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Converting a regular car into mild hybrid

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by bredekamp, Mar 8, 2008.

  1. bredekamp

    bredekamp Member

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    Has anyone ever considered what would be involved in converting a regular car into a mild hybrid? How much load does the alternator place on the engine? What would happen if you place a battery in the boot that charges from the grid and use that to power all the car's electrics? The existing alternator can have a clutch that engages only when the main battery is low or if the car is coasting or idling. What if you use a proper motor instead of a starter motor to assist the engine ie help turn the engine?
     
    #1 bredekamp, Mar 8, 2008
  2. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

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    Not much. The main use of energy is moving the car. Note that the Prius has a little lead acid battery that runs the electrics fine when the ICE is off, but the traction battery is the size of a coffee table.
     
    #2 kenmce, Mar 8, 2008
  3. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    The standard alternator and starter are not at all up to the job for a mild hybrid system. You need a much bigger electric motor which is capable of continuous operation. That motor then becomes the alternator (or generator) for charging the HV battery and regenerative braking. It would take quite a bit of space to bolt everything together if it were made from pieces and parts. After that you have to design and program the control system. It would be a fun hobby project or engineering school project, but it's not at all practical.

    Tom
     
    #3 qbee42, Mar 8, 2008
  4. bredekamp

    bredekamp Member

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    Yeah, it would be the kind of project one throws at a group of engineering students. It just so happens I work at a University....hmmmm (rubs hands together while grinning)
     
    #4 bredekamp, Mar 8, 2008
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    How 'bout a start/stop feature first? Would that be easier?
     
    #5 Tideland Prius, Mar 8, 2008
  6. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    I should think it would be easier to convert it to pure EV than try to make your own hybrid.
     
    #6 Godiva, Mar 8, 2008
  7. donee

    donee New Member

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    Hi All,

    Probably the easiest way to convert a standard car into a mild hybrid is the thing GM did - BAS (Belt Alternator System ?) . You trash the alternator and starter, and replace it with a big motor that drives the engine's cranskshaft with some of the racer pulleys they typically use for super chargers.

    They you need a small coputer to know when to use the motor as a starter or a generator as well as an inverter/rectifier set.

    To get all the 12 V stuff working, you find a very large 12 V switching power supply that will run off your battery voltage. Which is quite easy if your batteries are more than 100 V's.
     
    #7 donee, Mar 9, 2008
  8. bredekamp

    bredekamp Member

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    That's exactly what I had in mind
     
    #8 bredekamp, Mar 9, 2008
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