Hybrid 818

I've thought for a while that the 818 would make a great candidate for a through the road hybrid system. You would power the rear wheels with a gas engine, and the front wheels with an electric motor.

There is a professor developing a hybrid retrofit system that can be added to just about any car. The target price is $3,000 after some production volume gets underway. It uses wheel hub motors, which are not ideal, but could pprobably be converted to in-board for the 818.
http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/01...in-hybrid-kit/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=kiQaCJOWTrY

One disadvantage is that the engine cannot shut off, I think, because it is still needed to run thing like the power steering and the vacuum system. If your donor engine, however is equipped with start/stop, I think you can get around that issue. The primary engine for the high mpg version, I've heard, is the Ford Ecoboost. Ford has a 1.0 liter, three cylider Ecoboost engine, with start-stop which makes 123 hp. They currently offer it in their European Focus, but it may soon come over to the US in the Fiesta.

This system might not work well for a build where performance is the only goal in mind. The extra power and AWD would be offset by the added weight. There have been a few recent victories from hybrids, but those used lighter weight, more powerful flywheel energy storage systems in lieu of batteries. It would, however, be a great idea if you want to build a fast car that also gets good mpg.

BipDBo,

That's very interesting as it shows how these technologies are coming closer to a real application instead of something you read in Popular Mechanics but never gets past the prototype stage. Thanks for the thread. WEK.

I also think the 818 would make a great EV platform. If I could find a reasonable compromise between cost and approximately the same performance as a stock 2.0L WRX engine, I'd probably do it.

While the system above is designed to be added to a gas engine car (and GREAT on them for doing that!!), I don't see any reason why it couldn't be used as the sole drive system (i.e. no gas engine). Put a motor at all 4 wheels (for power/acceleration, not to get AWD), and I think you'd have decent performance. I'd go light on the battery packs (~40 miles worth, which is plenty on a day to day basis for me) and probably add a diesel generator for longer trips.

I've been saying this about the 818 for awhile. There are lots of design opportunities for the chassis whether it's a electric front/gas back or electric drive plus a standalone gas/diesel/CNG generator to provide charging, or power for trips on the highway. There are multiple possibilities..

His financial numbers don't work
100AH LiFPO4 batteries cost $150+ ea for 3.2 volts at 100 AH and you need some sort of battery management for each cell to balance for long life. You need 25 batteries for 80 volts nominal. That means you have a $4000 battery pack for your 40 mile range. (no way it's 40 miles) Im guessing you need 250AH plus at 80 volts with a Honda Accord wagon.

Controller, wiring, contactor, etc... $1000 more

Perhaps $3000 for his motors...

Now do those and add a generator capable of 150 amps at 80 volts running on diesel and perhaps you have something...

with the 818 weight being low... but EV's work best when battery packaging is figured into the original design...

very similar to my reverse trike, 1100 lbs, 185 AH @84 volts, 40-45 mile range. I'm using lead acid batteries right now... but the pack cost $800 vs $8000.