My hairbrained hybrid hidea!

[iHero]

Originally Posted by KJSatz

I think that a trailer is a lot more intrusive than a fifth wheel, which is in turn a lot more intrusive than the OP's idea. But perhaps with that intrusiveness comes even greater effectiveness?

Hi Satz,
indeed. My fifth wheel, or back half of a Kawasaki Ninja 250 frame, will have a hinge on it at the hitch eventually, so it can fold in close to the vehicle for parking. I'm thinking of using a winch and spring and casters to control the movement.

[rjacob]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Here we go:

Electrocharger / Retrofit Hybrid :: Sigma Automotive

That is a really cool idea! I wonder when/if it will become available?

[Tango Charlie]

Here's a 'powered trailer' thread posted awhile ago that has some interesting ideas...
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...idea-2975.html

But I think the OP's idea is very intriguing; A motor/generator under the hood spinning the ICE for acceleration. Would a standard V-belt be able to transfer the power? Or would you have to use a toothed belt?

[Vince-HX]

I would think that using a small motor for light accel assist and leanburn assist a standard v-belt would be ok.

So where would this motor go? You may have header clearance issues if you try and mount it where the AC used to go.

I think the best thing to do would be to relocate the alt to the front of the engine and rig up the motor on the rear. The alt would also be much easier to un-belt.

Maybe add a ac style clutch to the motor so you wouldn't waste any energy spinning it up when not in use.

[rjacob]

Originally Posted by Vince-HX

So where would this motor go? You may have header clearance issues if you try and mount it where the AC used to go.

I think the best thing to do would be to relocate the alt to the front of the engine and rig up the motor on the rear. The alt would also be much easier to un-belt.

The electrocharger seems to replace the alternator. So you just remove the alternator, and install this in it's place. It works as a motor to assist, and also works as a generator to charge batteries.

[metromizer]

on the subject of adding an electric motor to assit the ICE... Good thought SVO Boy.

Thinking out loud here... one of the problems you'll have is that the puny OEM V-belt or serpentine belts and pulleys aren't up to transfering very much power. That is to say, transfer any significant amount of torque (either driving or driven, or both) through a pulley drive intended for a PS pump, and I'd expect the belt to slip. The limitations aren't so hard to overcome, no harder than adding available street hot rod blower drive components (Search RCD for the pro stuff, Holley, Wieand, and maybe Dick Landy for the light weight street stuff), but not the plug-n-play solution we all hope for.

I am liking the trailer hitch mounted designs more and more, but small and short so downtown parking isn't such an issue, where EV makes the most sense.

[Vince-HX]

how much power does an Ac compressor take to run, 5 hp? The belt seems to do just fine even with the clutch engaging and disengaging @ 3000+ rpm.

[cfg83]

rjacob -

Originally Posted by rjacob

That is a really cool idea! I wonder when/if it will become available?

I've been watching it for over two years and it hasn't seen the light of day, .

You can see the updates, and between September 2004 and now it has not gotten out of R&D.

CarloSW2

[Greenblazer]

As to the OP's idea of adding an electric motor to the engine...

The belt is made to drive alternators, power steering, and A/C compressor. I don't think it would handle much power. I don't think this would be a very efficient way to add power. In fact I would suspect that the added weight, would diminish any advantage to less efficiency overall. I don't know this but I suspect that it would be kinda like a hydrogen car. Don't they have much less efficiency? Hydrogen is not free, it takes more energy to make it for driving than it does to drive with gasoline.

I think the pusher trailer is likely to be more efficient. Ideally a electric motor between the engine and transmission like the GM Hybrids would be ideal.

Later,

Allan Greenblazer

[iHero]

I hope this reply works....it's my first with a pic

I'd recommend trying a 3 HP motor -- Here is a pic of my friend Andrew Hoff's "electrocharger / hybrid adapter" He used a 1.75 HP motor but only saw MPG gains around 10 percent (which isn't bad actually for a 4x4 Ford Explorer)

PowerPedia:Hybrid Adapter - PESWiki