Quote:
Originally Posted by evolutionmovement
If you run the motor inline with the engine with a clutch between, you could probably ditch the starter as well. Save a little weight, but you'd lose a little redundancy in case of motor system failure. Could you then, too, if using an A/C motor, use it as an alternator while off throttle or when using the ICE?
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The starter would indeed be removed. In case of motor/controller failure, the motor will be freewheeling and bumpstarting is still possible. Same workaround as a broken starter.
Removing the pulley and belt system and converting everything including the water pump to electric would be another modification as the motor would be designed to function for both powering the wheels at low speed and alternatively for generating electricity to the ECU, lights, powered items, etc during ICE cruising. All of those things are usually covered by an alternator that generates a maximum of 100 amps at 14volts. Since I'll probably forgo using the motor past a certain point, the batteries will only see a lot of recharging at low speed. The car would remain functionally an ICE powered car at cruising speed where an electric can't match the range liquid fuel provides. Controlling the power generation is something I'm looking in to as well. Otherwise the design wouldn't meet design specs. Outside of recharging the battery the system will need an estimated maximum of 200amps of 12volt power, after everything is converted to electric that is. And that's just as a bullet proof concept. It would probably work with less during cruising
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Aussie, it sounds like your engine is acting exactly inline with what I'm saying. At 40km/hr your engine is bogged down in top gear and it's underperforming and overworking itself. At 60km/hr you can use the ICE comfortably, accelerating or cruising. In both your case and mine, an electric motor that can maintain 60km/hr would be a great starting point for converting to a hybrid.
Please notice I'm avoiding mention of the use of gasoline. If I had it my way. The vehicle would not only be RWD, have an electric motor and batterypack, and two speed transmission. It'd use pure ethanol(in my case at least). Three things the automakers don't offer in one package.
I considered an AWD but the reports that even a manual transmission car suffers from 25% driveline losses which I know automatic cars get with only two wheel drive front or back. I say 15% is too much, we're talking about 10% more of our power and energy turning into unused heat for a little bit of convenience. Small things
like that make our markets unsustainable and our governments chug from the corruption.
Sorry to rant and waste some of your time. But another thing, a FWD hybrid isn't a viable DIY project outside of a beer budget because a Prius is already very cost effective. All of the RWD hybrids are SUVs or trucks designed for the power increase. All electric sportscars are still just exotics. Sheesh, even the RWD cars are reserved for those who can afford a $20k vehicle. I'm thinking this system I'm developing/researching will be better suited to a low-end sports car that can be equipped with a 100hp ICE and 75kw electric motor. I'm also having second thoughts about retiring my Ranger. As great as OBDII is, the newer Rangers run more HP for the same economy and this project might work out better with an older DIY vehicle. I already know I can get flexfuel info from the 3.0L Rangers, the electric motor used in the electric ford ranger, and I can keep my RWD without doing extreme modification of a transverse compact car or selling out for a Mustang. I'm starting to smell the Roses of success in my future.