Most car manufacturers use interchangeable transmissions in different models, and often different manufacturers use the same transmission in their respective products. My idea is for a replacement transmission that bolts up to an existing vehicle. This would contain an electric motor, a generator, and a torque converter coupled to a direct drive (no lower gears, the electric motor would start the car from standing. The electric motor would propel the car up to about 25 mph, the ICE would begin charging the battery pack as the car began moving, and would take over driving duties over 25 mph).
I'm pretty sure this is possible using off-the-shelf technology, if not off-the-shelf parts, the problem would be offering it at a price competitive with conventional replacement transmissions.
In practice, when the origninal transmission goes out, I would take my existing car to a transmission shop and ask for the "Hybrid conversion" transmission. The transmission would be installed for the same price as a conventional transmission swap, plus the added cost of control boxes and a dozen or so off-the-shelf deep-cycle marine-type batteries. There is ample room for a battery pack in a car such as my 1983 Ford Crown Vic, under the seats and in the trunk.
I agree
No opinion
I disagree
Add your comment
AFAIK, there would not be room for a hybrid transaxle or transmission.Plus there would have to be the ybrid electrics insatlled, which would be too complex for a normal shop to accomplish.
I guess I didn't make this clear: This is a direct replacement for a "conventional" automatic transmission for a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicle such as a full-size American van, pickup truck, or sedan. The old transmission is replaced by an assembly consisting of a generator, which charges the battery pack, and an electric motor, which powers the driveshaft. Between the generator and the motor is a clutch that is engaged when the ICE is required to provide motive power to the driveshaft.
The electric motor is powered by a bank of conventional lead-acid batteries installed in the trunk or under the seats of a sedan or between the frame rails of a van or pickup.
Coupled to the original ICE is a generator that charges the battery pack. Between the generator and the motor is a electric-hydraulic clutch.
Like this ----> ICE-gen-><-motor-driveshaft-diff
From rest to about 15 mph, the electric motor alone powers the vehicle. I believe this will require less power than one might imagine, but let's assume it requires a 120V DC motor of about 50 hp.
At 15 mph the ICE starts and the generator charges the battery pack while the electric motor powers the wheels.At 25 mph the ->clutch<- engages the ICE to assist the electric motor in powering the driveshaft.Above 35 mph the ICE alone powers the driveshaft.
This is "series-parallel hybrid vehicle 101," nothing new.
The crucial and technically challenging part of the idea is to fit this all in a package that directly bolts up to the existing vehicle powerplant and replaces the old transmission.It might actually be necessary to enlist the assistance of a cadre of talented engineers to do this. (I'm thinking a company like Dana). The unanswered question is, how big does a 120VDC 50 hp motor have to be?
Installing all this shouldn't be much more complicated than rebuilding and installing a conventional automatic transmission, with the exception of installing the (off-the-shelf) EV controller and the battery pack.
I think you have grossly underestimated the talent and skill of transmission technicians.
The hybrid has excess of 800 volts powering the electric motor. You want to use 110 volts and do the same amount of work, i think the watts would be dangerously high. Perhaps just replacing the transmission alone with the generator and replace the hubs with the electric motor/brakes. Something a r&r shop can do without growing another brain.
Watts would be the same (Volts X Amperes = Watts), you're thinking Amperes (Amps). 1 Watt= about 750 Watts, 50 hp would be about 37.5 KW. Divide 37.5 KW by 120 and you get 312.5 Amps (yes that's a lot of Amps), divided by 800 you get 46.9 Amps.
What if you only want to hold the same speed in a highway, lets say 65mph. How many HP motor will it take to turn the driveshaft and hold 65mph in a flat?