Diesel Electric!!!

[Red Rocket]

I know there is a post elsewhere on the threads, but I am considering specifically the 3g trucks drivetrain on this so bear with me.



If we were to convert our trucks to diesel electric, or some sort of Hybrid situation, how large would the motor have to be? Is there a relatively simple way to do this, and has anyone experimented with it.



Any knowledge or research will be helpful, as I am a person who drives in-town a significant amount, and limited distances. Could it be possible to make this rig a straigt electric for short range, in town use?



Thanks in advance.

 

[betterthanstock]

Buy a Smart car and carry it in the bed for use in town.

Less weight than lead batteries.



It can be done, but how much time/money do you want to throw at it?

 

[p-Bar]

Would be interesting concept

 

[Tomeygun]

I know there is a post elsewhere on the threads, but I am considering specifically the 3g trucks drivetrain on this so bear with me.



If we were to convert our trucks to diesel electric, or some sort of Hybrid situation, how large would the motor have to be? Is there a relatively simple way to do this, and has anyone experimented with it.



Any knowledge or research will be helpful, as I am a person who drives in-town a significant amount, and limited distances. Could it be possible to make this rig a straigt electric for short range, in town use?



Thanks in advance.

A warp13 motor made by netgain would be enough... And at 1:1 ratio it can turn the driveshaft at 4000rpm - enough for highway use...



I thought about an electric assist system - the issue is battery cost vs. range.



A 144v system is 12 battery tied togther, with that big motor the range is tiny.



By my math it would take 100k miles to overcome cost.



Heres the idea are implimented:

http://www.go-ev.com/EMIS.html

 

[TJarecke]

Didn't dodge have a concept like that that was a contractor special or something to that effect. It wasn't battery assist or powered. The motor just ran to make electricity which powered the vehicle. That way the diesel engine could just run at peak efficiency all the time.

 

[TJarecke]

Never mind the contractor special was a "hybrid" that could be used as an on site generator.

 

[nickleinonen]

aftermarket hybrid electric assist...

http://www.variabletorquemotors.com/Diesel Progress March 2008 VTM Writeup.pdf

http://www.variabletorquemotors.com/VTM 2-Fold Handout S3000 2007Q3.pdf

 

[rbattelle]

If we were to convert our trucks to diesel electric, or some sort of Hybrid situation, how large would the motor have to be? Is there a relatively simple way to do this, and has anyone experimented with it.

Piece of cake.

If it were me, I'd probably go with wheel motors. This would require significant modifications to the wheels, hubs, axles (eliminate the differentials), brakes (may need to change to air brakes due to increased weight), replace the transmission with a generator, and replace or reprogram the ECM to respond to load demand from the wheel motors. Plus a control computer to work the wheel motors. Figure it's simpler if you only want 2wd. Controller software would take awhile to write and perfect.

These changes would likely precipitate new shocks and mounts, new springs and mounts, new control arms and mounts (well, let's face it, a completely redesigned suspension system). Probably need a new instrument panel, too.

The vehicle will weigh a lot more (electric motors are very heavy), and that might require heavier commercial wheels and tires.

The best way to do something like this (the only way?) would be to strip the truck down to the frame rails and rebuild it and re-engineer it from the ground up.

I'm guessing a 4-man crew of engineers could have the whole project finished in, oh, 2 or 3 years. Probably at 6-figure cost (not including the tooling).

If you're going to tackle this yourself, I figure it'll take roughly double the time it would take a 4-man crew, if you have the machinery, experience, and education necessary. If you don't have the machinery, experience, or education, figure it will take 3 times the cost (since you'll need to acquire the tooling and equipment) and 5 times the time (around 10-15 years).

Personally, I'd love to have the time and money to attempt something like this.

Ryan

 

[betterthanstock]

You could actually buy a 50 HP electric motor. Get rid of the transfer case, and make it 4x2. Then hook up the motor to the front driveshaft.



At low speeds in traffic, keep the diesel off, and drive off electric. Don't expect huge mileage gains with an 8-9000 lb truck, by the time you add about 1000 lb of lead batteries.

Cost, about $5000-7000 if you search some electric car conversion sites, maybe more with the copper price hike.

You need some controller, and some regenerative braking if you want to improve mileage. That is, when you coast or brake, or go downhill, the motor becomes a generator and recharges the batteries, and the diesel can be turned off. You will need an electric power steering pump (for brake assist too), and AC if you want to use it.



Realistically, you will get up to 20-22 mpg at rush hour stop and go (25 mph), so is it worth it to you in terms of how many years it will take to break even on the cost + added maintenance?



You can get up to extra 2 mpg at highway by going to locking front hubs (with your present engine only, not electric hybrid), but that won't do too much for in-town mileage, maybe an extra 1 mpg if you're lucky, and will cost you over $2K to install.



For intown mileage, NOTHING beats a 250 cc motorcycle, at a realistic 80-85 mpg in town traffic, stoplights and all. Rubber belt mopeds come at about the same, even with tiny 150 or 50 cc.

Pure electric cars are too heavy due to lead-acid batteries, and Lithium batteries cost as much as one of our trucks (30K+). But they are coming down in price, and up in range, and just in time for $10/gallon gas, and probably triple our current electricity rates. That's how the marketplace works.