases the hybrid motor such to use the electric motor and not the fuel engine to move the vehicle.

The software application, in a further example of the motor management system, may also before approaching such an area, control the hybrid engine to save the battery as much as possible or, if possible, to recharge the battery by the combustion engine 20 or generator 4 before entering such an area.

In another example the software application is arranged for controlling the hybrid engine in a so-called shopping mode. That is, the driver of a hybrid vehicle may inform the computer of the motor management that the vehicle is used for shopping. In this mode, the software application controls the hybrid vehicle to be moved exclusively or as much as possible by the electric. Mostly people do shopping in the neighbourhood of their home. In this case, of course, the amount of kilometres to and from the shopping centre to the home is in the range of the amount of kilometres or miles the vehicle can drive with the electric motor, without use of the fuel engine.

The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein, and the above mentioned embodiments and examples are merely intended as an illustration to the skilled reader.

Claims

1 . A hybrid drive device comprising a combustion engine, an electric motor, both arranged for driving a drive axle, an electric generator, a closed chamber in heat receiving contact with and surrounding said combustion engine, and a piston unit arranged for driving said generator, said chamber having an inlet for receiving a fluid and an outlet connected to said piston unit for driving a piston of said piston unit, such that in operation fluid inside said chamber is pressurized by heat transferred from said combustion engine to said chamber and said pressurized fluid is operating said piston unit.

2. The hybrid drive device according to claim 1 , wherein said chamber is constructed in close contact with said combustion engine and exhaust of said combustion engine, for transferring as much as heat as possible from said combustion engine to said chamber.

3. The hybrid drive device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said chamber comprises a ventilator device, arranged for circulating air inside said chamber form said outlet to said inlet.

4. The hybrid drive device according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein said chamber is constructed to provide an as much as possible one way heat transfer from said combustion engine to fluid inside said chamber.

5. The hybrid drive device according to claim 1 , 2, 3 or 4, comprising a computer operated hybrid motor management system, and temperature and pressure sensors for sensing fluid temperature and fluid pressure inside said chamber, said hybrid motor management system being arranged for operating said inlet and outlet of said chamber for receiving fluid and driving said piston unit, and for controlling operation of said electric motor, electric generator, and combustion engine.

6. The hybrid drive device according to claim 1 , 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein said fluid is air.

7. A hybrid vehicle, having a hybrid drive device comprising a combustion engine, an electric motor, both arranged for driving a drive axle of said hybrid vehicle, a battery unit for powering said electric motor, a closed chamber in heat receiving contact with and surrounding said combustion engine, and a piston unit arranged for driving said generator, said chamber having an inlet for receiving a fluid and an outlet connected to said piston unit for driving a piston of said piston unit, such that in operation fluid inside said chamber is pressurized by heat transferred from said combustion engine to said chamber and said pressurized fluid is operating said cylinder unit.

8. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said battery unit is arranged for being recharged by one of said electric generator and an electric power source external of said vehicle.

9. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 7 or 8, comprising a computer operated hybrid motor management system, and temperature and pressure sensors for sensing fluid temperature and fluid pressure inside said chamber, said hybrid motor management system being arranged for operating said inlet and outlet of said chamber for receiving fluid and driving said piston unit, and for controlling operation of said electric motor, electric generator, battery unit, and combustion engine.

10. The hybrid vehicle according claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein said vehicle comprising a chassis including a drive device compartment closable by a vehicle hood, wherein said hood forms part of said chamber.

1 1 . A computer operated hybrid motor management system arranged for controlling operation of a hybrid drive device comprising a combustion engine, an electric motor, both arranged for driving a drive axle, an electric generator, a closed chamber in heat receiving contact with and surrounding said combustion engine, and a piston unit arranged for driving said generator, said chamber having an inlet for receiving a fluid and an outlet connected to said piston unit for driving a piston of said piston unit, such that in operation fluid inside said chamber is pressurized by heat transferred from said combustion engine to said chamber and said pressurized fluid is operating said piston unit, and comprising temperature and pressure sensors for sensing fluid temperature and fluid pressure inside said chamber, said hybrid motor management system being arranged for operating said inlet and outlet of said chamber for receiving fluid and driving said piston unit, and for controlling operation of said electric motor, electric generator, and combustion engine.

12. The computer operated hybrid motor management system of claim 1 1 , arranged for controlling said operation of said hybrid drive device in a hybrid vehicle comprising a battery unit for powering said electric motor, said hybrid motor management system being arranged for controlling recharging of said battery unit by one of said electric generator and an electric power source external of said vehicle.

13. A computer operated hybrid motor management system arranged for controlling operation of a hybrid vehicle, comprising a combustion engine, an electric motor, both arranged for driving a drive axle of said hybrid vehicle, a battery unit for powering said electric motor, and a geographic position determining system, wherein operation of said combustion engine and said electric motor for driving said drive axle is controlled by said hybrid motor management system based on said geographic position determining system.

14. The computer operated hybrid motor management system according to claim 13, wherein said operation of said combustion engine and said electric motor for driving said drive axle is controlled by said hybrid motor management system based on a distance of said vehicle to a set destination indicated by said geographic position determining system.

15. The computer operated hybrid motor management system according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said operation of said combustion engine and said electric motor for driving said drive axle is controlled by said hybrid motor management system based on an availability of an external electric power source at said destination for recharging said battery unit indicated by said geographic position determining system.

16. The computer operated hybrid motor management system according to claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein said operation of said combustion engine and said electric motor for driving said drive axle is controlled by said hybrid motor management system based on environmental parameters indicated by said geographic position determining system.