[ausev] Diesel hybrid

[Donovan Becker]

You don't need two 25 hp motors to power the van, that's way, way to much power. Combustion engines are rated at peak horsepower, but they don't run at peak horsepower for the majority of the time. Electric motors are rated at constant power so if you have a 25 hp motor then it runs at 25 hp all the time. Most combustion powered vehicles only use 20% to 30% of the peak power, for daily driving. So for your 80 hp van it probably only uses 20-25 hp for daily driving. One 25 hp should be enough, or if you still want two motors then go with two 15-20 hp motors at max. That will save you a lot of money up front.
----------------------------------------
> Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 09:18:33 -0600
> From: evehicle4me at hischopsticks.org
> To: ausev at austinev.org
> Subject: [ausev] Diesel hybrid
> 
> I have an idea that is by no means new.  I would like to buy a Dodge  
> Caravan and install 2 electric motors in it, one on each of the front  
> wheels - it is a front wheel drive.  (Alternatively I could dig up an  
> awd van and put one motor on each wheel.  Even more preferable, if the  
> fuel mileage numbers panned out I would love to find a full size van.)  
>   I would like to put both batteries and a diesel powered generator in  
> the van.  I would like the diesel motor to be purely for generating  
> electricity, never to mechanically power the wheels.  My reason for  
> doing this is to reduce the number of batteries (and thus cost and  
> weight) needed to keep the van going and to extend the range.  I also  
> want to use veggie oil for the diesel.  I would like to be able to  
> drive the van indefinitely, i.e. not have a fixed range of 100 or 200  
> miles as electric vehicles do.
> 
> I have a couple of questions.  Please feel free to refer me to other  
> posts, url's or forums that can answer my questions.  I am sure they  
> have been asked before but I have not yet figured out how to search  
> very well on this topic.
> 
> How much can I expect to pay for a 25 hp electric motor?  I have seen  
> new motors for more than $10,000 each.  Is it possible to find a pair  
> of motors this size for $2,000 each (used)?  Wishful thinking :(  How  
> much will each weigh?  The 4 cyl caravans only had 80 hp so I am  
> thinking a pair of 25 hp electric will be  more than enough.
> 
> Electric motors seem to become proportionately more expensive as they  
> get bigger, i.e. it is cheaper to buy 2  xx volt motors than to buy 1  
> 2xx volt motors.  Is this true?
> 
> Does someone have some kind of simulation software or spreadhsheet  
> that I can use to model how many batteries I would need, how big a  
> generator, etc?  This aspect of the planning has the most question  
> marks and gives me the most opportunities to either sink or swim.
> 
> I have read that electric motors are significantly more efficient if  
> kept running at a lower temperature, i.e. -20 F or lower.  Is this  
> possible to do this for an electric motor used for a car?
> 
> I have seen some controllers for Chinese electric motors that adjust  
> the speed of motors for turning radius.  Is this necessary?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> AusEV mailing list
> AusEV at austinev.org
> http://www.austinev.org/mailman/listinfo/ausev

_________________________________________________________________
Keep your kids safer online with Windows Live Family Safety.
http://www.windowslive.com/family_safety/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_family_safety_052008