I have been looking at my 2002 Chevy1500. It has a 5.3 l V8.
I have had these wild dreams of building my own hybrid vehicle for several years, and I just had this brainstorm. My truck has an exceptionally long driveshaft. I think at highway speeds it would only take about 10~12 hp ( and I think thats a lot more than I need ). So heres the question / idea. Place the motor inline with the driveshaft. In normal driving the motor would act as a generator. at highway speeds the transmission could be uncoupled from the transmission using an electric clutch. The motor would then drive the rearend directly on electric. The big thirsty V8 could then be left to idle.
So is this a pipe dream or a decent idea. Would it be worth the money saved in gas? A waste of time?
2007-06-29 02:44:11 · 4 answers · asked by burdawg 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
There are many other parts that make a hybrid vehicle work, such as regenerative braking systems, and the ability to shut down the gas engine at stops and at slow speeds. Without these, you'll be spending a lot of money on an unproven system that will not work.
Additionally, your truck may already have GM's "Displacement on Demand" system, which shuts down 4 of your cylinders at steady highway speeds. So your truck may already be doing a lot to save fuel.
2007-06-29 03:07:37 · answer #1 · answered by shiznannigan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a pipe dream. Major modifications to a car are rarely worth it. Especially when you have to get parts specially made for you. Where did you get the 10-12 hp? Did you calculate that or are you just making a number up? Cars are heavy and it takes a lot to keep them going, not just get them to speed. Think of it this way...the little air deflector on a semi truck saves over 200 horsepower because of limiting air resistance. If you don't have some kind of engineering background and mechanical background, you are going to end up ruining a perfectly good truck.
2007-06-29 10:14:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The extreme length of the drive shaft renders its use for twisting forces. I'm afraid if you added an un-even pull torque in any direction it would fail in short order. Here's what you may ponder. Devise an idea for a drive behind the drive shaft yoke directly off the pinion input shaft of the rear end.
2007-06-29 10:25:05 · answer #3 · answered by Country Boy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a good idea. It might be easier said than done. George Foreman would vote yes though.
2007-06-29 09:49:56 · answer #4 · answered by Jesse V 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋