[ausev] Diesel hybrid

[evehicle4me at hischopsticks.org]

Thanks for your input!  I wish I could do away with batteries but I am  
not sure that would be feasible.  I know that the common hybrid - i.e.  
Prius - uses both the gasoline engine AND motor for powering the  
wheels.  I want to use only the electric motors to do so.  I want to  
choose a diesel generator that will give my van the power to cruise at  
70 or drive around town in "cruising" mode but use batteries as  
reserve, to call on when I need the power to accelerate or climbinb a  
steep hill.  This should help reduce the size of the generator needed  
and also the amount of fuel needed as well.  The batteries can be used  
to store surplus electricity when the car is in cruising mode.  I have  
considered the trailer idea but it seems to me to be a transitional  
idea, something that will work now but is not practical.  My main  
concern with a trailer is the likelihood of theft and the additional  
problems with handling and parking a vehicle with a trailer.


Quoting John Penry at Texrocks <jpenry at texrocks.com>:

> A couple of calculators.
> http://www.evconvert.com/tools/evcalc/
> http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/lab/8679/evcalc.html
>
> The Series Hybrid idea is something I have been pondering as well.
> I talked yesterday with a VW Bug specialist, and the older style VW engines
> were about 37 HP, which I think could also be used to power a genset.
> There was also some study done on motors and generators for use in a trailer
> to tow behind one of the RAV-4 all electrics as a "range extender".  I also
> feel that the motor and generator would take about the same room as a half
> dozen batteries, and get the vehicle somewhere in the 60, 70, 80 and beyond
> mpg range.
>
> John in Seguin
> http://www.transtexastrucks.com
> I decided to challenge the Automakers.
> I will make a Plug in Series Hybrid Crew-Cab Pickup before Detroit does.
> But if I lose this race, we all become winners.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <evehicle4me at hischopsticks.org>
> To: <ausev at austinev.org>
> Sent: Monday, May 26, 2008 10:18 AM
> 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?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
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