OK here is a question aimed to all the gearheads on this site. Would it be possible to add performance to a front wheel drive car like the PT Cruiser by adding electric AC motors to the rear wheels? In essence keeping the PT engine running the same, or with whatever performance modification, but adding a hybrid electric motor package to the rear wheels to assist and increase acceleration, also aiding in fuel economy.
This performance hybrid system can be added to any PT engine, modified or not. In any engine setup this system would still be able to increase acceleration and handling. Handling since by adding power to the rear wheels you are then making the PT into a Four Wheel Drive vehicle. Add FWD to your acceleration and what does that mean, improved traction so less wheel spin equals faster 0-60 times. Throw the car into a tight turn added traction control to the rear wheels means less skid, more control, means faster acceleration out of a turn. Snow or wet roads, well with added traction to the rear wheels and traction control controlling the front wheels, pass up that big rig that's slowing down traffic in the right lane.
First: Is something like this doable, and what type of performance gains could one expect from building a performance hybrid system like this?
Second: How much would a performance hybrid system like this cost?
What I'm proposing is a bolt on application designed for the PT in mind. I'm thinking that all you would need is a array of lithium batteries made by this company.
http://www.hybridtechnologies.com/products.php?sec=3&id=2
Speed control sensors to accelerate the wheels and shut off the wheels to allow for regenerative braking. And a AC motor like these designed by Mitsubishi for their Evo line. These are in wheel motors which would need little to no modification to the rear axle or suspension. Brakes are built into the AC motors and will slow down during regenerative braking as well. It's not uncommon to think of Misubishi components in the PT Cruiser, since the manifold and turbo technology for the PT Turbo derives from Mitsubishi components. Lets take a leap and invision other Mitsubishi technology improving performance in our PT Cruisers.
http://www.megawattmotorworks.com/display.asp?dismode=article&artid=172
http://www.megawattmotorworks.com/di...icle&artid=172
If you look at the design of the Mitsubishi in wheel moter you will see that it just replaces the wheel and brake system. One would not need to make any modifications to the axle, or suspension. It just replaces the rear wheels with electric motors. The electric motor sits inside what looks to be a bearing that is connected to the tires. The electric motor turns the wheel, in turn creating propulsion to accelerate the vehicle. In the article about the concept Evo, Mitsubishi is currently running the vehicle in the Shikoku EV Ralley. So these in-wheel motors are already in production and being used in test scenarios. I know that these motors will take years to make it to consumers, I am just very interested to think if this application can be used and modified to work on our PT's.
Think a performance hybrid system like this can't be done. Check out what these kids built in their Philidelphia High School car shop. With help from their teacher some kids in Phillie built this hybrid with a Electric Motor powering the front wheels for 0-60 accelerations in 4 seconds and a VW TDI diesel engine powering the rear wheels for prolonged highway driving. It also gets around 50 miles to the gallon!!! Performance and fuel economy... How is that done? Check out the CBS news link for more info.
http://www.cbsnews.com/storie