Here's a chanllenge: Hybrid Supra

[limequat]

We have some bright people here, I bet we could pull this off. Let's talk about feasibility. I think the biggest hurdle would be finding an affordable battery pack (can't get them at the junkyard). A starter/generator shouldn't be a problem. I think I could fake a controller.

Who's in for a look-see?

 

[Anomili]

I have actually thought about this before in the past. However, the research I did was not car specific nor was it convensional. I was mostly interested in a fully hydrogen powered car where the engine ran off of Hydrogen gas. Ultimately I had to drop the idea, at least for now, mainly because of my exams and because I have no where near the amount of resources that would be required for a project like this. However, if someone here were interested in it I have read a number of papers by leading research scientists on the matter.

P.S. of all the cars in the world to make hybrid (classic sense) a 3 tonne metal beast would not end up very efficient or fast...

 

[Orion ZyGarian]

Its an interesting idea, one that would be bettered by powering the front wheels I think.

However weight would also be the biggest issue, and even if it worked, it still wouldnt be worth it.

The best idea by far is to convert the 7M-GTE to run off of H2 THAT would be cool

 

[GrimJack]

I'm certain this could be done.

The local university here made an electric minivan a while back - put individual motors on each wheel for all-wheel drive, and lined the floor with batteries. When they were done, the took it out to the local 1/4 mile track and kicked the SNOT out of a Nissan 300 turbo. It was quite funny at the time. (No interior in the minivan, though.)

Remember this - you get to drop the weight of the engine, fuel, and driveline. Add to that the weight of 4 electric motors, a crapload of batteries, and some heavy duty wiring.

Oh - and keep in mind that electric motors generate 100% of their torque at ZERO rpm.

Traction control is easy to build into your control software - simply monitor the RPM of each motor, and drop the power levels on any that are spinning too fast.

I have heard of people running into problems with smog rules, ironically enough. Dunno if this is just urban myth, but I've heard of cars failing the visual for smog because they have no cat - even when they are zero emmision vehicles with no exhaust!

 

[chevyeater]

We have some bright people here, I bet we could pull this off. Let's talk about feasibility. I think the biggest hurdle would be finding an affordable battery pack (can't get them at the junkyard). A starter/generator shouldn't be a problem. I think I could fake a controller.

Who's in for a look-see?

Hybrid powertrain integration is a bit of a PITA. OEMs are still struggling with it. The easiest route would be to slap on a propane or CNG carb for bifuel ICE operation. You'd need a way to bump the timing to maintain any kind of drivability, a storage tank, regulator(s) and a switching system.

GM has a whole crapload of battery packs laying around from the electric S10 program they scrapped. Maybe you could snag one of those second hand, if you really want electric. It seems the inductive chargers they were using turned out to be a bit unsafe, lol...

 

[KeithH]

There was some video a while back of a Viper getting smoked in the 1/4 by a laptop battery powered car.

 

[JDM PIMP]

go buy a prius

 

[MKIIINA]

i think hes talkin bout a true hybrid (ala prius) not a full electric there grim. would make an interesting concept. maybe a different motor would be helpful also? like the 1g-gtte? im betting it might be a tad lighter than the 7m beast, offer better efficiency plus you could use the electric motors to overcome the lack of torque below peak. get run flat tires, ditch the spare and fill the rear with batterys. my 2 psi

 

[supraaddict87]

http://www2.cemr.wvu.edu/~hev/

can't tell you much about it (im a mining engineering student), but each year the mechanical/aerospace engineering senior design team attempts to come up with a cleaner more drivable car than the year before had. I bet if you where to look at websites of other major engineering colleges/universities you would find a plethora of information.

mike

 

[figgie]

Forget hybrid

go E-85

 

[supra90turbo]

:withstupi

 

[limequat]

Thanks for the link supraaddict87. I'd be interested in more links like this.

Anomili, what do you consider a classical hybrid? What's wrong with making a hybrid of a heavy car? Look at the Lexus RX330h. It weighs more the than the supra and has similar power. Ditto for the Accord hybrid.

To clarify, here's what I'm looking for:
Websites with good full electric or hybrid conversions.
Info on battery technology and price.
Info on motors and controllers.

 

[Anomili]

There is nothing wrong with making a hybrid out of a heavy car. However, as far as performance goes, given the money your putting into making a hybrid, it would be more productive using a lighter body/chassis. It is still very possible to make the supra into a hybrid.

I just prefer power... and if I remember correctly some researchers got a combustion engine running at 120% power. However, the practicality of that car was non-existent.

 

[limequat]

I'm certain this could be done.

The local university here made an electric minivan a while back - put individual motors on each wheel for all-wheel drive, and lined the floor with batteries. When they were done, the took it out to the local 1/4 mile track and kicked the SNOT out of a Nissan 300 turbo. It was quite funny at the time. (No interior in the minivan, though.)

Were those wheel hub motors, or just regular motors that were coupled to the wheels somehow?

GM claims they have wheel hub motors that put out 20 kW and weigh < 15 lbs. I wouldn't mind a set of those.

 

[Orion ZyGarian]

I just prefer power... and if I remember correctly some researchers got a combustion engine running at 120% power. However, the practicality of that car was non-existent.

Hah, I bet it had an entire cubic centimeter of displacement!