Re: Home made Hybrid

[adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Sandwich Maker)]

" From: fljab@xxxxxxxxxxx
" 
" We've had alot of talk on the hybrids and diesels, but one idea thrown
" out I'd like to talk about some more.
" 
" What if you took an AMC, something light & cheap, like an American or
" Gremlin, and made an electric car with a common generator as backup?  I
" think Frank might've mentioned that before.  I understand the concept
" but was wondering:
" 
" >Where to find info on an electric motor that would work

industrial electric supply?  not too hard to make - or maybe even buy
- a variable-=speed + regen controller for a 3-phase motor.

" >Would the electric motor still need to go through a transmission

probably not, but would work best through reduction [axle] gear, the
higher the better - the faster it turns, the smaller the motor for
your hp.  and if you cool the motor with a separately-driven blower,
you can generate full torque from standstill on up, indefinitely.

" >Would a generator like what you'd find at Lowe's or Home Depot work
" >to recharge while driving?
" 
" On the last, I'd think not.  I have a Troybilt 5550 gen I bought last
" yr when I was out of power most of the month due to the storms.  It
" uses something like 10 gallons a day loaded.  I don't think a normal
" size generator like this could keep up with current drain in batteries
" while driving normal speeds, but I'm not really sure how to figure all
" this out.

i'd think probably not either.  i think you'd need a fair sized gen.
in addition, engine efficiency generally isn't a criterion on little
generators.

" I was thinking that, of course, you'd need a sh**load of batteries, but
" could you separate them into two banks and run off one while the other
" charges? Kinda like a backup?

you could, but why bother?  with the motor off, all the generator
power goes into the batts until they're fully charged.  as the motor
draws power the gen starts to divert it, but when you want more than
the gen can give the batts start to supplement it.

if you have regenerative braking, both the motor and gen pile into the
batt, motor first preferably to save fuel.

" For strictly a work car, I go about 60 miles a day, and could most
" likely plug in a recharger at work for 8 hrs, so having a generator
" probably wouldn't be required, but it could extend your range I'd think.

theoretically infinitely, if it's more powerful than the cruising drag.

" I'm kinda intriqued by this idea and wonder how cheaply you could put
" together a classic AMC using electric/gas power.  I'd need AC as well
" living here in the South, but that could be added easy enough.  You
" might could even get a little bit slick with both the AC and recharge
" system and run if off one of the wheels when rolling, then back to
" power when in stop'n'go.

easiest way to run the a/c would be a marine/rv electric compressor.
you could run a car compressor off the gen - but how much power does
the electric clutch need?  i think dragging one of the wheels to run
it is just adding an unnecessary step in the chain.

" I don't know, maybe it's just another idiot idea aka a project that
" would never get done; just thinking of a way to enjoy our cars
" regardless of the gas situation...

it is kind of a nutball idea, primarily due to the space and weight
of the batteries it needs.  in the prius is's almost 800 lbs, based on
the weight difference between it and the non-hybrid echo.

the best theoretical batt tech is about par with liquid fuels for
energy density, but real batts you can get are well under 10% of that.
________________________________________________________________________
Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature
internet rambler                            is to see what all have seen

adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                       and think what none thought