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Old 08-09-2011, 05:32 PM   #22 (permalink)
jray3
Karmann Eclectric
 
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Graham, WA
Posts: 165

Odysseus - '00 Honda Odyssey

MR BEAN - '12 Mitsubishi i-MiEV SE

Karmann Eclectric - '71 VW Karmann Ghia Electric Conversion

BOB - '87 Ford 250 Lariat ext cab
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I'd be hard-pressed to think of any vehicle less suitable to pull a trailer than a CommutaCar, so can only say- go for it! I've countered similar doubts in adding a 2" receiver hitch to my electric Karmann Ghia, with the intention of first pulling a genset for range extension, and then a pusher trailer. Of course, everything else on the car was beefed up first, and I'd much rather having more power (or regen) on tap at all times rather than leave it sitting on the trailer 95% of the time... updates soon at the karmanneclectric blogspot. However, I do think that your idea of balanced trailer assist has merit, in that an AC drive could be combined with a surge brake assembly on the trailer tongue, such that the (former) master cylinger piston constantly signals the motor to assist or regen automatically, keeping whatever amount of drag on the tongue that is dialed in via a balancing spring. Some e-bikes do this with pressure sensors, I think in the pedals...
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