E-Car Wheel Hub Retrofit Kit

[Erik]

http://mtsunews.com/wheel-hub-retrofit-update/

http://youtu.be/uOA_i2qAQq0

Tried embedding the video a few times and it won't seem to work so here's the link

 

[Hillhater]

Neat idea, but either he has his terminology mixed up or its only a 8kW drive ?
He states that the (oversized) battery pack is rated for 80v and 100 Amps ( commercial packs will be smaller ?)
I suspect he means its an 8 kWhr pack, since it will need a bit more than an 8kw drive to double the mpg on that waggon.

 

[cal3thousand]

I've always thought about something like this. It is a very beautiful idea, since you get the plug-in benefit to add to older cars. Additionally, this will allow you to add AWD to a previously 2WD car. A car like this in the snow, will have a huge advantage due to the extra weight over the rear wheels and the added traction. Add some regen capability and the car will go even further. And finally, it adds another drive line as a redundancy measure. Imagine that your ICE somehow won't start (eg busted starter), you could now just drive electric to a service station.

 

[TylerDurden]

[youtube]uOA_i2qAQq0[/youtube]

 

[The fingers]

No one actually drives it? Or is it just a mock-up? :?

 

[guy w.]

Hi,

How much kw have each motor?

Thanks,
guy w.

 

[Hillhater]

remember.... this type of "Retro fit Hybrid" will only save fuel IF you dont use the extra "performance" that is available.
IE.. you have to deliberately use less ICE power !
How realistic is that ?

 

[pendragon8000]

remember.... this type of "Retro fit Hybrid" will only save fuel IF you dont use the extra "performance" that is available.
IE.. you have to deliberately use less ICE power !
How realistic is that ?

LOL! yeah, I'm a bit of a lead foot. I think it would be a nice booster kit to a light 4cyl turbo car. A hona civic or something, to get that power to weight ratio up, and smaller rims to get some power off the line efficiency. looks pretty good though IMO

 

[Jeremy Harris]

remember.... this type of "Retro fit Hybrid" will only save fuel IF you dont use the extra "performance" that is available.
IE.. you have to deliberately use less ICE power !
How realistic is that ?

If the retrofit hooks up to the car throttle, which it has to in order to work, then it seems pretty straightforward to limit power to the same total that the car had before conversion. This would ensure that the car had the same sort of performance, with no need for the extra power from the electric drive to make the car faster or accelerate quicker. If the retrofit kit is going on any car made in the last few years then it's more likely than not to have a drive-by-wire throttle already, making integrating such a system even easier.

 

[pendragon8000]

good point Harris,
I guess a small computer would be ideal to controll the balance of power ICE / electric , like a cycle analyst but awsomer . a net book or a PIC even an android device could be used to max efficiency or max power.

 

[arkmundi]

I like the whole idea, but am actually looking for a wheel assembly like the one shown. I have a 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid that had rod thrown the ICE, rending the vehicle unusable. I parked it a year ago where its collecting dust. Too expensive to repair, but more importantly I believe the vehicle has a design flaw that was the cause of it throwing a rod. A kit like this would be great. Has anyone explored availability? Thanks.

 

[Hillhater]

Wouldn't it be more practical and easier to simply replace the broken ICE with an Emotor / drive pack.?
The technology is available , proven, and inexpensive..depending on how advanced you want to go

 

[dnmun]

you put the hybrid car aside because you cannot find another motor in a junkyard?

no place to work or just not able to pull the old motor and replace it with a motor from a junkyard?

hate to say how many motors i have had to pull and rebuild, they were all junkers because that was what i could afford.

an escape hybrid is worth the effort imo.

 

[arkmundi]

you put the hybrid car aside because you cannot find another motor in a junkyard? an escape hybrid is worth the effort imo.

I bought the escape hybrid to be as green as possible, in 2005, first year of its manufacture. They bought the drivetrain from Toyota who had perfected a hybrid drive train. The Ford innovation was in the engine, a modified atkinson-cycle:

a type of internal combustion engine invented by James Atkinson in 1882. The Atkinson cycle is designed to provide efficiency at the expense of power density, and is used in some modern hybrid electric applications

So, a further improvement in fuel efficiency. In 2011 after it threw a rod, I decided to go car-free, to further reduce my carbon footprint. Its been about 16 months now and have to say its been a rather rewarding experiment.

Nonetheless, there it sits, and so I wonder what I might do with it. I came across this article:
http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/articles/4465/lincvolt-neil-youngs-biodiesel-powered-hybrid/

The Lincvolt is a diesel electric hybrid that uses a biodiesel-powered microturbine engine to recharge batteries that power an electric motor. The combination of biodiesel and electric batteries gives Lincvolt a range of more than 400 miles, while the efficient, biodiesel-powered engine and electric motor allow the vehicle to achieve 80 miles-per-gallon.

Which is quite inspiring. So I'm just playing with an idea right now. Can I put a biodiesel generator in place of the ICE and put electric hubs on the wheels, with similar result. Oh, and can I inspire some kids at our local vocational school, where they've got a full auto-shop, to do it, and create a business model in the process?

No way I'd tackle doing the work myself, as these vehicles are very difficult to work on without a fully equiped shop.

 

[arkmundi]

So I'm just playing with an idea right now. Can I put a biodiesel generator in place of the ICE and put electric hubs on the wheels, with similar result. Oh, and can I inspire some kids at our local vocational school, where they've got a full auto-shop, to do it, and create a business model in the process? No way I'd tackle doing the work myself, as these vehicles are very difficult to work on without a fully equiped shop.

Update: I contacted our local VoTech school - techhigh.us - and they took an interest in the vehicle. Rather than put in the time & effort, I decided to just donate the vehicle to them. The students part of the automotive technology group will get first hand experience in working on a hybrid electric vehicle.

 

[pendragon8000]

good on you Arkmundi. Hopefully that will be another step in the positive future of EV's