View Single Post
Old 09-24-2014, 01:18 AM   #87 (permalink)
freebeard
Master EcoModder
 
freebeard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: northwest of normal
Posts: 28,719
Thanks: 8,151
Thanked 8,933 Times in 7,375 Posts
I know it will get complicated at some point, but I'd like to see soft switches on the power board that can configure it for pre-programed battery combinations for clip-on packs or trailered pusher/generator.

The donor car is in it's space, up on jack stands with the wheels removed. As soon as I can show a picture of the MGR correctly positioned on the floor jack, I'll feel like I can start a build thread. I may start with shrouding the whole thing in 6mil polyethlene so I can sandblast the firewall, wheelwells and framehead.

e*clipse -- or is it E*clipse? We were just making conversation to keep the thread active.

I'm pretty agnostic. Like Neil Blanchard, I'm counting on something new popping up just before I have to lay the money down. The wood-tin battery sounded promising. And the fractal graphene anode. Or just Tesla flooding the market.

Frankly the reason I'm leaning toward Prius is that the battery pack (or at least one model) is 15x7x40. That is close to the size of a Beetle's rear seat cushion. Two laid longitudinal on either side of the center tunnel (below and behind the seats) and a third one where the seat cushion was, and it's done. There exists a reburbishment market.

Also I've been reading about how Toyota use three packs, charged in series, but drawn down only two of the three at a time. They undercharge to extend battery life and leave headroom for regen. And the battery packs have their own integrated charger system. [all forgoing subject to me having gotten it right]

Edit: I had an opportunity to compare the MGR drive flange with the drive flange on a VW transaxle. The Lexus part has four studs on a 4" circle, VW uses six threaded bolt holes on a 3" circle. So my hope now is that a 3/4" thick steel plate adapt disk (similar to adapters for mismatched wheel lugbolts) will work. By my math there's a little more than an inch between holes on the two circles. It may require Allen head bolts, but that would save needing custom axle work.

Last edited by freebeard; 09-24-2014 at 06:30 PM..
  Reply With Quote