I was thinking about the saturn vue hybrid and thought about how that technology could help a CRD. the biggest problem with EV is that you can't get much past the end of the driveway, going 1/2MPH, before it dies. so hybrid is the way to go I think. post your thoughts

the way I figure it, if one was to install a 20HP DC motor in place of the air conditioning compressor (or another good spot) it could relieve load on the engine. serpentine belts can transmit huge amounts of power, think of the belt driven supercharged engines, so 20hp is basically nothing. how it would work is that the diesel is fuel throttle, it will use how ever many HP less of fuel as the DC motor provides. turns out at 70MPH our little bricks-on-wheels need about 30-40HP just to cut through the air. so with 20 HP from the DC motor the engine will only need to provide 10-20HP, or half. and even then, when the batteries die the DC motor will spin free and the libby should drive like normal. then just plug it in to charge-up over night.

also as an assist only type system a PWM motor controller is not needed, a simple relay to turn on or off the motor is all that is needed for power control. so parts that are needed is a 20HP motor ($700) wires ($300) meters and other stuff ($500) charger ($no idea) and batteries ($60 each) one will need as many batteries as will power the car for however long a trip is required. e-volks.com has pre packaged kits in the 2-3000 range.

now onto the numbers, my CRD gets 29MPG on the highway at 70MPH. with 20 hP electric assist the MPG will jump to 47MPG. at the most efficient speed, 40 MPH, mileage could be as high as 56MPG. this increase in economy will save around $1000 per year in fuel costs. so that will cover the cost of install (maybe) in 3-4 years, just in time to replace the batteries again.

and all of this so far doesn't mention that the car now has 20 more hp and more torque (up to 90more lb/ft) to accelerate with.

am I the biggest hippie ever? maybe, I have an electric lawnmower and nothing I own uses gasoline. and my pool is solar heated. "were is my bandana and jean cut-offs, man"

I think that a little bit more engineering would be required for your setup
to be able to run from the serpentine belt. Correct pulley size would be
critical to keep the electric motor from over/under running and causing
belt slippage. A cogged belt might work more reliably. Plus, if it is on its
own drive belt a one-way clutch could be used to keep the electric motor
from being a drag when not in use.
The best method would be to allow an electric motor to drive the
driveshaft by a gear or chain. But you still have to deal with it adding
unnecessary wieght and drag when not in use.

Here is what my plan was before I got my CRD...

Use my old '92 f-150 and take out the engine and tranny.
Buy a commercial 3 or 4 cylinder diesel generator and install it in place
of the engine and tranny.
Hang a 150-200 hp AC electric motor on the front of the differential.
Bingo, a diesel-electric truck. Just like a locomotive.

I believe that with proper gear ratio's that this would be a well running
and reliable setup. Maybe a little slow off the line but then it would never
have to go faster than 80mph either.

_________________
U.S. Army Retired

How much would the batteries required to make this work weigh?

And I would LOVE to see your LOCO-TRUCK come to life!

_________________
It may be that your only purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others.

06 CRD Sport
Built 5/11/06
Jeep Green
Rocklizard diff cover
V6 Airbox

Might want to do a search for info on "series hybrids", that's basically what you're proposing with the loco-truck.

_________________
Mitchell Oates
'87 MB 300D Diamond Blue Metallic
'87 MB 300D - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Sport CRD Stone White
Provent CCV Filter/AT2525 Muffler
Stanadyne 30 u/Cat 2 u Fuel Filters
Fumoto Drain/Fleetguard LF3487 Oil filter
V6 Airbox/Amsoil EAA Air Filter
Suncoast TC/Shift Kit/Aux Cooler
Kennedy Lift Pump/Return Fuel Cooler

I'll have to find where I saw it but someone took an XJ and made it into an electric vehicle by removing the engine and bolting the electric motor in it's place... give me a few and I'll find the site.


awe here it is
http://www.driveev.com/jeepev/home.php

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08 KK OEM skid plates, JK winch bumper w/ Hella 500s, K&N filter, JKS front discos, black out headlights w/ fogs added, blacked out & euro mod tail lights, Curt Hitch w/ oem wiring, OME Springs, JBA UCA & top plates, Cabin Filter Retro Fit, Custom Fender Mounted Light Mounts w/ Hella 500s, ATH roof bars, rear flush mount LEDs