Well, here it is, and it is about as obtuse as they come from someone used to domestic V8's. It is a old Honda Insight with the complete stock drivetrain up front and a second drivetrain in back using a Miata rear suspension and diff with a 100hp electric motor driving the rear wheels. At a stock weight of 1800lbs, it would not need much power to make it fast, and with 70hp stock it makes almost a 10:1 power to weight ratio, or about the same as a G body with a mild 350. Now, the other oddity to my idea is to use a 4x4 2 speed transfer case with electric actuation to connect the axle and motor. This way, you don't need the electric motor all the time, and can de-couple it by putting the case into neutral. You also get AWD traction as a part of the equation, so traction would not be too much of an issue so long as you have an LSD. Alternately, you could eliminate the center section, and run the axles off the transfer case with a 1:1 ratio and take advantage of the electric motor's low rpm torque (multiple gears are not needed). This way, you could drive the car off either the stock hybrid drivetrain, or as an all electric car off just the rear powertrain. Since the rear is only needed part time ( like nitrous), it can run off the original battery pack ( or a double pack of 2g Prius batteries), and you could still use the TPS of the gas engine to run a speed controller signal to the back motor. Plus, since the original engine/motor still is connected to the batteries, you could charge the system as per stock, or even add a plug in or solar capability to allow you to minimize fuel costs. There is also a turbo kit on the market for the stock 3 cyl, so you could see a net improvement there as well. Yes, it would need A LOT more development to work, but that is all I could come up with in 2 days of delivering pizza. The whole premise is how to take advantage of parts that will become commonplace and inexpensive in the near future ( if not now) to still have a hot rod in a carburetor deprived world. You have to admit though, it would be the ultimate sleeper. Who would suspect a eco car that sounds stock and shuts off at idle to actually be fast?
Sadly, one of my other ideas for a series hybrid has already been done by Mitsubishi, and will be going in to production shortly as an option on the i.
Sadly, one of my other ideas for a series hybrid has already been done by Mitsubishi, and will be going in to production shortly as an option on the i.
