19bonestock88's 2004 Saturn "Ion Green Line" build...

[19bonestock88]

I’ve honestly made a point to avoid towing with the car with its lack of low end torque. Than again if I get the car light enough to potentially play with hybridization, that would fill in the low end enough to allow a little towing

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by 19bonestock88

if I get the car light enough to potentially play with hybridization

Eventually the hybridization would overcome such weight-saving improvements, but in the end it may be worth a try. Are you looking for the e-Assist setup for such hybridization?

[19bonestock88]

I’d like to start with that since I’m fairly certain it’ll just bolt onto my engine. Of course I’d need to control it somehow, but I kinda wanna see how much “assist” I can get out of it. You know, make the car even faster

[California98Civic]

I definitely think there are ways to do light hybridization with these little cars. Have you daydreams a system?

[freebeard]

The 15 hp E-assist altermotor IIRC is 8" in diameter, same as a typical alternator; but it's 2" longer.

The other part is the toothed serpentine belt system.

[19bonestock88]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

I definitely think there are ways to do light hybridization with these little cars. Have you daydreams a system?

My thought was some way to control the E-assist motor to have it work similarly to Honda’s IMA system. The motor just filling in low end that the engine will invariably lack. Ideally I’d combine it with taller gearing but I don’t see a convenient way to do that. I did want to use an aftermarket controller for the high voltage part, so as to increase voltage/amperage. Motor was designed for 48V, I don’t see it hurting to jump that to 60 or maybe even 72V. Basically if the motor was rated for ~15hp, I’d like to see 25-30 potentially

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by 19bonestock88

Motor was designed for 48V, I don’t see it hurting to jump that to 60 or maybe even 72V.

I would take any change to voltage with a grain of salt. Remember this motor also operates as a generator, so it may become more challenging to control the voltage if it switches between operating modes.

[19bonestock88]

That’s a solid point. It’s still far out in the future that I might get into hybridization, and only if I can get the vehicle weight low enough that hybrid components don’t bump me over 2500lb

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by 19bonestock88

My thought was some way to control the E-assist motor to have it work similarly to Honda’s IMA system. The motor just filling in low end that the engine will invariably lack. Ideally I’d combine it with taller gearing but I don’t see a convenient way to do that. I did want to use an aftermarket controller for the high voltage part, so as to increase voltage/amperage. Motor was designed for 48V, I don’t see it hurting to jump that to 60 or maybe even 72V. Basically if the motor was rated for ~15hp, I’d like to see 25-30 potentially

Or, you could set it up to run only under light load cruising under certain speed and throttle conditions that could correspond to highway cruising. Acceleration at 70%-80% engine load is a situation in which the ICE can get more efficiency because the throttle plate is fairly widely open. Steady cruise is where the ICE is least efficient. Let a 15 hp electric motor drag the engine down the freeway.

[19bonestock88]

That would be the biggest use of the motor as well as acceleration under moderate/heavy load. I still wanna use it at WOT though