EV hybrid MGF

This is an idea I have been mulling over for a while.

Take a MGF front subframe.
Swap the hubs for metro ones and add metro drive shafts.
And add the MGF engine and gearbox supports (or use the metro ones).
Fit a gearbox.
Fit an electric motor.
Fit some batteries.
Fit a charging system (from cars alternator or plug in).
Fit some clever controls so you can run electric front, petrol rear or both.


Discuss.

Sounds like someone has been at the brandy today!!

Tired me out just reading it !

James, been thinking of electric too, you can get electric motors designed for car conversions off the internet.
Some companies offer conversions for most cars also.
I am thinking that two motors may be better, one on each wheel directly driving and independently controlled by a processor so you get front wheel speeds that compliment the rear wheels and differential speeds between the two front wheels.
An industrial PLC controller connected to sensors on all four wheels (sensing on the reluctor rings) and fed back to the PLC via high speed counters would monitor the wheel speeds and the PLC would be programmed to operate the front two wheels appropriately.
Analog control could then be outputted into the servo amplifiers that drive the front two wheels.
Dynamic braking could also be utilized on the front wheels, most DC drives have the facility to absorb large amounts of energy and stop motors extremely quickly....within half a second if so wished!
Just a crazy idea, but with a lot of experience with programming PLC's I am certain it could be made to function well. The PLC would act like the ECU.

Sundance

Interesting idea.
I would be looking at what meaningful power output would be possible.
Also what batteries you would use, as I can't see a coupe of lead acid batteries giving much useful output?
Would you even get enough power to compensate for the extra weight?

Power would not be an issue, DC motors have really high torque - I have seen motors snap 1 1/2 inch shafts without damage to their windings. The issue would be the battery packs. If its a hybrid using both rear internal combustion engine and front DC electric motor(s) then you would only employ the front motors when accelerating or under extra load, such as driving up a gradient. This would keep the battery cells smaller.
Industrial DC drives use a input of about 500-600 volts DC - extremely nasty if it got hold of you - so your battery would need to feed a similar voltage if using something from the machine tool industry.
From memory, I think battery powered forklift trucks use a lead acid cell output of about 100 volts so maybe a similar spec battery and drive motor could be utilized.
I would love to have the spare time and cash to have a crack at something like this.....

Sundance

Andy Lawrence wrote: Sounds like someone has been at the brandy today!!

That's a bit harsh.

David Aiketgate wrote: …..what meaningful power output would be possible......what batteries........to compensate for the extra weight?

Power is down to motor and battery choice as is weight.

My thinking is an extra 40kg for the drive train and another 40kg for a motor.

Add a couple of deep discharge (leisure) batteries at about 25kg each and you are at about 130kg or roughly 12% of the weight of the car.

You would only need 20hp to start making a difference, not to mention the instant torque.

Sundance - this subject has multiple levels of possibility but I don't want to over complicate things, hence the use of a PG1 gearbox between the electric motor and the drive shafts.


It would be quite easy to connect the electric motor by using a suitable solenoid to move the clutch arm, use the handbrake switch to only allow this when stationary avoids any jolt that you would get engaging the motor when moving.

Check out....
https://www.electricclassiccars.co.uk/

Sundance

Battery choice has several possibilities.

Several leisure batteries would work but are large, heavy and expensive.

Golf cart/ disabled buggy batteries are smaller but also hold less charge.

My favourite choice would be a pair of vertical lithium packs using a number of 3.2v packs stacked on top of each other behind the seats, keeps the weight central but uses little space.

SundanceUK wrote: Check out....
https://www.electricclassiccars.co.uk/

Cheers, I had seen that one, unfortunately I am cheapskate MG owner LOL.