Design Considerations when Applying Hydraulic Drives to Vehicles

Early attempts to apply hydrostatic transmissions to vehicle propulsion resulted in enthusiasm for the basic concept but disappointment in its execution. More importantly, the cost was too high. This paper discusses how advances in the state-of-the-art and basic research, coupled with an engineering approach closely geared to manufacturing, has resulted in a reliable, low cost, and high-performance transmission. This paper will outline key factors in the successful application of a hydrostatic transmission.