Comments on: New DIY Electric Car Opportunities

By: DIY Electric Car Conversion - The Cheaper Way To Own An EV | Do It Yourself DIY | DIY Electric Car Conversion Blog

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:20:15 +0000

[...] 2) New DIY Electric Car Opportunities [...]

By: Jop O'Hanlon

Jop O'Hanlon — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:48:29 +0000

Hi Kris,
Yes you are right. WHen / if I get the parts, that is the route we will be going. Looking at the original controller. Can we make it run one motor? I will say don’t expect quick answers from us.
Ours will be a gentle (euphmism for slow) investigation.
We have set new delayed targets for the ac drive.
We will be running our dc drive for the time being.
Jop

By: Kris McLean

Kris McLean — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:12:30 +0000

I’m pretty clueless Jop, just trying to get my head around what the options are. My first choice was the ACP technology but they are only talking to the corporates these days. I’ll probably end up with an AzureDynamics motor/controller combo.
I think that ex wrecker electric transaxles could be a great route for DIYs but hacking into the original hybrid controller or adapting an existing FVD to run one are both beyond me.
What we need is a tame ElegEng undergrad to do the heavy lifting for us with a design?

By: Jop O'Hanlon

Jop O'Hanlon — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:11:16 +0000

Hi Kris,
Re powering the trans-axle, no not yet, but live in hope.
I have sourced one, and plan to pick it up in the next couple of weeks. Investigation to proceed fron there.
Any thoughts?
Jop

By: Kris McLean

Kris McLean — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:59:59 +0000

Did you have any luck finding something to run the electric transaxle Jop?

By: Jop O'Hanlon

Jop O'Hanlon — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:59:47 +0000

Hi Per,
Thanks for the comment on the Lexus back motor trans-axle.
I have sourced one without electronics. Batteries 288V, motor 650Vac, I take it 3 phase, 9 pole, has anyone ideas about a contoller for the same, other than trying to break into the Lexus / Toyota electronic power controller??
The motor seems ideal if we can drive it.
Cheers all,
Jop

By: Per Eklund

Per Eklund — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:46:08 +0000

Hi !

The motor and diff from the back of the Lexus weighs only 31 kg.
It is oil cooled. and delivers a peak 50kw

Regards
/Per

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:17:12 +0000

Check this out for an all Aussie conversion:

http://www.evcapri.com/

http://www.theelectriccarcompany.com.au/

By: Jop O'Hanlon

Jop O'Hanlon — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:18:39 +0000

Hi All, I am interested in a project and would like to ‘aquire’ the electrical components of the power train from a hybrid. Namely the motor and speed contoller. I have noted the comments about parts from Japan. Any advise?
1.. how to contact breakers who export or handle such parts.
2. looking for the lightest motor with reasonable power, say 50 kW (65 HP)
Jop, Isle of Man UK

By: Chris Katko

Chris Katko — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 14:53:24 +0000

>would it be possible to create a kind of semi-all-wheel-drive by placing one of those electric motors to power the front wheels on its own,

Anything is possible to do if you’re willing to spend the money. But if by possible you mean, “economically feasible,” then for most people it’s “No.” You’d probably need a lot of work to get an engine to work alongside an electric motor fluidly as well as braking. Also, you’d have to make sure the motor can take the RPM at high speeds without grenading.

But a bigger problem would be mounting a rear-end on the front. Where’s your steering? What about toe-in adjustment? You’d be better off with a FWD version of an AWD car and slapping it on the rear. But then, you might as well have the AWD version and dump the money into a turbo setup.

It’d be great motor idea for a Locost Seven, or other small Go Kart-esk vehicles though. Instant off-the-line torque. Come to think of it, that’d be a great idea for a high-power electric motor to eat up the low RPM powerband while a large turbo spools in a launch.