***EDIT***
To save everyone having to subscribe to another thread, I'll just turn this one into my build thread.
For those visiting for the first time, basically I bought a used Prius with high mileage for the purpose of converting to plugin hybrid and adding solar.
Skip down to here to see the car and start of my mods to it:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=83407&p=1236203#p1236203
***********
Hi all,
I'm getting a second car for getting to/from work for times when I can't ride my electric bike like when it's raining or it's broken etc.
The only real criteria I have for the car is that it runs reliably and gets me from A to B. After doing a bunch of research on the cheapest car to buy and run I settled on a Mitsubishi Mirage.
My wife actually owned one when I married her 7 years ago and it was our main car for the first couple of years of marriage. It was a great little car and we only sold it after it was damaged in a hit and run and was going to be too costly to repair.
Anyway, I decided I would like to tackle converting a Mirage be able to run electric without removing it's ICE engine. I don't have a whole lot of experience working on cars so will tackle this with the KISS principle first and foremost.
So I think I've found an ideal car and might go pick it up this weekend:
http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Mitsubishi-Mirage-1998/OAG-AD-13183080/
I was keen to get a 2002-2003 model, but then discovered they added power steering after 2001, and from what I understand power steering can make it difficult as they tend to suck a lot of power. If this isn't the case please chime in as I would also like the airbag and aircon added to the later models if I can get it, but not super fussed.
The plan as far as electric motivation is concerned is to add 2 x 8KW QS motors to the rear wheels.
As for controlling them, I actually thinking of getting 2 x Adaptto MaxE's and linking them together. What do you think?
With adequate cooling on the controllers, that would allow 20KW peaks (per motor) which would be sure to get the little hatchback moving. Built in temp monitoring on these controllers would make it super easy to push the hubs hard without fear of melting things down.
For batteries, I would probably start with 4-8Kwh of LiPo and place it in the spare wheel well and ditch the spare. That would be more than enough to get me the 50km to/from work I think. I would also like to rig up a 12V charger so I could charge the main pack off the ICE motor.
At this early stage there are only a few things that come to mind as potential problems:
1 - Torque capturing. I have no idea how the torque of a hub motor is captured in a car and no idea how Regen effects this.
2 - Disc brakes. I'm pretty sure the Mirage has rear drum brakes. I have no idea how to convert them.
3 - Dual power plant control. I plan to make it possible to run the ICE engine at the same time as the electrics, or independently, so making the control system work will be a little tricky.
Also, before everyone comments on this not being the best idea...yes I fully realise this thing will weigh a fair bit after everything is done...and performance will not be great. That's part of the reason I'm starting off with a sub 1000kg hatchback. My needs (for now) only extend to the 50ish km range. This is also a learning experience for me, so I'm sure I will have to learn some things the hard way as I always do.
:lol: 8)
So what does everyone think?
Is this a stupid idea...why haven't I been able to find anyone else trying this?
Cheers
To save everyone having to subscribe to another thread, I'll just turn this one into my build thread.
For those visiting for the first time, basically I bought a used Prius with high mileage for the purpose of converting to plugin hybrid and adding solar.
Skip down to here to see the car and start of my mods to it:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=83407&p=1236203#p1236203
***********
Hi all,
I'm getting a second car for getting to/from work for times when I can't ride my electric bike like when it's raining or it's broken etc.
The only real criteria I have for the car is that it runs reliably and gets me from A to B. After doing a bunch of research on the cheapest car to buy and run I settled on a Mitsubishi Mirage.
My wife actually owned one when I married her 7 years ago and it was our main car for the first couple of years of marriage. It was a great little car and we only sold it after it was damaged in a hit and run and was going to be too costly to repair.
Anyway, I decided I would like to tackle converting a Mirage be able to run electric without removing it's ICE engine. I don't have a whole lot of experience working on cars so will tackle this with the KISS principle first and foremost.
So I think I've found an ideal car and might go pick it up this weekend:
http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Mitsubishi-Mirage-1998/OAG-AD-13183080/
I was keen to get a 2002-2003 model, but then discovered they added power steering after 2001, and from what I understand power steering can make it difficult as they tend to suck a lot of power. If this isn't the case please chime in as I would also like the airbag and aircon added to the later models if I can get it, but not super fussed.
The plan as far as electric motivation is concerned is to add 2 x 8KW QS motors to the rear wheels.
As for controlling them, I actually thinking of getting 2 x Adaptto MaxE's and linking them together. What do you think?
With adequate cooling on the controllers, that would allow 20KW peaks (per motor) which would be sure to get the little hatchback moving. Built in temp monitoring on these controllers would make it super easy to push the hubs hard without fear of melting things down.
For batteries, I would probably start with 4-8Kwh of LiPo and place it in the spare wheel well and ditch the spare. That would be more than enough to get me the 50km to/from work I think. I would also like to rig up a 12V charger so I could charge the main pack off the ICE motor.
At this early stage there are only a few things that come to mind as potential problems:
1 - Torque capturing. I have no idea how the torque of a hub motor is captured in a car and no idea how Regen effects this.
2 - Disc brakes. I'm pretty sure the Mirage has rear drum brakes. I have no idea how to convert them.
3 - Dual power plant control. I plan to make it possible to run the ICE engine at the same time as the electrics, or independently, so making the control system work will be a little tricky.
Also, before everyone comments on this not being the best idea...yes I fully realise this thing will weigh a fair bit after everything is done...and performance will not be great. That's part of the reason I'm starting off with a sub 1000kg hatchback. My needs (for now) only extend to the 50ish km range. This is also a learning experience for me, so I'm sure I will have to learn some things the hard way as I always do.
:lol: 8) So what does everyone think?
Is this a stupid idea...why haven't I been able to find anyone else trying this?
Cheers
