Civic EPES: Alternator Delete Project (with additional lithium battery...)

[brucepick]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Bruce - FYI, there's now an EcoModder blog post about this project:

Alternator delete with lithium and lead acid battery

Slick - thanks!

[pete c]

Really interesting thread. I have read through most of it. It's a little on the lengthy side for my ADHD riddled brain.

I have a few thoughts.

Seems like the LiIon setup is working nicely for you, but, a bit pricey and complicated.

I think from a $$$$$ point of view, just going with the biggest deep cycle lead acid battery you could stuff under the hood would have been a better option.

I also think that there is a way to go with LEDs. Perhaps there isn't a way at this time to install them into the OEM housings, but, I think that separate running light type LEDs are a viable option, today. Even if they are not suitable due to beam patterns, perhaps they might be suitable for high beam situations only. You could accomplish this by running the LEDs only during high beam situations and the OEM low beams otherwise. Wiring this should be simple enough. Use the high beam feed for the LEDs. Also use it for a relay cutout to the low beams if they don't already cut out during high beam use.

Of course this option would only make sense if you have extended high beam run times. May I ask you a bit more about your commute? I am in Ellington, Ct, so i am familiar with the area. If your commute is along busy two ways, this idea probably wouldn't fly.

[Daox]

The cost issue is mute if you consider that the lithium battery should be able to live several time longer than a lead acid battery, likely through multiple vehicles. If you consider this its actually the more cost effective battery solution. This is very common knowledge in the EV world.

[pete c]

I had one other thought about this.

Since the VX stays in lean burn under low throttle settings and the alt. load is enough to take it out of lean burn, would it be feasible to actually use the alternator as a very mild hybrid drive? If you had the LiIon power to spare, why not pump it back into the alternator to give you a bit of a push in situations where it might mean staying in lean burn?

[Daox]

Its been talked about many times here on EM. The basic reason not to do it is because its a pain in the butt to make an alternator a motor. Even if you do, you get a whopping ~1hp from it.

[steffen707]

Originally Posted by Daox

Its been talked about many times here on EM. The basic reason not to do it is because its a pain in the butt to make an alternator a motor. Even if you do, you get a whopping ~1hp from it.

But a 1hp decrease on the motor, plus a 1hp boost in power would net 2hp. It would be a cool project. I don't know enough about alternators and generators to probably attempt this, but I do have several alternators that could be sacrificed to test.

[Daox]

Do a search. I'm sure you'll find info on it. It'll require a semi-sophisticated motor controller as well as modifications to the alternator.

[steffen707]

I'll do some searching tonight after work. couldn't you get by with a relatively simple pushbutton switch with large relay to a battery pack? When you need boost, you just push the button and it feeds power to the motor?

Or do you mean it would have to be sophisticated if you wanted to retain alternator abilities and operate as a motor?

[Daox]

I'm afraid its not nearly as simple as that.

[steffen707]

For anybody thinking it would be easy like me, this is some insight from Ryland as to why its more complicated, "would need to know at what rotation the alternator is in it's rotation to give it the correct a/c but you will need a variable a/c motor speed controller"

I forgot that the alternator actually puts out A/C, that is then converted to DC, so it would be kinda a PITA. Replacing it with a different motor entirely would be much easier.