The Electrocharger

[autodescom]

Has anyone seen or heard anything about this. The "Electrocharger" they say is a new type of power adder, kinda like a supercharger or turbocharger, only it seems like it would be much easier to install. Tell me what you guys think! www.alphamaleperformance.com

[SteelBlueGT]

Bunch of mumbo jumbo. They dont even have a good expaination of how it is supose to work!! SEMA exhibit is all of proposed cars nothing even built and tested. If you want an electric car buy a hybrid!

[Mike-in-Orange]

Uh, yeah, sure. 5 seconds off the 0-60 times of small cars? Like what, a PT Cruiser??? Giving a GT what, a 2.5 second sprint to 60? So if I add one of these devices to my car I could kill:

1. A Ruf Porsche Turbo
2. Ferrari Enzo
3. McLaren F1
4. Lamborghini Murcielago
5. Shelby Cobra
6. Anything NASCAR, CART or the IRL could throw at me
7. Hold my own with the best of Formula 1 like the Ferrari F2004 or Williams FW26

Yeah, right.

Described on their website as an electrical discharge device that replaces the alternator, recharged by the braking forces of the car or engine cruising that does what? Zaps my car with 2.21 gigawatts of power? At what - 88mph? Gee, didn't they make a movie trilogy about this thing? Called it a flux capacitor when ol' Doc Brown put it in that Delorean time machine that Marty McFly drove......Back to the Future!

They say it's cheaper than adding a turbo or supercharger, so I tell you what: Show me that 2.5 second 0-60 PT Cruiser for that kind of pricing and I'm the first one in the game. If the installer gets electrocuted all bets are off.

[quicksilverdon]

"ELECTROCHARGERTM is a power adder that takes the place of your alternator and runs in parallel with the engine and all of it's modifications and adds instant torque to the crankshaft"

The theory is sound, what I question are their claims. How much horsepower can you deliver thru a fan belt? And how big is the battery pack that resides in the trunk? I believe it could give you a boost, but knock 3 seconds off 0-60 times? That's a lot, and beyond belief.
INteresting....[:I]

[nhrapt]

another BS thread.

[autodescom]

It looks promising to me. The drive belt looks like a timing belt type so that would definitely transfer the power. Texas A&M involved and ten years of development make me interested.

[autodescom]

Also they have a big technical page that goes into alot of detail. Unlike that "electric supercharger" fan blower crap.

[KingKole02]

Well I'll wait for someone Automotive to try it first.

[fritz_t_coyote]

quote:Originally posted by Mike-in-Orange

Uh, yeah, sure. 5 seconds off the 0-60 times of small cars? Like what, a PT Cruiser??? Giving a GT what, a 2.5 second sprint to 60? 8<snip>8 Show me that 2.5 second 0-60 PT Cruiser for that kind of pricing and I'm the first one in the game. If the installer gets electrocuted all bets are off.

Unless the power is delivered by vectored thrust there is no way the PT drivetrain will deliver that much HP to the ground.

Sounds (*and looks*) like a overhyped retrofit of a hybrid drivetrain. But without the designed-in functions, regenerative braking, etc.

If this interests you, just buy the Prius and get it done right.

But remember that electricly powered vehicles are not noted for acceleration (except slot cars). Think Trains, Nuclear subs, etc. Sure, they can get up to some pretty impressive speeds.... they don't do it quickly.

[snakepitt1]

I e-mailed the company and here is what they sent me back:

Scott,

Thank you for your comments. We welcome all feedback,
concerns, skepticisms and comments.
The Electrocharger is a result of 10 years research and
development with Texas A&M University. They have done most
of our testing. The Nations #7 hybrid authority is actually
part of that team.
Southwest Research will be be doing additional independent
3rd party studies as well.
If you are in the Automotive field you should recognize that
name.
Additional results and testing will come from performance
magazines.

You have good questions.
The motor that we are using is not a DC motor it's a Switch
Reluctance (SR) motor that spins much higher rpms than a DC
motor can achieve.
The vehicle DC power output is filtered and current
protected by the control module.
The Electrocharger acts as both a motor and an alternator.
When it acts as an alternator it receives/takes torque from
the engine to drive it as a generator. When it acts like a
motor it adds torque to the crankshaft.
A computer tells the motor what to do depending on engine
load requirements.
The 0-60 times vary somewhat. It depends on what vehicle you
have, and what mods you have on that vehicle, when it comes
to reducing your 1/4 mile time.
The Electrocharger doesn't do anything to your engine air or
fuel intake amounts. It is a parallel power adder that is
summed with the engine to make more torque earlier for the
vehicle to get it moving.
The engine is controlled by how much air and fuel is going
in, by its own computer. The engine will spin the same rpm
as normal, only more torque would be present at the
crankshaft. It merley forces the crank shaft to spin easier.
Unlike a supercharger or turbo charger forcing air into the
intake allowing the motor to burn more fuel ect. The
Electrocharger can also be used to augment a turbocharger
and super charger.
Keep in mind that the Electrocharger is for the initial
acceleration ...it has less impact once the engine gets near
its torque peak.
The Eletcrocharger is for raising and flatening out your
torque curve.....

Your vehicle isn't working any harder.
The best analogy is that if you are pushing your vehicle,
say you ran out of gas, and you can only push with so much
force. If a smaller person came along and helped you push,
it would make your work easier and the two of you could get
the car rolling faster sooner because you have more force
available.

I will be happy to speak with you, or to have the developer
himself address any questions that you may have.

Respectfully,

Millie Miles