Re: Newbie enquiry

[Michael Hurley <mephit_stophilis@yahoo.com>]

>My alternative idea instead of the landie is to get a bigger truck and
>convert into an expedition hybrid.  A Unimog without engine seems to be a
>good start, having a good chassis to hang batteries from, readily available
>parts and space to hide a genny too to top up the "string"   Again using a
>Electo Auto's parts kit.  Has anyone done anything similar?

Whoof! You may want to think about the Unimog a little bit before 
committing yourself. Being as it is, (I believe) 8 feet tall and a 
good 6 feet (at least) wide, and being as it is shaped like a brick, 
your aerodynamic drag will be horrendous. That's 48 sq. feet of 
frontal area you have to move air around at speed. Plus it'll weigh 
in at a good 6000 - 8000 pounds when finished. The onboard genset is 
not going to be able to output enough energy to keep the vehicle 
going. It's a 1920 Watt (24V/80A) unit, according to Mercedes.

Just playing with some numbers for a pure EV Unimog (mostly educated 
guesses), I came up with a 6200 Lb vehicle, using 4 parallel strings 
of 156v each, that still only got 30 miles to a charge at 40MPH, with 
a top speed of about 50 MPH (Which is fine, since that's the top 
speed of the stock Unimog).

Even hybridizing this beast would most likely give you only very 
short range and low speed, I'm afraid. You'd also probably kill the 
motor in very short order, unless you found something industrial 
level. I don't think a standard EV grade motor would not be up to 
this.It might work with an Insight style setup i.e. a smaller than 
normal gas engine providing acceleration, and primary power, with an 
electric motor providing boost for better emissions and pep.

Please don't think I'm trying to convince you not to try making your 
own hybrid, you may just want to use something a bit smaller than the 
Unimog.
-- 


                                                 Auf wiedersehen!

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