I dont know whether it would be series or parallel hybrid nor do I care about these new fangled modern era terms.
Motors batteries and generators have been used for years. Nothing new WWII diesel electric submarines had 4 batteries two driveshafts for the propellors and diesels to drive the driveshafts.
Strait diesel electric has been used by Wa State ferries for decades.
Question 1 will diesel electric work -- YES 2. Will the diesel generator charge the battery and power the motor while driving at "average" road conditions YES -- IF it has the capacity Basically the diesel would supply motor current and some more current to the battery. 3. Will the diesel be able to provide enough power for passing YES -- IF it has the capacity BUT why carry that MUCH more generation? let the batteries supply the high power surge imposed by passing.
Dan Bentler
Rating
The BEST hybrid conversion is Cleanova system by: Antonio Perez
I think the best hybrid conversion, series or parallel, is the Cleanova II system tested in a Kangoo Renault car and described in this site (in French): http://www.cleanova.com/public/sve/
Cleanova system have, besides the electric motor and battery, a gas motor and a generator; however, this last one can also be used as second electric motor to power the wheels. The system have 3 modes of operation that can be manually selected. 1-Zero pollution mode: like standard EV, gas motor is off. 2-Reload mode: gas motor moves the generator to reload batteries, the car don't moves. 3-Hybrid voyage mode, that have in turn 2 sub-modes: 3a-Series hybrid: gas motor moves the generator to keep the load level of the battery even at high speeds. The voyage can continue indefinitely (while gas lasts). 3b-Parallel hybrid: The three engines (the original one, the generator acting as motor and taken it's power from batteries, and the gas motor) are joined together in mechanical connection with the wheels. The total power output (about 100 kW) is used for motorway speeds and crossing slopes.
