Hybrid Conversions for older vehicles?
Created December 19, 2004, at 6:35 pm by Anonymous
Has anyone addressed the need for conversions on older vehicles or on vehicles that currently don't make hybrid techonolgy available?
I have a 4 cylinder, Honda Odyssey and I'd love for it to be a Hybrid.
Thanks!
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i think the conversion prosess is more complex then a drop in new electric motor.
~ time for a new car!
besides, a new car carries newer safety elements, new smell, new technology in general. at least NOW though these new hybrids are available! changes the fun part of buying a new car now, doesn't it?
see ya
check this out for novelty
http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Electrocharger
that link is excelent! so they really HAVE developed a drop-in hybrid engine! and at $2500 is similar to a new engine anyway? i suspose there is a market for that. maybe for used taxis like discussed elsewhere here? or for farmers simply replacing the engine in an old workhorse truck.
Is there anyone in Northern California who is doing conversions of older cars into hybrids? I have a 1979 VW van that I would like to convert, but I don't know if it is possible or how much it would cost.
I'm not sure how beneficial a hybrid electric add-on would be.
I haven't researced the Escape but I do know the Prius and HCH are modified past just the electrics.
Prius is built around a specialized chassis, more aerodynamic, low rolling resistance tires, air dams and much more.
In the differences in the regular Civics and the HCH are air dams, panels underneath cover equipment to reduce drag, redesigned front clip, low rolling resistant tires, heat rejecting glass, electric steering to name a few.
If it were me I wouldn't spend the money on just an electric drop-in system.
Given that the point of hybrid technology is that by adding electric power you can reduce the power of the gas engine, it seems adding an electric system to an existing car would be counter-productive. You'd just be adding more weight and not reducing the size of the gas engine...
Mother Earth News has a hybrid-conversion set of plans (from quite a few years ago). Quite detailed. You could probably send to them for info. I'm trying to find out if anyone has published a more up-to-date set since then. It looks quite involved, and includes having to upgrade the chassis to handle the extra weight of batteries.
I am working on a design that will add auxiliary electric motor drives to the rear wheels of my 1997 Saturn Station Wagon. They will be used for primary power during times when high torque and HP are not required, such as stop/go traffic. They will also provide emergency all wheel drive for occasional use, and limited primary drive power to get home or to a service station if the gasoline engine should become inoperable. The electric motors will also act as generators any time the brake pedal is pressed. The motors and drive train will add about 150 lb and the batteries 200-400 lb. Most of the components could be reused once the vehicle has worn out. Cost of parts will be roughly $3000. I hope to boost my Saturn mileage from its present 30-35 mpg to at least 40-50.
I had heard a few years back, that the city of Austin would give you $2,000 if you converted your car to a hybrid/electric. Is this program still in effect and has it been adapted elsewhere?
I have a '91 Honda Civic wagon in excellent shape, but with high mileage. I understand from Honda's website they are not making the 4-door wagon anymore, much less a hybrid version. I may need to replace the motor on it soon anyway, so I wonder if it would be possible to partially or fully convert it to a hybrid at the same time. Does anyone have information about this? Thanks.
I'm not sure it would be easy to do a full hybrid conversion. One cool thing would be if you could retrofit a starter generator into an older car, and have the engine stop at a stoplight, just like in a hybrid.
If we could find someone in our auto industry with just a tiny bit of imagination, who knows what we could do?
I've been trying to get someone to take a look at these ideas for some time. In one scale or another everyone of these systems have been proven.
Like to produce a vehicle that can burn rubber on takeoff on all four wheels and get 90+ mpg?
What I would like to see the automakers working on would have:
A turbocharged, two cylinder opposed, 2-cycle, air-cooled diesel directly
driving a generator. (It would not be running most of the time.) A 111 volt Lithium-Ion Polymer battery pack. Nothing but wires going from the
controller to every wheel, except for the necessary additional friction
brakes (of course). An added advantage of this would be the ability to recharge from the electrical grid while at home, saving even more on fuel.
Each wheel, depending on the feedback to the controller from wheel speed sensors would drive with just the right power depending on the accelerator position. You would get recharging from deceleration just as you do in today's hybrids. You would also use this feedback to stop the wheel from skidding.
Each wheel would have a stationary stator and a series of fixed magnets
closely adjacent all around the inside of the wheel. In a sense it would
operate each wheel in a very similar fashion that the mag-lev trains use,
except the motion would be circular, of course. Something very different
about this type of motor is that the stators are fixed to the axles and the
magnets are driven around them. This gives a significant increase in
mechanical advantage. That's like turning an ordinary electric motor inside out.
There would be no need for ordinary electric motor brushes. In fact, many electric motors operating today are brushless.
Such motors already exist in the model airplane field and their efficiently
is amazing - approaching 90%. I've got a couple and doubt that I would ever buy any other type.
It's possible to hang the model on the prop right out in front of you and
accelerate straight up, like a rocket, with this type motor
In the vehicle the motor/generator would not turn on to recharge the
batteries until they needed it. There are already experimental Lithium-Ion
driven cars that can get in excess of 200 miles before they have to be
recharged by plugging them in.
Lithium -Ion battery technology is so new that I doubt that very many
automotive engineers have even heard of them, much less thought to use them in this manner. Their energy density exceeds that of any other form of rechargeable energy storage.
The Lithium Ion battery is the most efficient battery available right now. So is the outer rotor electric motor the most efficient motor.
Build an SUV right and it will weight less and have simpler, easier to repair/replace modules.
Lets see what we can eliminate while improving performance and efficiency.
Transmission - None
Ignition system - None
Liquid cooling - None
Valves and valve train - None
Use bio-oil/fuels for both fuel and lubrication.
Feel free to pass this along to anyone you know in the Transportation business. I suffer from no delusion that any of them have the imagination to be able to see how something like this could jump them ahead of the competition.
I bought a Honda Civic Hybrid last summer. I enjoy it more than any vehicle I've ever owned. I will Never buy another vehicle that isn't a Hybrid and doesn't get at least 50 mpg.
As far as I can tell, Detroit isn't even thinking the same way I and the vast majority of it's potential customers are.
Lucas
I have a project.
A '64 Chevy 3/4 ton with a home made camper. The camper is 20 years old this summer.
If you live in Berkeley or Oakland you have probably seen it around.
I have followed hybrid technology for years, looking for a way to make this a 30-50 mpg vehicle. (Let's remember that submarines are the origional hybrid technology and submarines have been around almost 100 years.
I have used this camper a lot for handyman work. As such, loaded with tools and supplies it weighs about 6000 pounds.
It is powered by a 170 hp 292 ci "6".
I want to replace the whole drive train with wheel motors, a battery, and a motor-generator.
It appears the parts are avaible.
What of the engineering? The whole front end, rear end, and drive train will be re-engineered.
I have a non-profit video company and would love to get donations for and to make a documentary of this conversion.
Any help out there.
Please respond.
here's email
Actually, submarines have been in existance for 140 years, beginning with the Confederate states Huntley.
Fully human powered I don't think it could be considered a hybrid though.
Surely they developed into hybrid.
more ways than one to skin a cat. turbo is often mentioned in performance. turbo is actually hybrid technology. the first form of this hybrid technology came in the form of ram air induction in order to soley boost power. take that same idea and now you have recharging batteries on the highway not just on brakes. you can then also use steam energy from a water cooled combustion engine. not as if that technology is new. with solar panels and H fuel we are out of the crude oil game entirely. so ideas and technology are not the limitation here people. our problem is the government and the peoples lack of regard(present company excepted) to this myriad of solutions. i think the p in california whos houses charge the grid all day(solar), which they get paid for and what they use comes off of that. which results in a zero elctric bill for them, plug your hybrid into that after work(one guy gets 250miles to the gallon and plugs in for free, yep we are troglodytes atm, living in the stone ages.
Hello,
Here is a site you may be interested in. I thought it was entertaining. www.21ponies.com
This guy makes a hybrid out of a Neon. I am guessing it is 21Hp. There is a free video clip also.
In 1998 I remember watching a television program about two brothers. One was an engineering marvel and the other a business guru. Both very gifted. They were both in their late 50's or early 60's. They knew that replacement of current car engines with hybrid engines (in existing cars) would become extremely important in the future and were working on being able to do this cheaply, quickly, and in mass. The engineering brother was perfecting the mechanics/flywheel/energy storing stuff. The business brother was working on the business model and how low they could get the price down to make it something that could be done is mass volumes.
I thought that their last name was Watts and they called their company Watts Motors. I could be mistaken on the name. I cannot find anything on them using google. They successfully replaced the engine on several cars and they were trying to replace the engine on a Mercedes. I wish I knew what happend to these guys and their company. Both were very smart and had years of experience in corporate America in their respective fields.
I was wondering if they make anything that would boost my gas mileage for my 2005 Sierra. I know I should have bought the hybrid, but I didnt have the money at the time, and now I am paying for it anyway.
The reason I'm looking and know it's possible is my uncle in Peru came to visit and said they will change engines to hybrids for $400!
Not older...new... and please don't laugh!!!
I am thinking of buying a Porsche Cayenne and would love to convert it, even partially to a hybrid fuel efficient hi performance car. Is this at all possible or am I nuts in thinking it can be done? How cool would that be?
Thanks for your ideas on this.
Eve Bernshaw
compucarusa.com got your answers
well good news, im working on hybrid conversion for a harley davidson trike,thanks for the 411 from lucas if any one has any more good ideas please let it be known . its gonna take people like us that care to get industries to make a big change all there looking for is the money!
Imagine if you could just take off the head of an existing motor and replace it with an electirc head to create an electric vehicle. Any mech eng's out there who are good with design think of electro magnets and cylinders and maybe we may have and answer. Not sure just an idea I am thinking of but don't have the resources to put into practise.
IN FACT, THERE IS A MAN IN SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS (I DON'T THINK I SHOULD GIVE HIS NAME WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION) WHO HAS BEEN DOING HYBRIDS QUITE SUCCESSFUL FOR YEARS.
WHAT HE DOES IS TURN A GENERATOR WITH A SMALL GAS ENGINE AND USE THE OUTPUT OF THE GENERATOR TO TURN AND ELECTRIC MOTOR WHICH IN TURN TURNS THE IMPUT SHAFT OF A MANUAL TRANSMISSION.
HE HAS REACHED 60 OR 70 MILES PER GALON USING THIS HYBRID TECHNIQUE.
I HAVE A PROJECT OF MY OWN, BUT WITH LIMITED SUCCESS AT THIS POINT. IN OTHER WORDS, I SHOULDN'T BRAG.
IN THE MID 80'S I KNEW A FARMER IN UPSTATE NEW YORK WHO CONVERTED AN OLD CADILAC ENGINE INTO A STEAM ENGINE WITH A BOILER IN THE TRUNK WHICH BURNED REGULAR FIRE WOOD. ALL THE FOLKS AROUND BATH, NEW YORK THOUGHT HE WAS A COOK, BUT, I THOUGHT HE WAS COOL.
I SAID ALL THIS TO SAY: GOOD LUCK GUYS, I KNOW IT CAN BE DONE.
Back in the 70's a guy was doing hybrid conversions. He used a 5 or 10 hp gas engine and a small generator that charged 4 or 5 12 volt lead acid batteries which powered a starter motor from a jet engine.
The system worked pretty well as I remember and he even sold plans so that you could do it too.
I might take some research, and/or a call to "Mother Earth News" to find out who and where (or if) the plans were still available but it would be worth the effort.
I may do it myself.
Let me know how it works out.
Jerry Conrad
I live in an area where hurricanes abound (North Florida), and the power is turned off each time a hurricane appears. We need a conversion vehicle that will evacuate without overheating, that will nor run out of gas during the bumper to bumper evacuation, that can also stay home and run your house while the power is out. I see nothing in the current publications that indicate anything is being done to use the perfectly good vehicles we already have to provide us with more economical answers to our problems. Must we continue to deal with nations that hate us just because Detroit wants it that way?
The $2500 conversion which is discussed above IS NOT A REPLACEMENT ENGINE... You use the current engine and a device is ADDED to the engine to make it a hybrid. It is what is called a POWER ADDER. With this unit it would allow you to recycle the vehicle instead of being wasteful to throw out a good car to try to act green by purchasing a hybrid vehicle.
You do not need to replace the engine to make it a hybrid.
I think you will see someone come up with a real conversion
Figure this:
LMC ( http://www.lemcoltd.com/ )permanent magnet motors in each axle of a Subaru 4 WD (No chassis conversion to get all-axle drive) running off of nannobattery clusters and driven by a Solar turbine generator fueled with biodiesel.
Think APU power generators as used in Chinook helicopters and such. LMC has won prizes with their ultra-efficient motors.
Only hitch is nannobatteries are a ways from coming on line. NiMH might work as a substitute until then.
I have a 1995 Toyota 4 Runner. I would love to conert it to a Hybrid or to an electric car. I live in LA. I would be willing to send it to Arkansas if that is the best place... or order the conversion kit and have it done here in LA. Anyone know of someone in LA who can do this or Can someone tell me of the person to contact in Arkansas
try: www.leftcoastconversions.com in Culver City (LA area). They start at $17K for a conversion. A lot more for more performance/range.
Check out http://www.alternatepropulsion.com/. We're going to have these soon and should be a lot less than $17K. . . .
Paul Arvin.........if your name is Bertrand....get in touch with Frank
New poster.
I've been thinking about an hybrid upgrade for my older pickup
I'm thinking that you could pull the starter off and bolt in a motor that would kick the engine off to start it, recharge a battery bank and act as regenerative brake when you touch the brake pedal (but before the brakes start to waste energy).
yeah, but those are pure electric conversions. If you want a hybrid, go to go-ev.com
Has anyone thought of making a direct replacement for older cars where one would remove the old engine and trans and replace it a battery pack and generator which looked like the original setup. Basically hollowing out a 302 with a C-4 transmission and filling it with the necessary components.
I would be interested in speaking with you and your uncle further about this. Contact me at albertajunk (@) gmail(dot)com
The above post is directed to the person with the uncle in Peru.
Well that is true in a sense. But until more and more manufactures start producing cars that are more efficient now. Why would I go by a new car that isn't going to give me the gas mileage I want and is going still produce tons of greenhouse gases, and give me this silly marketing 30 mpg advertisement making it sounds like that is such a great figure. If I took the time into looking for an alternative on my own, it could give me the change I want now. Car manufactures are on their own time line of what works for there budget. We deserve better options now and until they start producing these options it's more readily accessible in this age and possible to do this on our own and skip watching the car commercials. Check out Who Killed the electric Car, at the end of the movie it points you too some good solutions and point you to people that do these conversions.
Rock on, :) I made a promise to myself to not buy another car unless it's 60mpg. One step above ya. :) Though I live in NYC and I can use public transportation. What do you think about motorcycle?
I have a BMW R1150? You think this idea or others could change this bike into a hybrid?
You know anyone who would like to experiment?
The gentleman in Springdale is David Arthurs...I tried calling him last october ('07) and his wife answered....not very freindly..they don't do the conversion anymore but Mother Earth News magazine dose still sell the conversion plans. I want to convert my Chrysler New Yorker to electric/hybrid...can anyone help??
Mike
Guys or Anyone, I would like to convert a MG Midget to either a hybrid or all electric, any hobby kits out there to do this?
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