Archives

http://www.poulsenhybrid.com/_images//hybridImg.jpg

http://www.poulsenhybrid.com/poulsen.html


Since I don't think I can do much in the way of modification of the hybrid system in the civic I was thinking about attempting the above system...

Comments? Better options for a plug-in for the civic?

I saw this Poulsen system web site a while back and asked some tech-type people their opinions. It seems this concept has potential, but some things probably need to be figured out on it still.

For example, what happens if the wheel loses traction or leaves the ground for some reason. I wonder how the electric motor reacts to such a situation.

I spoke to Mr. Poulsen about possibly coming to Hybridfest in Madison and sharing his product. Nice guy. Not sure if they can make it. They just moved to a larger facility. At this point we will stay in touch and see how progress goes.

That seems like an interesting idea, although I would prefer a less visible setup.

From what I see, (6) 120ah lead acid batteries are almost 600lbs. That is alot of weight to drag around.

A Civic doesn't need that to be a viable plug-in. Personally I would just leave the poor thing alone and get some insanely good gas mileage with driving techniques alone and come out on top. If one were obsessed with PHEV, just do the same to the Civic that everyone else does to the Prius: add BIG battery. Lord knows that a HCH can use as much juice as you can throw at it, meaning that more electrons in the trunk can be used to keep the ICE operating in that low-load lean-burn sweet spot over a wider range of driving conditions without fear of recal or pack damage. Sounds like a great platform to me and capitalizes on strengths already built in to the vehicle.

From what I see, (6) 120ah lead acid batteries are almost 600lbs. That is alot of weight to drag around.

Yeah, they have 300 lbs or something listed on their site, not sure how they came by that number, I calculated 432 (using firefly batteries :)).


Is there anybody that has done a civic plug in yet? I know it can be done, just don't know how difficult the programming/communication with stock ecu would be.

From listening to an audio interview with Poulsen, they're only projecting that the first battery option (non LiON) will only last about a year and need to be replaced. Cost is projected to be 500-600 dollars. Oy.

However, I own an older car ('99). I already have 1 car payment and that's not going away for another 5 years. I plan on driving my '99 until it's no longer feasible to keep it running. Being able to have a bolt-on electric assist, especially one priced under 4000, is really starting to appeal to me a lot more than it did when gas was only $2.50.

That all being said, unless I can expect to see a 25% or greater increase in FE, it just wouldn't make enough of a difference to be worthwhile to me.

An obvious major problem is the unsprung motor weight. But that
got me thinking, there's gotta be a way to spring it... some
sort of flexible interface between the wheel lugnuts and the
motor, and a different type of mounting system that holds up
more of the motor's weight. Bigger and uglier external system,
but what are the choices, aside from finding Mike's ideal mule
that has enough room near the trailing-arm rear suspension
pivots to mount motors under there and belt-drive the wheels?
.
_H*