Potential project / Project potential
 

Thinking of projects, I think I am in somewhat of a unique situation.
I own, or have access to:
A spare car - Volvo 850 sedan, 5 speed, 5cyl, fwd, 326k miles. Runs good and gets right at 30mpg. Engine does have a lot of wear though at 326k.
$400 - $600 worth of new batteries, - my choice
...For parts, a lift just like the hyster in this pic:
http://www.dhgriffin.com/images/cata...1-0043_002.JPG

access to a metal shop = mig and tig welders, lathe, milling machine, ect.
Also, I do all of my own mechanic work - even engine rebuilds.

Other pertinent info.
55 - 60 mile commute per day, plenty of hills. I recently coasted (in neutral) 9 of the 27 miles on my way home, and that doesn't count any coasting less than about 3 tenths of a mile.
BUT
When it comes to electrical / electronic stuff :eek:
it might as well be
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JOByF28-vT...ketSurgery.jpg
rocket surgery

Any advice, suggestions, ideas, are welcome.

You don't come right out and say so, but it sounds like you are thinking of making an electric car out of the Volvo. An electric conversion is about 10% mechanical and 90% electrical.

A 60 mile range will require about 30 KwH useable battery capacity in that car, possibly more.

Mmm.
Long downhill coasts also mean long uphill climbs.
To do that on electricity, you'd need a fairly powerful engine.

Electric assist / electric drive (on the rear wheels) could be an option - like it will be done on the hybrid Volvo V60.

Thanks for the input guys. :thumbup:
....So is it a no brainer to do something like this? what am I missing?
Yea, I've kinda wondered about different scenarios.
...1 > regearing it and using an electric motor to drive engine accessories.
...2 > regear, and using a drive assist motor to drive 1 or both rear wheels. At what speed though? Just at take off?
...3 > regear, and using 1 electric drive assist for take off for 1 wheel, and another for high speed to drive the other wheel.
... I understand from what I've read on this site, that its not reasonable to drive my car at 70+mph on electric current. What I have in mind for the high speed is just a motor that would help it to maintain speed on a slight downhill.
...BTW, my Volvo has a dc of .32 according to this site. With a few mods, easily into the .20's. ( the stock 850 T-5R has a drag coefficient of 0.29) Volvo 850 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
...I had also wondered about some alternatives - compressed air, or flywheel, or HHO, but from what I've read, I'm not convinced of much real gain with any of those.
Again, any comments, advice, ideas, or corrections are welcome. I'm here to learn.

ps. the longest coast is just a little more than a mile