Quote:
Originally Posted by orange4boy
So just on/off like my Auranthetics? Crude but workable. I always wish I had this for crawling traffic.
How about the simplest thing ever... a lever engaged spring loaded tire powered by an electric motor that runs on one of the rear wheels like so many fair rides. Saves the geometry issues that the Insight extra wheel motor has. Just up and down to worry about.
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That would work out too... in my design for Cara, which will probably never happen due to other thoughts taking prevalence, is just a non-reversible motor with an over-running clutch, connected to the axle's input by a CV shaft, with a simple high-voltage contactor to turn it on/off, limited only by the voltage input. No soft start, no regen, etc.
In this way, with 5 HP (approx) I should be able to do the lower speed sections of town, at least in the flat areas, at 20MPH or so. Most days, this would be perfectly fine. IIRC, I'd need about 7.5 - 8HP to keep me going 30MPH even on slight hills, which is exactly like driving through town around here. The other plus is that it's great for pulling away from red lights and stop signs, so no more (start, idle, put it in gear, go) maneuvering, and the availability of FAS up to a light, then hybrid starting off a light (except if you have an auto that won't pop-start).