The Firebrid Hybrid Convertible Project (Prius platform swap)

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Bill the Engineer

There is already a Class 3 hitch mounted to the chassis (by me) to take the Thule 4-bike carrier I used to use on the old Cadillac that I drove before my Prius days. I don't anticipate pulling anything heavier than that. Toyota says don't tow with a Prius, period. (Yeah, right.)

Makes sense. But anyway, do you already have some weight estimative for the finished project to compare with a stock Prius V?

[Bill the Engineer]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Makes sense. But anyway, do you already have some weight estimative for the finished project to compare with a stock Prius V?

Nothing formal, but comparing the weight of what came off to what is going back on it will likely be 100 to 200 pounds heavier empty. Considering my two adult children together weigh about 400 pounds, and the finished car won't have a full-size back seat for them to sit in due to the traction battery, the difference will be about a wash.

The rear seat will be perfect for use as a parade vehicle though since it will be slightly elevated.

Bill the Engineer

[Xist]

Do they still make vehicles with elevated second rows?

[Bill the Engineer]

Originally Posted by Xist

Do they still make vehicles with elevated second rows?

I saw one in Orlando a few years ago.



Bill the Engineer

[Bill the Engineer]

Does anyone have any experience with a device like this attached to the gas pedal?

https://smartpedal.com/

The concept sounds good, but the price is daunting.

Bill the Engineer

[Daox]

I'd be shocked if OEM drive by wire systems don't already do this.

[Xist]

Someone fixed a problem I do not believe exists!

[eco_generator]

I would get one if it prevented my Outback from jumping off the line like it's trying to beat an F1 car when you barely touch the pedal to go....

[Vman455]

Originally Posted by Bill the Engineer

Does anyone have any experience with a device like this attached to the gas pedal?

https://smartpedal.com/

The concept sounds good, but the price is daunting.

Bill the Engineer

Don't waste your money.

There's a whole thread started by the Smartpedal guy in the Gen3 forum on Priuschat. It's 10 pages of subjective user results, i.e. "I was getting 47mpg but on my last tank I got 49! Smartpedal works!" by drivers who A) don't track their fuel economy to begin with, and so have no accurate baseline, and B) don't account for any variables. To my knowledge, there has been no controlled testing of the Smartpedal. And Daox is correct, the electronically-controlled throttle dampens the input signal already to varying degrees, selectable with the "PWR" and "ECO" mode buttons.

[thingstodo]

Originally Posted by Bill the Engineer

Does anyone have any experience with a device like this attached to the gas pedal?

https://smartpedal.com/

The concept sounds good, but the price is daunting.

Bill the Engineer

I don't have any gas-engine ECU Drive-by-wire firmware to examine, so I can't prove it. That said, empirically the throttle is 'damped' or has a 'deadband' so that small changes in the signal do not change the torque output of the gas engines that I drive - Hyundai Sante Fe, Acura MDX, Ford F150.

I do have some code for Paul Holmes' Cougar AC and DC controllers, for electric drive. There is filtering happening on the throttle signal for sure. It is a balance between deadening the response so that the ride feels smooth, not jerky ... and having a lag between stomping on the throttle and the torque ramp-up to the wheels.

I like the concept of this device, but I fear that the solution was created before the problem was proven to exist?

As for the price, I can't imagine the hoops you would need to jump through to change a throttle signal between the pedal and the ECU. But I expect it would be lllllLLLLOOOONNNNGGGG, *PAINFUL* and EXPENSIVE!