Quote:
Originally Posted by ChazInMT
Also, direct power from a belt for an accessory is always more efficient, at a given load, than converting engine power to electricity than using the electricity to run the load.
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As you know, the trouble is that the water pump load will change only as a direct result of engine speed. At that point, it becomes a debate whether to continue to mechanically drive the pump at a 1% loss due to the drivebelt, or electrically drive the pump at anywhere between a 30% to 45% loss from conversion from mechanical energy to electricity, but gain a net 1% to 3% increase in fuel efficiency at the same time.
This Hot Rod magazine article has a rather interesting take on electric water pumps.
Baseline Testing - Do Water Pumps Suck Power? - Hot Rod Magazine
I gathered, from reading the article, that it might be best just to get an underdrive pulley.