In the 1940s the Wright brothers’ aero business had revenues of around $1bn per year. In the 1990s the revenue of roughly the same business (now called Curtis Wright) was around $1bn – why this decline in real terms? In the 40s the Wright brothers’ business was centred on propeller driven aircraft and when asked why the company was not moving into jet engine aircraft along with its competitors the answer was reported to be "our customers will not feel safe in an aircraft with no propellers"!
10 years ago sales of flat screen TVs were a small fraction of the total TV market. Today, after capital investment and developments in the key technologies, who would buy a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube)?!
Now consider brakes on cars – do you see where I’m going with this?!
Who in their right mind would buy a car that depends on discs, pads, hydraulic pipes, vacuum driven servo valves, vibrating ABS systems, ABS sensors, ABS controls, differential pressure valves, oil reservoirs and sensors? With the routine maintenance of pads, discs and oil levels; thousands of tonnes of brake dust deposited on city streets, and to top it all a delinquent waste of energy as heat!
Why not have no wearing parts?
Why not have very little wasted energy?
Why not have smooth ABS function?
Why not have zero pollution impact?
Why not have this virtually free of charge?!!
PML QED using Hi-Pa Drive™ technology is the only system currently available to provide high performance 4-wheel drive along with FULL regenerative braking. Other than for parking, mechanical brakes are not required. All of the above benefits are provided.
So the sceptics say:
It can’t be real!
It can’t be that good!
It can’t be legal!
It can’t be safe!
If it were really possible then why are the big car companies not doing it already?
Enter Volvo.
Probably the most safety conscious car company in the world. Renowned for solid, reliable engineering.
Volvo has fully embraced the benefits and is incorporating the full QED system into its concept vehicle. OK, so the ‘old school’ thinkers within Volvo have added emergency disc brakes – for now – but I predict this will quickly change!
Remaining as conservative as ever, Volvo has kept the performance figures very safe! Why oversell at this stage? Volvo has at least shown that an efficient series hybrid is today the best way to use fuel, and that brake energy recovery is a key to having the most efficient practical vehicle possible.
It is proven! – QED!
So a little prediction…
Unlike the Wright aircraft business, I bet that Volvo will have substantial revenue growth in less than 10 years!
If I were you I would not bet on the condition of any non-adopters and as for brake manufacturers; well I suggest taking a short-time perspective on any planned investments!
Tel: +44 (0) 1420 594140, Fax: +44 (0) 1420 83930, enq07@pmlflightlink.com
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Remaining as conservative as ever, Volvo has kept the performance figures very safe! Why oversell at this stage? Volvo has at least shown that an efficient series hybrid is today the best way to use fuel, and that brake energy recovery is a key to having the most efficient practical vehicle possible.