The most magical home made hybrid

[lenapralos]

What if: you took a two door geo metro, took the gas engine out, along with all the other gas crap, and put in a 72 volt 6.7" ADC motor.

Then you put in just 6 light weight Yellow-Top Optimas hooked to an Alltrax Programmable 72v controller and adapted it to optimal efficiency.

Then install a 120volt ac Honda EU2000, a 3500 or 5000 watt generator and run the output into a 20 or 30 amp SCR that let you adjust the output to whatever amperage you wanted.  You run the output of the SCR into a 120/240 stepup/stepdown transformer only you step down the voltage theoretically to 60volts RMS which after you run through a rectifier is about 85 volts zero to peak and is a good charging voltage for a 72v pack.  Before the power reaches the pack you run it through some choke coils to smooth out the pulses.

Now, I am curious about how many amps that 72volt 6.7 ADC motor will pull when you are pushing an ultra light Geo Metro that might weigh less that its "Gas engine weight(only six small yellow tops)" to 55 mph on flat ground.  Remember that when you step down your voltage your amps from your Generator are doubled theoretically.

A honda 2000 or 3500 watt could easily run 2-3 hours on one gallon of gas giving you atleast 120 miles per gallon if those generators work for this system.  You can pull almost 29 amps from a 3500 watt generator and doubled that is 58 amps of motor turning power.  I can't sleep at night thinking of how fun it would be to play around with this system and different generator sizes.  As far as I'm concerned if Texico is going to keep me from buying Nickel Metal Hydride batteries and some Smug supplier is going to mark up my overseas lithium batteries 100%, why shouldn't I build my own hybrid that puts a Prius to shame.  Next comes solving the generator emmission problems...... not so easy with a mere catalytic converter and exaust system from a car... or is it?

JOhn

[tomsax]

Shouldn't this thread be under the conversions topic?

[Paul]

You will lack the power to go freeway speeds. City driving is usually equally demanding (but the load is more variable.) Even a very efficient EV will require about 12,000 watts at freeway speeds. That is only 100 watt hours per mile - and only a few EVs are close to that efficient. My EV requires about 210 watt hours per mile city and about 280 watt hours per mile at 60 mph (very non-aerodynamic.)

[leitmotif]

Could it work YES
This is nothing new rail locomotives have been doing this for years and so have Wa state ferries.

CHALLENGES
1.  Get a good power plant - do not waste your time and money with Home Depot or household stuff.  Think Cat generators these are built for day in day out full load industrial operation.  You will also be more able to adjust this to your needs.  Gonna cost though.
2.  Basically you are floating the battery on the generator almost same setup as that on cars.   The motor will take most if not all output and you may be able to have some surplus for battery charge. This will probably work quite well in stop and go and maybe for 10 or 15 minute at freeway (heck with term freeway thats only 20 mph) so lets say 60 mph.  It will not work for LONG at 60 mph UNLESS the output of generator matches or exceeds power drawn by motor.

Dan Bentler

[lenapralos]

You will lack the power to go freeway speeds. City driving is usually equally demanding (but the load is more variable.) Even a very efficient EV will require about 12,000 watts at freeway speeds.

I first just want to say thanks for the input guys.  Very good points.  But................"Even a very efficient EV will Require about 12,000 watts at freeway speeds".  A very efficient EV is going to weigh about 1000lbs more that this Geo hybrid which will have six 20lb batteries(120lbs).  I guess there is no point debating this until I build this "thing" and see if it can really do what I think it will.  Rich, (of  Manzanita Micro),told me the same thing about needing at least a 10,000 watt generator.  Why is it that I still think it can be done?  This link is what inpired me almost 4 years ago, (bear in mind this one is only 75mpg but he used an inefficient briggs & stratton 5hp)...

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Transportation/1979-07-01/An-Amazing-75-MPG-Hybrid-Electic-Car.aspx

John

[Stew-2]

I read that story about the Opel using the lawnmower engine years ago. I don't know how he got that working, a lawnmower engine does not make enough power to do that.

I made a generator about two years ago using a 6HP lawnmower engine, it works like this: Lawnmower engine drives GM 94 amp alternator, alternator connects to 12v deep cycle battery, 5000 watt peak/2500 watt continuous inverter connects to same battery.

You can almost kill the lawnmower engine by stalling an electric drill with your hand, that's even with the governor adjusted to run the lawnmower engine a little faster than stock.

[lenapralos]

I made a generator about two years ago using a 6HP lawnmower engine, it works like this: Lawnmower engine drives GM 94 amp alternator, alternator connects to 12v deep cycle battery, 5000 watt peak/2500 watt continuous inverter connects to same battery.

Stew - that's an awesome science project

A few months ago I hooked up a 2200 watt generator to my truck using a crude 16 amp charging system.  My truck at the time had eleven 12v deep cycle batteries.  With a drained battery pack the generator would limp my truck home at 17mph on flat ground.  Rich, the charger Guy, took a look at my charger circuit diagram and told me it was 50% inefficient and that with an SCR and choke coils of the right size it would be much closer to 100%.  Let's say I did this and it made my truck go at least 25mph on flat ground.  Now take the same system and put it in a vehicle that weighs close to 1/3rd the weight of the truck and is much more aerodynamic, (a GEO Metro with very few batteries(120lbs) and a 60lb generator).  I HAVE to build it and find out if it really works.  If anything I think I could hook up the 6hp engine to the drivetrain and do 60mph easy, but then it wouldn't be a "magical" hybrid.

john

[mr157ifhz]

 An old thread, thought to revive it - I really want to know what the results were!
 My brother bought an electric car conversion (Pontiac Firefly) a few years ago for the componants to use in a Ford Escort. He quickly lost steam when faced with buying about $3000 worth of batteries. A google search turned up first the Mother Earth article, then this thread.
 I've made ethanol - used it in the lawn mower to cut grass (I would like to use it in my car) and built an electric motorcycle. Both my Uncle and brother have used vegi oil in their vehicles. On to something new!
-Matt