Quote:
Originally Posted by nimblemotors
A key to the mild hybrid idea is to replace the starter and alternator with a single motor-generator that can assist the engine. It adds no additional weight and is a simpler design. Strange it still isn't common even today.
What it allows is to tune the engine to have less low-RPM torque.
If you just ADD the weight of the motor, and don't retune the engine to take full advantage of the electric power, I don't think the gains will be much, since even the tuned versions it isn't that big.
For stop-n-go, a Prius can yeild large improvement because the engine isn't running at all, and braking can put back the power used. You get none of that with the mild hybrid and certainly not the add-on approach.
Swap your car with a Prius, it requires no work or mechanical skill at all and you get 50mpg, and not only does it look oem, it IS oem.
You will not be able to do yourself anything better and cheaper, without changing cars and/or engines.
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Ok so what you're saying is the mild hybrid idea is doable on my car but I won't see gains without tuning the engine properly, and any gains I see will still be less than having a hybrid car anyway.
Well I don't really want to just switch to a Toyota Prius just yet... as unless it can offer me a huge improvement (and 50mpg isn't really) then it won't pay for itself with the number of miles I do, as I don't do many long distance trips.
How would the mild hybrid system work then? Do I simply attach the motor in place of the alternator or power steering and make it spin the driveshaft at the same RPM the engine is at? Or differently...
The engine management side I can do, as I'm very familiar with how the engine management works and I'm planning on converting it to megasquirt so I can remap it.