electric powered cars

**ghosthunter** · February 9th, 2012 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by greenorange

I definitely wish I hadn't noticed this as I truly want a single now!

Reality hurts.

**cripple_rooster** · February 10th, 2012 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by uls

pure electric or not the Chevy Volt gets US govt subsidy

It's officially referred as an "extended-range" electric car.

Maybe a similar setup could even work for the jeepneys, using hub-motors to drive the rear wheels, with a genset under the hood and some battery packs where the fuel tank is currently located (since gensets usually have their own fuel tanks).

**ghosthunter** · February 10th, 2012 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by cripple_rooster

It's officially referred as an "extended-range" electric car.

Maybe a similar setup could even work for the jeepneys, using hub-motors to drive the rear wheels, with a genset under the hood and some battery packs where the fuel tank is currently located (since gensets usually have their own fuel tanks).

Pointless to convert conventional jeepneys to electric because it's too costly to convert. The only thing left original would be the chassis and the jeepney chassis is better off as junk because it's a boat anchor (too heavy). A lighter & modern design would be a better and a big benefit to the placement of components such as genset, battery packs, power & charger controllers, etc.

Simply doing it your way will also result in a hybrid jeepney but with an efficiency LOWER of a standard jeepney on the road.

**uls** · February 10th, 2012 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by cripple_rooster

It's officially referred as an "extended-range" electric car.

yeah whatever

Maybe a similar setup could even work for the jeepneys, using hub-motors to drive the rear wheels, with a genset under the hood and some battery packs where the fuel tank is currently located (since gensets usually have their own fuel tanks).

theories always sound good when being thrown around

but when it comes to implementation...

try to convince a jeepney operator to put "hub motors to drive the rear wheels", a "genset under the hood" and "battery packs where the fuel tank is currently located"

if you can convince a jeepney operator to do that (and shoulder the cost), mag bow ako sayo

**cripple_rooster** · February 10th, 2012 04:30 PM

I'm actually not so favorable to electric drive at all. But the genset would require a smaller engine, even a 45hp 1.3L Fiat diesel (the one used in the Uno that had been assembled by Francisco Motor Co. until 2003) could be used. About the frame, the one out of a midsize pickup such as the Hilux or the Mitsubishi Strada could serve to the purpose.

But the e-jeepney presented by Greenpeace is a joke, could barely serve as a golf cart, even a Volkswagen Kombi would be more suitable (there were some 12-seater and 15-seater versions in the Brazilian market until 2005). It's also worth to note that a Kombi would also be easy to convert to electric drive, altough it would be easier to do it in the Philippines with a high-top Hiace Commuter. And using hub-motors it would eliminate the need for a gearbox and a driveshaft, saving more space for a battery pack

**uls** · February 10th, 2012 04:34 PM

is he an engineer or something?

puro theory eh

when you think of ideas to replace the diesel jeepney please consider social, political and economic factors

di lang puro engineering

it doesnt matter how great your jeepney replacement is from a technical standpoint

if you can't sell it to operators, it's a big FAIL

**cripple_rooster** · February 10th, 2012 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by uls

try to convince a jeepney operator to put "hub motors to drive the rear wheels", a "genset under the hood" and "battery packs where the fuel tank is currently located"

It's just theory, I know the average jeepney driver wouldn't turn to that. It would be easier to see the jeepneys being phased out than that, since it would become too expensive, altough would be justifiable into a vehicle with a higher added value such as a high-feature van...

I'm actually not an enthusiast of electric drivelines. I'd rather drive a smoke-belching diesel jeepney than an electric vehicle.

**ghosthunter** · February 10th, 2012 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by cripple_rooster

I'm actually not so favorable to electric drive at all. But the genset would require a smaller engine, even a 45hp 1.3L Fiat diesel (the one used in the Uno that had been assembled by Francisco Motor Co. until 2003) could be used. About the frame, the one out of a midsize pickup such as the Hilux or the Mitsubishi Strada could serve to the purpose.

But the e-jeepney presented by Greenpeace is a joke, could barely serve as a golf cart, even a Volkswagen Kombi would be more suitable (there were some 12-seater and 15-seater versions in the Brazilian market until 2005). It's also worth to note that a Kombi would also be easy to convert to electric drive, altough it would be easier to do it in the Philippines with a high-top Hiace Commuter. And using hub-motors it would eliminate the need for a gearbox and a driveshaft, saving more space for a battery pack

Ironically, an electric drive is actually good in this particular application, stop-go public transport. The reason is the high torque available in the entire speed range of the electric motor. Of course, this also means expensive parts so it doesn't really help in this specific application.

**cripple_rooster** · February 10th, 2012 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

Ironically, an electric drive is actually good in this particular application, stop-go public transport. The reason is the high torque available in the entire speed range of the electric motor. Of course, this also means expensive parts so it doesn't really help in this specific application.

At least an electric motor doesn't need a gearbox. This eliminates some weight and friction losses, increasing the efficiency and then requiring a smaller (then lighter) battery pack.

**cripple_rooster** · February 10th, 2012 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

Why did I say fail to be cost effective to operate? Put it this way, if you own a Prius vs a Vios, the Vios will be financially/economically ahead from the time it was purchased up to ten years later (more or less). After operating the Prius for ten years, then it might be cheaper to use the Prius, assuming you don't have to change to battery pack every two to five years. If you don't change the battery pack, the Prius becomes another ordinary fossil fuel burning car.

Making a "green" car is not simply cutting down on emissions, it should also take long hard look at the amount of materials and energy that goes into making the actual vehicle. At the same time, look at the materials themselves if they are toxic to the environment when parts and components come to their end of life cycles.

Consider that, older cars like a Corolla or a Civic or Sentra running on alternative cleaner fuels (like LPG) would actually be better than having a hybrid.

A diesel engine, altough not so easy to convert to LPG or CNG, can run on some alternative fuels such as vegetable oils (either straight or waste), biodiesel and even ethanol, while all the processes involved in the manufacturing of the battery pack of a Prius generate more emissions than a diesel-powered Euro-spec Toyota Corolla 1.4 D4-D would do in a predictable 20 years lifespan, while the battery pack of the Prius wouldn't last more than 10 years so easily.