Video: Homebuilt Hybrid Pickup truck

[bennelson]

Hey everyone, here is the YouTube of a pickup truck converted to a hybrid.

It was one of three videos chosen to be shown at the Washington DC Plug-in Future conference not to long ago. (My motorcycle video was another one of the three videos.)

This truck looks pretty interesting and is very similar to how I would imagine doing a hybrid. It uses the same brand controller and batteries as I have on my cycle.

YouTube - Re-InVolt Hybrid Electric Truck Conversion Plug-In

I also like how he has an e-meter and a Scangauge built directly into the dash.

Wish the video explained what he was using for a transmission and where/how the electric motor is attached.

[jamesqf]

I must admit to some idle thoughts about finding a wrecked Prius, and putting the power train into my old Toyota pickup...

[tjts1]

That is very cool. Can anybody find more information about this hybrid? Their website (taylorautomotive.com) doesn't have anything.

[ebacherville]

i got an idea how he did it , Dodge offers a PTO transmission for there rams, well in there diesels they offer this, attach a electric motor to it, disengage the gas motor from the tyranny and you got a electric hybrid..

Also he could have just attached a motor to a transfer case or drive shaft.. many options with trucks.

[Xringer]

Originally Posted by ebacherville

i got an idea how he did it , Dodge offers a PTO transmission for there rams, well in there diesels they offer this, attach a electric motor to it, disengage the gas motor from the tyranny and you got a electric hybrid..

Also he could have just attached a motor to a transfer case or drive shaft.. many options with trucks.

Thanks a lot for waking me up at 3AM! When the lamp came on over my sleeping head,
I just could not stop thinking of the possibilities.

Since I've took out the rear wheel drive stuff, I've been wondering about
adding Electric power to the rear wheels...

And there was that dang Transfer case (hanging on the back of the engine)
right in front of my nose.. That might be my PTO!!
Could I add E-power back into my front wheels??



You can see the transfer case output just to the right of the exhaust
and the big space where the rear diff used to sit..

A small motor might fit right next to the transfer case, or a real big motor
could sit back on the rear-diff bracket.. (I would have to re-install the propeller shaft).


Added video. Pushing the CRV in and out of the garage in neutral..

[Clev]

I'd ask around the truck forums about using a transfer case. I think it causes a lot of drag. They also don't take kindly to being shifted while moving at a high rate of speed all the time.

You could just bolt the motor to a rear end that will net you a safe ratio (i.e. one that won't over-rev the motor if you go too fast), and there are also "2 speed" rear ends out there.

[dremd]

Also make sure that the pto can be tied to the drive shaft while being separated from the engine.

[Xringer]

Originally Posted by Clev

I'd ask around the truck forums about using a transfer case. I think it causes a lot of drag. They also don't take kindly to being shifted while moving at a high rate of speed all the time.

You could just bolt the motor to a rear end that will net you a safe ratio (i.e. one that won't over-rev the motor if you go too fast), and there are also "2 speed" rear ends out there.

There was loads of drag before I took out all the rear-wheel drive hardware.
The only part left of that system is the transfer case.
Which seems to be connected directly to the front wheels.

Bolting the propeller shaft back in will add more load, but my main question now is,
what kind of load will a free-wheeling motor (when not being used) put on the engine.
I would not want to use a clutch to take the motor load away.. That seems to complicated.


Here's the old rear differential. It could be used as a template for mounting the motor and getting the coupling (faceplate) in the right location for the propeller shaft.
It seems like there is enough room on the bracket to install a good sized motor..

Right now, I'm not thinking about having a full EV mode, but have the motor just provide an assist to the ICE when switched on.
Just a little push.. So I could see some 50 MPG at 50 MPH maybe..?.
But it would be nice to have full EV mode someday when cheap batteries aren't so dang heavy..

[orange_eskimo]

I believe this guy is using a modified version of net gains hybrid system. There is an electric motor directly after the transmission and connected to the differential through a shortened drive shaft. Instead of using this as only a mild hybrid, he added more batteries and a separate accelerator lever on the gear shifter to control the electric motor by itself. I think he said he can cruise at like 45mph in neutral, its been a while since I saw that video though.

[Chris D.]

I'd love to find out how to convert my truck to a hybrid, it would be great for a bolt up and go setup.. but life doesn't seem to work like that