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Extreme Idea 'IMA' for almost any car?

A thought I have had for a while, which might be an easy mod for those who want to get an MPG boost without going all the way to building an EV.

The Honda IMA works - by assisting the ICE, and only when the engine is running. It is connected to the crankshaft, on the gearbox side.

However... thinking about it.... it would make no difference if that IMA was actually on the otherside of the crankshaft! (the alternator / air-con pump side). So, therefore, if you got a motor if maybe 7kw max, fitted it somehow to the other side of the crank, and had a button on the steering wheel for manual motor assist, and had a few batteries in the boot, you could make large improvements in MPG. For short journeys, you could charge it at home. Depending on the motor you could also consider using a motor/generator to charge the battery. You could charge it going downhill by leaving it in 5th gear, and coasting with fuel-cut - and have the motor on maximum recharge rate. You could also put some solar panels on the car - 40w of solar panels could give up to 40 watt/hours per hour, or 320 watt hours during an 8-hour working day. This would be a significant amount if your commute was short e.g. 10-20 miles.

Any comments on this idea?

I thought the IMA was a 2" thick pancake motor between the engine and the tranny.

Quote:

Originally Posted by elhigh (Post 17531)

I thought the IMA was a 2" thick pancake motor between the engine and the tranny.

It is, but its just bolted up to the crankshaft. It doubles as a starter, and a generator. If someone justed wanted the extra power boost that an IMA motor could offer, then you could somehow bolt up an electric motor to the front crank shaft pulley or something

Is this along the lines of a "Mild Hybrid" -- although it probably wouldn't be powerful enough to run the accessories and turn the crank at the same time, like when stopped and such.

Maybe a heavy-duty clutch mechanism could be used to isolate it from the crank -- to sit/idle or EOC, and maintain A/C, Vacuum, Power Steering, etc. Hmmm. Decel charges the system and if the batts die during a trip, it's not a big deal -- de-clutch it and forget about it...

Plug it in when not in use. Good idea landspeed :thumbup:

RH77

Quote:

The Electrocharger replaces the vehicle’s alternator and battery charging system and gets most of its energy during vehicle braking, while additional energy comes from the engine while the vehicle is at cruising speed. The Electrocharger functions as an alternator at all times, when it is not used as a motor, to provide acceleration assistance to the engine. Power for the vehicle electrical system is provided by a DC/DC converter that can output power for the current 12 volt or forthcoming 42 volt systems.

The Electrocharger system is comprised of a rugged high speed computer-controlled electric motor that is mounted to the vehicle’s engine with a purpose built aluminum bracket. Power and torque from the electric motor is transferred to the engines’ crankshaft via a specialized toothed drive belt that transfers the torque from the electric motor through a vehicle specific sprocket ratio.

The on-board energy for the Electrocharger comes from the Super Capacitor Battery Pack (SCBP) that provides up to 600 amps at 48 volts to the electric motor for acceleration durations. The SCBP is contained in a sealed module that has color coded connectors to ensure proper connectivity. The SCBP is able to withstand the substantial in-rush of current during regenerative braking, maintain the standard vehicle battery state of charge and prolong the life cycle of the SCBP energy storage batteries.

But, they can't get it to work. It has been in development for over two years, :mad: .

CarloSW2

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfg83 (Post 17560)

landspeed -

I always plug this as a comparison because someone is *trying* to create a bolt-on mild hybrid :

Retrofit Hybrid-Electric System
http://www.sigmaautomotive.com/elect...trocharger.php

But, they can't get it to work. It has been in development for over two years, :mad: .

CarloSW2

The IMA does just that though....

There are several Mild hybrids that do just what you describe.
I believe the GM Saturn Vue has a 3 phase brushless Motor generator, that replaces the alternator, and assist the gas engine for auto stop/start, and mild acceleration boost.The power runs through a timing belt to the front crank.