Open Source Plug-In Hybrid Super-Truck

[oil pan 4]

Barely fast enough.
A drive shaft on 3.08 gears with 30 inch tires is only going to turn 2100RPM.
That motor looked like a 13'' and those rev out to at least 5000RPM.
I just dont know if they like turning at real low speeds.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

Barely fast enough.
A drive shaft on 3.08 gears with 30 inch tires is only going to turn 2100RPM.
That motor looked like a 13'' and those rev out to at least 5000RPM.
I just dont know if they like turning at real low speeds.

An DC EV motor can easily handle low RPMs, you just loose
Efficiency and Cooling

Meaning as long as he doesn't over do the amps at low RPMs it will work just fine, in fact many times low voltage DC motors only spin about that fast.

Where he can run into trouble is when the RPMs start getting in the 1200rpm and lower if he is stomping on it for extended periods.

[bennelson]

I do know that initial runs with the electric motor will have to be watched for how many amps are pulled.

On my Electro-Metro, I can pull away from a dead stop with the electric motor in 5th gear, but acceleration isn't great, and it pulls high amps.

If the truck has better batteries than the Metro (face it, anything is better than the batteries in the Metro....) it should do OK.

The motor for the truck will be bigger than the one in the Metro as well. I could always add forced air cooling to it if I need to as well.

[bennelson]

I'm leaving to go to the Mother Earth News Fair. I know, it's a week away, but we are driving out, and visiting relatives on the way.

If you want to meet up with me, please let me know.
Details at: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post327840

[bennelson]

There's only three things keeping me from getting really rolling on this project:
1. Time
2. Skill
3. Money


Ok, so we all have a set amount of time, we just have to "make time" as we can. I figure I can learn a few new skills on the way, but some of that means matching up time and place with somebody that I can learn from.

As for money...
This past weekend, I sold a fair number of items at a rummage sale. The total profit for me was $176.

So, that now brings the new total BUDGET for this project to....

$176!

I built the Motorcycle for $2000, the Electro-Metro for $1300, but I think I'll still need to raise a bit more to fully fund this project!

[Smurf]

I'll be watching this closely, as I too have a 1995 S10, although my truck is extended cab and automatic. The rear of the cab has a fairly large amount of space, not enough for a human (those fold-out lunchbox seats are a joke!) but plenty for a dual 12" sub box I had in there. But I guess there's no difference between batteries in the rear of the cab, the front of the bed, or along the frame rails underneath. However, don't extended cabs normally get ever-so-slightly better aero?

What engine was originally in your S10?

[bennelson]

Originally Posted by Smurf

However, don't extended cabs normally get ever-so-slightly better aero?

What engine was originally in your S10?

This truck had the 2.2L GM 4-cylinder engine.

I would imagine that a slightly longer truck would have slightly better aerodynamics.

[bennelson]

Minor updates:

I'm waiting on a reply from somebody about getting a pair of 12" forklfit motors.

I'm also trying to learn about fiberglass to get started on building a rigid tonneau cover, and later, a full aero-cap.

[Slow_s10]

This looks like a relly cool project. Back when I had my 98 S10 I always dreamed of converting it over to a pure EV or even possibly a series hybrid. And when the engine died on me it seemed like the perfect oportunity... then it just took up space in my garage for almost an entire year while life carried on and I didn't have anywhere else to store it and I didn't even have the money to repair the engine so I just had to let it go.

Someday I would still love to do a pure Electric S10 but until then I will satiate my self by watching awesome builds like this.

Also not to put down your huge foam tonneau cover, but how much are you spending on that in material cost? I know you got the foam boards for free, but I only ask because over the years that I had my 98 S10 I was able to pickup 2 different hard tonneau covers for under $100 each. I even still actually have the flush mount one, I just cut it down so it would fit on my 88 S10. Also I'm pretty sure you have figured it out by now but the S10 beds taper from front to back by like an inch and a half.

Also I don't know if this will help any but here is a very detailed breakdown of an S10's design. It gives very detailed measurements and such of the body, frame rails and componant layout in these trucks.

http://www.gmupfitter.com/publicat/p..._Truck_pgs.pdf

[bennelson]

Half the point of a foam tonneau cover is that it's learning experience for working with fiberglass and foam. I'm trying to keep materials cost to a minimum. Hopefully, it will be good learning experience for building an aero-cap.

I've already had some success with combining the cheapest form of fiberglass resin with the cheapest form of styrofoam.

I checked Craigslist, and didn't have any luck with finding used tonneau covers. I priced out new ones and was surprised at how quick they get expensive.

Thanks for that link, it looks like a great document. Lots of info in there.

-Ben