I've decided what I'm going to use and this linky should help explain what I'm doing:

http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/vaux/pages/cars/conceptCars/ampera/market.jsp

Now any ideas what motor I could use? I've been told several times to not use a gearbox because the torque will just break them so is it possible to use one at all? I mean the Prius uses a CVT one do these exist in rwd format (does it matter? Couldn't I just weld it to the driveshaft?)

Also I'm going to need a reverse, is there something to reverse the voltage so the motor runs backwards? This is providing I'm not using a gearbox though.

Next is the petrol engine to recharge the batteries, I'm thinking hook it up to as many alternators as reasonably possible to generate as much electricity as possible. I'm thinking somewhere in the region of 125-400cc bike engine should suffice?

Tbh most of the mileage I'd be doing is town driving and I'm not averse to having to wait half an hour while the engine gets some charge in to keep me blatting. This is all experimental of course but if it works well I think I'll be touring the various manufacturer's head offices saying "I can f***ing do it why can't you lot?"

Firstly... Hooking up loads of alternators will be inefficient... the mechanical friction from all those little bearings +brushes is BAD!

Get one big generator.....


Secondly.. In an ideal world you need an AC three phase motor with some clever electrical control circuits to modulate speed, direction and braking.... You can use "normal" batteries or a generator and use a phase converter to give you your 3ph AC

You need to use a three phase DC motor with electronic variable speed drive, these thing do not come cheap, I have uploaded a document in my photo archive which will help you.

Here's a link couldn't 'get it up'linky

[Edited on 5/9/09 by big-vee-twin]

By generator you mean those things that the road maintenance people have on their own trailer? That kind of thing? What kind of power would I be looking at from one of those?

I shall try to look at the document now

You do no Westfield have already done this dont you?

why not use this as a donor?

http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car/#/car/intro

quote:

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Originally posted by big-vee-twin
You do no Westfield have already done this dont you?

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Iwas at MK a while ago, a few years now, and they had just finished an electric one for a customer, i think in finland or something.

it looked really simple (dash and where the gear stick would have been) and insted had a forwards backwards switch affair if i remember.

Iwas at MK a while ago, a few years now, and they had just finished an electric one for a customer, i think in finland or something.

it looked really simple (dash and where the gear stick would have been) and insted had a forwards backwards switch affair if i remember.