74 Electric Build Thread, Volt & Tesla Drivetrain Options

[annyung]

So here goes nothing. I'm kicking off my build for a 400+hp awd electric conversion of my 74 914. I will part out a Volt and use the drive unit in the rear of the car, the battery will be rotated 180 and go in the tunnel between the seats. A Model S drive unit will power the front wheels completing the AWD.

[euro911]

We acquired a fleet of VW Rabbit pick-up trucks for our maintenance department back in the early 80's. They weren't getting the range the manufacturer claimed, so we had to analyze the problem. As we were working on that issue, I sketched out an overview for an electric hybrid drive train. The design incorporated solar, regenerative braking and pulse charging with AC electric motors at each wheel, and a small displacement petrol motor for driving an AC generator to charge batteries when the vehicle was driven at night and during inclement weather conditions with low battery levels. The most efficient batteries of that era were nickel/iron.

I had a lot of push back from the 'nay-sayers' telling me that it would never make it into a major auto manufacturer's vehicle, as if it actually worked as designed, the oil industry would probably buy up and shelve the patent.

One of the other engineers in my department who was an I/C gear head looked at what I drew up and saw the possibilities. He design the ECU to pull everything together. Again, it was the 80's, so we didn't have LSI micro computers like we have today. As it turns out, the basic technology (minus the solar charging) is pretty much what ended up in Honda's and Toyota's early hybrid vehicles.

Watching this thread to see how your project turns out (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

... and (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)