even having just 2 motors in the rear driving driving the whole car on just 2 rear wheels would be just as beneficial, and that way they could actually put some kind of parking brake on the front, but this would probably be more effecient...
Are all hydraulic motors noisy, or just the ones I've been around?
What kind of loss of efficiency would a hydraulic drive setup have?
What kind of loss of efficiency would a hydraulic drive setup have?
The losses in hydrostatic drives are enormous, probably in the order of 30-50%. Ever seen the massive oil coolers used on hydraulic driven equipment? That's the price you pay for infinately variable speed at high torque levels in a compact drive. Not the way to go for automotive drives, that's why its never been used. Electric has all the efficiency advantages, it's just the cost...