Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > EcoModding Central
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 06-03-2008, 12:56 PM   #1 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 25

Fortuga - '03 Subaru Forester X
90 day: 21.68 mpg (US)

The Beater - '94 Nissan Sentra EX
90 day: 28.88 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Electric Assist?

The idea occurred to me to fit in-wheel electric motors on my Sentra's rear wheels (FWD car) and use them as electric assist when low speed is all that is needed to go from stop to stop sign in town, when extra power is needed or to help keep a cruising highway speed at lower engine RPMs or even to extend coasting. Ideally the motors would be not very strong, light and capable of high RPM. The idea is to, say, neutralize the aero losses and "free up the car" to glide longer. I'm just guessing since none of you seem to have done it that there might be some insurmountable technical issues. Is there something like this out there? Is high RPM with low power consumption possible?

Also, the motors would have regenerative braking. They wouldn't have to be fully integrated into the car's electro-mechanical systems. They could just supplement the battery, instead of having an alternator. There would be a separate control for engaging the motors and for regen braking (separate from the car's accelerator/brake, I mean).

Any thoughts?

__________________

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 06-03-2008, 03:40 PM   #2 (permalink)
Dartmouth 2010
 
SVOboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hanover, NH
Posts: 6,447

Vegan Powa! - '91 Honda CRX DX
Team Honda
90 day: 66.52 mpg (US)
Thanks: 92
Thanked 122 Times in 90 Posts
Send a message via AIM to SVOboy Send a message via MSN to SVOboy Send a message via Yahoo to SVOboy
I've always heard that regen is a huge pain to set it, but the idea is definitely possible, depending on how much money you want to put into it,
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2008, 04:12 PM   #3 (permalink)
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 11,203

CM400E - '81 Honda CM400E
90 day: 51.49 mpg (US)

Daox's Grey Prius - '04 Toyota Prius
Team Toyota
90 day: 49.53 mpg (US)

Daox's Insight - '00 Honda Insight
90 day: 64.33 mpg (US)

Swarthy - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage DE
Mitsubishi
90 day: 56.69 mpg (US)

Daox's Volt - '13 Chevrolet Volt
Thanks: 2,501
Thanked 2,587 Times in 1,554 Posts
A lot of members have thought of this. It is a great idea with potentially great gains. However, as SVOboy alluded to its usually cost prohibitive as it is quite an in depth project.
__________________
Current project: A better alternator delete
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2008, 05:30 PM   #4 (permalink)
Veggiedynamics
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Alexandria, MN
Posts: 684

Volt12 - '12 Chevy Volt base
Thanks: 0
Thanked 12 Times in 10 Posts
manufactures could easily do regen braking on cars.. its not really complicated.. hard for the home-brewer to make yeah, but so is a internal combustion engine.. and regen breaking seems ideal for all the abs computer controlled braking and traction controls out there. actually a hybrid with wheel motors seem the best way, you get power and regen at the wheel on each wheel and each can totally be controlled independently.. it would almost ultimate 4 wheel limited slip.

Not to mention .. you would most likely never need break pads ever!! the only breakpads I can see is parking break pads..

Also thing of how much room is consumed by drive axles etc in a car.
__________________

  Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2008, 07:52 PM   #5 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 25

Fortuga - '03 Subaru Forester X
90 day: 21.68 mpg (US)

The Beater - '94 Nissan Sentra EX
90 day: 28.88 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanks for the feedback guys. Please excuse my ignorance but there is a technical point that I'd like answered by someone more knowledgeable than I am:

High speed and low power consumption...is it possible or are those requirements mutually exclusive?
__________________

  Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2008, 11:04 AM   #6 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,528

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 62.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,078
Thanked 6,977 Times in 3,613 Posts
Define "low power consumption"

But in general, I'd say: mutually exclusive in a heavy, unaerodynamic vehicle (which I define as something like a Sentra, or even a Geo Metro for that matter).

It's possible in something purpose built -think: solar racer.
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2008, 12:28 PM   #7 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 25

Fortuga - '03 Subaru Forester X
90 day: 21.68 mpg (US)

The Beater - '94 Nissan Sentra EX
90 day: 28.88 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
Define "low power consumption"

But in general, I'd say: mutually exclusive in a heavy, unaerodynamic vehicle (which I define as something like a Sentra, or even a Geo Metro for that matter).

It's possible in something purpose built -think: solar racer.
How dare you call my Sentra unaerodynamic!? Take that back right now!
__________________

  Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2008, 02:15 PM   #8 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
tasdrouille's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mirabel, QC
Posts: 1,672

The Guzzler - '08 Hyundai Elantra GL
90 day: 33.12 mpg (US)

Got Soul? - '11 Kia Soul 2U
Thanks: 35
Thanked 86 Times in 57 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by JV-Tuga View Post
How dare you call my Sentra unaerodynamic!? Take that back right now!
Don't worry, we all drive bricks around here.

He might take it back if you ever go basjoos on it though.
__________________



www.HyperKilometreur.com - Quand chaque goutte compte...
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2008, 04:34 PM   #9 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,528

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 62.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,078
Thanked 6,977 Times in 3,613 Posts
Go basjoos on it!
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2008, 05:44 PM   #10 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
ttoyoda's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: boston ma
Posts: 381
Thanks: 0
Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts
Ah yes, well, anyone can drive a brick, but MY bricks have a parachute on the back.
How many of you can top that?

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Im...Trac-front.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Im...lTrac-rear.jpg



  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Tags
diy hybrid, electric assist



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Electric assist for SUV? Tony Raine EcoModding Central 8 10-15-2012 09:17 PM
Article: Electric Subaru Due in 2009, One Year Early MetroMPG Fossil Fuel Free 8 08-29-2009 01:19 AM
Video: Electric Assist Velomobile going 50mph! newtonsfirstlaw Fossil Fuel Free 8 06-12-2008 07:48 PM
I'm thinking electric reformed Fossil Fuel Free 6 03-20-2008 01:33 AM
Front VS Rear drive on electric bennelson Fossil Fuel Free 18 02-03-2008 04:10 PM



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com