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Old 01-04-2009, 07:50 AM   #32 (permalink)
The Atomic Ass
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Mason, OH
Posts: 535

Overland - '24 Nissan Versa S 5MT
90 day: 37.61 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MD2000 View Post
At full rpm on the e-tek motor, I can go 30 MPH.
The acceleration with current limited to 200A @48V is reasonable on a downhill standing start, pretty slow on flat ground, and very slow on an up hill start.
I will not try to start when stopped at a light as the people behind me will get nasty since I may cause them to miss the light with the slow acceleration.

I tend to use the e-wheel for cruising at 30 MPH with my gas engine off, and can get 30-40 miles on a charge.

In hub wheels without any gearing that would accelerate a caravan at reasonable speed would use 400-1000A, requiring a huge battery and high current controller, and as stated above, the unsprung weight issues could make handling on bumpy roads unsafe.
200A @48V is ~12.5hp. Please define "slow on flat ground".

I would not even attempt to run a vehicle as large as a Caravan with only 48V. When you step into heavy-weight vehicles, you need heavy-weight components. I would consider 300V to be the minimum voltage, and I would prefer to run at 700V+. At that level, 200A is good for ~180hp. And electric HP at that.

As for un-sprung weight, I'll say it again, I don't think that many people understand just how much weight there is there already, and can be done away with. The entire un-sprung assembly on your average Caravan weighs in excess of 100lbs.
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