Comments on: Bolt-On DIY PHEV Conversion Coming?

By: capeplates

capeplates — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:22:01 +0000

Initial reaction to the photo was that the vehicle had been clamped. It does nothing for the appearance of the car!

By: Pixel

Pixel — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:41:48 +0000

There was an article somewhere on the breakdown in fuel savings vs cost on these and it came out negative. The lithium Ion kit would put you further behind $$ wise.

I don’t trust this conversion at all. Not the least of which because torque arm is attached to the *plastic* bumper via four *pop rivets*.

By: Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:18:06 +0000

Hmmm…makes that Jetta look like a young Forest Gump.

BTW: What sort of warranty does Poulson offer (you know, since putting those stupid things on a car would instantly void the one from the vehicle manufacturer)?

By: kph

kph — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:16:38 +0000

Isn’t there a company in the UK that does this more discreetly? I think they manage to fit everything from the inside, through the trunk.

Actually, I always thought that Subaru could just slap an electric RWD motor on an ICE FWD car and call it a AWD hybrid. Sounds easy to me, but don’t know if that’s practical to the manufacturers. And I guess Subaru is in bed with Toyota anyways.

By: folkdancer

folkdancer — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:55:10 +0000

Back in the 1950’s some guy manufactured hugh road building equipment with electric motors in each wheel with a central diesel power plant/generator.
He claimed that it was efficient and without all the driveshafts less complex.
These guys may have a great idea. Still a bit clumsy looking but having an electric motor in each wheel may be a very good way to go.

By: ZoomZoom

ZoomZoom — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:25:23 +0000

Normally, I’d be bored by this, but I support anybody trying to invent and tinker in his backyard/garage.

For all we know, he might invent something better than anything Detroit has put out in the last 40 years or so. Can’t go wrong there!

Okay, so I’m still bored by it. But I support it!

By: alex_rashev

alex_rashev — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:58:36 +0000

Ah, the lengths people will go to make something really friggin simple really friggin complex.

Obviously, the thought of integrating magnets into a brake disc’s hat to form an outrunner motor never crossed anyone’s mind. I mean, my god, drilling holes in a disk, inserting magnets in them, and installing wound stators on an existing hub? Blasphemy! It won’t look dorky! Hell, you can’t even see the EV thing! What’s the point of electric conversion if it has no poseur value?!!!!

Gives you an idea of how many hoops those pseudo-engineers are prepared to jump through in order to avoid a boring, yet efficient, cheap, and innovative design.

In the meantime, model airplanes fly commercially available motors with three times the power that are about the size (and weight) of a grapefruit. So much for the billions of R&D going into concept and production cars.

By: Jerome10

Jerome10 — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:56:21 +0000

That is just awful….

By: Facebook User

Facebook User — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:43:40 +0000

Bwahahahahahaha

By: TEXN3

TEXN3 — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:36:06 +0000

This would be handy for those in snow country or wanting AWD capabilities with a switch. I could use this while cruising or a have a little juice in the rear wheels for additional traction in snow. Now, if they could get it to bolt on on the inside of the wheel it would be much better. As with any contraption, continued refinement and technology advances only make it better. Consider this the aftermarket turbo-kit for greenies.

By: Redbarchetta

Redbarchetta — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:28:45 +0000

At first glance that picture looks like a Hersey’s Kiss coming out of the rim of the tire with the little ‘kiss’ foil attaching to the fender. Guess I’m hungry for some chocolate. Novel idea, doesn’t look like it’s going to work, hopefully when someone expands on the idea it will bring something really useful to market.

By: sean362880

sean362880 — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:23:46 +0000

This is the opposite of a well-designed PHEV.

Gas engines: best under constant load and high RPM.

Electric motor: best under acceleration/braking.

What you want is a small engine running fast driving a big motor with big batteries. This external electric motor idea is useless.

By: quasimondo

quasimondo — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:18:32 +0000

Just imagine if they combined this with the Tornado.

By: John Horner

John Horner — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:08:59 +0000

Cool idea, but it really should be integrated into the rear hub, which means a custom one for each vehicle platform.

By: Frantz

Frantz — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:41:48 +0000

How much hp is needed when not going downhill to hold 75.. cough.. i mean 55 mph? and if it needs 15hp.. why do they only use 14hp? (cause isn’t that like.. oh idk close to 93% of the power needed) oh.. and will this work oh my H2? Bad idea…

By: Adamatari

Adamatari — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:33:11 +0000

If it works then it could be great. Sure, it looks bad, but if it pays off in improved mileage and can be done cheaply then it may have a good niche. If they get the SUV version together soon, that one could be a winner. Think of all the people who can’t get rid of their SUVs (even if they try) who might go for something like this.

BUT, as I see it, the issue of integration and control is the big one, and so far this is still not ready. The good thing about a bubble/rush is that it produces lots of ideas and a few catch on. It sucks for those that don’t catch on, but those that work out make a big difference.

By: m0jumb0

m0jumb0 — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:29:28 +0000

regenerative braking on the rear wheels only seems like it would be dangerous. wouldn’t this effectively bias braking force to the rear and tend to lock the rears first when braking close to the threshold?

By: mel23

mel23 — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:26:38 +0000

So this device gets its leverage by attaching to a fender?

For my money Ralph Nader is among the finest citizens of this country. His problem is trying to get the public to deal with reality.

By: SherbornSean

SherbornSean — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:17:42 +0000

Does it come with an AMG body kit, wing, VTEC sticker and an air dam? ‘Cause then I’m in.

By: Dynamic88

Dynamic88 — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:17:01 +0000

the majority of which are likely to be bought by the nerdier members of Ralph Nader’s campaign supporters.

How does one make the distinction?