Comments on: In-Wheel Motors Found! http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2007/01/06/in-wheel-electric-motors-found/ Ed Ring's EcoWorld Posts Sun, 5 Jul 2009 03:02:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Pete http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2007/01/06/in-wheel-electric-motors-found/comment-page-1/#comment-82754 Pete Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:20:02 +0000 http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2007/01/06/in-wheel-electric-motors-found/#comment-82754 I've recently discovered that the cost of my electricity goes from 30 cents a Kwh in the afternoon, to as little as 2 cents a kwh after midnight. The system for moving my car would also move my electrical load from 30 cents to 2 cents. Let's keep this 'power pack" in mind as we consider our energy consumption in total. I’ve recently discovered that the cost of my electricity goes from 30 cents a Kwh in the afternoon, to as little as 2 cents a kwh after midnight. The system for moving my car would also move my electrical load from 30 cents to 2 cents. Let’s keep this ‘power pack” in mind as we consider our energy consumption in total.

]]> By: Joe Kiess http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2007/01/06/in-wheel-electric-motors-found/comment-page-1/#comment-17542 Joe Kiess Sun, 20 May 2007 04:12:17 +0000 http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2007/01/06/in-wheel-electric-motors-found/#comment-17542 The key to serial hybrids (series hybrids) is/are the wheel motors. This eliminates all the unnecessary weight of the components used to transfer the power of a central engine or motor to drive the wheels, if the wheels are their own motor. I am guessing that GM has NOT started this Chevy Volt project from a clean sheet of paper because, it appears that they are planning to use a central traction motor on a transaxle to deliver power to the wheels. There is no doubt that a high percentage of users would benefit from a car that can run 40 miles on a charge but a much higher percentage would benefit form a car that could go 100 miles or more on a charge and, another consideration that needs to be taken in to account is the fact that the battery's ability to operate at 100% efficiency (the ability to give 40 miles after each charge, on an ongoing basis) is a diminishing return as the batteries age. And that, in my opinion is the reason the battery pack should be designed for a more "real world" use. The weight savings of the mechanical components that will be unneeded with the use of wheel motors can be used to off set the extra batteries needed for the extra range and the space savings in the engine compartment where the traction motor and transaxle would ordinarily be can be used for the motor/generator set. The 1.3L trubocharged engine for the generator, as proposed by Chevy, seems overkill to me. The key to serial hybrids (series hybrids) is/are the wheel motors. This eliminates all the unnecessary weight of the components used to transfer the power of a central engine or motor to drive the wheels, if the wheels are their own motor. I am guessing that GM has NOT started this Chevy Volt project from a clean sheet of paper because, it appears that they are planning to use a central traction motor on a transaxle to deliver power to the wheels. There is no doubt that a high percentage of users would benefit from a car that can run 40 miles on a charge but a much higher percentage would benefit form a car that could go 100 miles or more on a charge and, another consideration that needs to be taken in to account is the fact that the battery’s ability to operate at 100% efficiency (the ability to give 40 miles after each charge, on an ongoing basis) is a diminishing return as the batteries age. And that, in my opinion is the reason the battery pack should be designed for a more “real world” use. The weight savings of the mechanical components that will be unneeded with the use of wheel motors can be used to off set the extra batteries needed for the extra range and the space savings in the engine compartment where the traction motor and transaxle would ordinarily be can be used for the motor/generator set. The 1.3L trubocharged engine for the generator, as proposed by Chevy, seems overkill to me.

]]> By: electriccar » Blog Archive » In-Wheel Electric Motors Found! - EcoWorld.com http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2007/01/06/in-wheel-electric-motors-found/comment-page-1/#comment-5607 electriccar » Blog Archive » In-Wheel Electric Motors Found! - EcoWorld.com Mon, 08 Jan 2007 09:52:54 +0000 http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2007/01/06/in-wheel-electric-motors-found/#comment-5607 [...] If you are designing an all electric car, in-wheel electric motors could replace any on-chassis motors, and having four of them independently coordinating … Source http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2007/01/06/in-wheel-electric-motors-found/ [...] [...] If you are designing an all electric car, in-wheel electric motors could replace any on-chassis motors, and having four of them independently coordinating … Source http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2007/01/06/in-wheel-electric-motors-found/ [...]

]]> By: Ed Ring http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2007/01/06/in-wheel-electric-motors-found/comment-page-1/#comment-5597 Ed Ring Mon, 08 Jan 2007 03:13:44 +0000 http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2007/01/06/in-wheel-electric-motors-found/#comment-5597 Kent, I agree you can make a serial hybrid work on less. As noted in our post today - commenting on GM's announcement of a serial hybrid - it appears their batteries do achieve around 200 watt hours per kilogram. Their Chevy "Volt" concept car is midsized, and has a battery-only range of 40 miles. This would mean it would have a roughly 500 pound battery pack at 100 kilowatt-hours per kilogram, and as you point out, GM wants to keep their battery pack lighter than that. But at 100 KWhr per Kg, a serial hybrid would be a viable vehicle. The key is when and if this car will actually be available for sale. A 40 mile range will fulfill most normal duty cycles, yet the car has a range of 600 miles running on gasoline or some other fuel for the onboard generator. This is a terrific innovation, albiet way past due. Kent, I agree you can make a serial hybrid work on less. As noted in our post today - commenting on GM’s announcement of a serial hybrid - it appears their batteries do achieve around 200 watt hours per kilogram. Their Chevy “Volt” concept car is midsized, and has a battery-only range of 40 miles. This would mean it would have a roughly 500 pound battery pack at 100 kilowatt-hours per kilogram, and as you point out, GM wants to keep their battery pack lighter than that. But at 100 KWhr per Kg, a serial hybrid would be a viable vehicle.

The key is when and if this car will actually be available for sale. A 40 mile range will fulfill most normal duty cycles, yet the car has a range of 600 miles running on gasoline or some other fuel for the onboard generator. This is a terrific innovation, albiet way past due.

]]> By: kent beuchert http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2007/01/06/in-wheel-electric-motors-found/comment-page-1/#comment-5590 kent beuchert Sun, 07 Jan 2007 19:13:37 +0000 http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2007/01/06/in-wheel-electric-motors-found/#comment-5590 Serial hybrids don't require 200 watthours capaciity per kilogram batteries. That's total nonsense. The capacity usually desired by a plug-in is enough for about 30 to 40 miles of all-electric driving. 78% commute fewer than 40 miles a day and half the cars travel less than 30 miles each day. That means about 8 to 10 kilowatt hour capacity battery pack, if you're talking about mileage. A kilowatt hour capacity Altair battery weighs 28 pounds, or 280 for 10 kWhr capacity, which easily meets GM's stated goal of a battery pack less than 400 pounds, which I consider a silly limitation altogether. Serial hybrids don’t require 200 watthours capaciity per kilogram batteries. That’s total nonsense. The capacity usually desired by a plug-in is enough for about 30 to 40 miles of all-electric driving. 78% commute fewer than 40 miles a day and half the cars travel less than 30 miles each day. That means about 8 to 10 kilowatt hour capacity battery pack, if you’re talking about mileage. A kilowatt hour capacity Altair battery weighs 28 pounds, or 280 for 10 kWhr capacity, which easily meets GM’s stated goal of a battery pack less than 400 pounds, which I consider a silly limitation altogether.

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