The Kit That Turns Any Car Into A Hybrid

[Rodger Tellefson]

Even with an increasing number of car manufacturers building hybrid cars, it's hard for a lot of people to justify buying a new car for an extra 10 miles per gallon in fuel savings.



But a former IBM engineer and current professor at Middle Tennessee State University named Charles Perry and his students have designed a hybrid retrofit kit that may soon turn any gas powered car or truck into a hybrid.



It's been in the works for the past few years, but the technology is getting closer to becoming a reality. We spoke with Professor Perry this week to find out more.



Prof. Perry's design takes a lot of the confusion out of hybrid technology, making it more realistic and accessible to car owners. The kit attaches to the rear wheels of just about any car or truck, and is powered by a lithium ion battery in the trunk. Sure, not everyone could install it themselves, but Perry insists that if you can change your brakes, you can install the kit.



When it comes to market he hopes to retail the kit for around $3,000, with battery costs as the main factor in determining the price.

(Watch the linked video)

 

[Richard L]

Interesting, but not enough factual data to say if it's a good or bad system, or if it is real or just hype.



....Rich

 

[EddieS'04]

If it works and becomes marketed. I still see the hurdle of osha and nhsta to over come. The high voltage batery packs and wiring. Is such that the design of the factory cars. Are built around those required specs. Since every car is different. Some type of safe design of the electrics'. Will have to be vehicle specific. You may have to give up your trunk or back seat.

 

[Richard L]

Eddie is correct. I suspect there will be a lot of stickers and warning labels to identify the vehicle as having a high voltage power supply to notify first responders. Even now First Responders have instruction manuals to disarm or disconnect the power on each electric and hybrid vehicle manufactured. It could be a fatal mistake if someone assumes that a 71 Pinto would not contain a high voltage electrical system.



...Rich

 

[ZoNiE]

I can only imagine what winter salt will do to those things up in the northeast and midwest where they apply that fender solvent all over the place...

 

[Kevin Lang]

It attaches to the rear wheels of the car. How does this work with FWD/RWD/AWD? Are they assuming that most cars are FWD?



I'm not sure I'd want my FWD car to suddenly become a RWD car. I don't think all my modern safety/performance systems would either. The Ford traction control, sway control, and torque vectoring controls don't know that the car is getting a new rear-wheel power source to deal with, do they?



I don't think that just because I can change my brakes I can mount a battery pack in my trunk, install electrical motors, drill holes and run wires through my car and reprogram the computerized systems to work with the electrical drive system.



What does the engine do with this kit installed? Do you just let it idle while you're on electrical power? Does it charge the battery system? If the engine is on, how does it know when to use gas power or electrical power, especially if the car is still accelerated by the gas pedal?

 

[doug brandin]

The question is; Will it work on a Sport Trac ? Easy to put the battery in the bed and I for one would like better mileage.

 

[Richard L]

KL,

I don't think that just because I can change my brakes I can mount a battery pack in my trunk, install electrical motors, drill holes and run wires through my car and reprogram the computerized systems to work with the electrical drive system.

If you can't do that, then I'm sure there are shops that will gladly do it for you.



As for FWD vehicles, I don't think the kit actually fully powers the vehicle at low speed like a true hybrid that powers the vehicle with the electrically until about 30 mph. I believe the rear wheel motors are just an electrical assist to take some of the load of the gasoline engine. A FWD car is still powered by FWD, but is given an assist by the rear wheel drive motors.



I doubt that any computer reprogramming is necessary since it would not change how the gasoline engine functions. The electric motor assist is more like taking 1000-1500 lbs of weight off the vehicle, always driving down hill, driving with a strong tailwind, or always drafting a big truck...:grin:



....Rich

 

[Kevin Lang]

If that is the case, then the computer on any and all fwd and awd cars would need to be adjusted.



Torque vectoring control & stability control probably doesn't like wheels that it doesn't think are powered being powered.



I'm not sure that this setup would really improve my mpg. I certainly don't want to lose the storage space from the batteries.