Poulsen hybrid system

[Greybrick]

Irrespective of costs of product, installation and keeping the batteries charged, have any looked into what's being offered by the Poulsen hybrid retrofit system;

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

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[theholycow]

Thank you for not using the word "Irregardless".

Anyway, the system looks like an interesting idea but I'm skeptical that it could actually work as advertised, and it looks like it would adversely affect ride and handling too.

[Sludgy]

This is a simply brilliant idea. Now if they can just maufacture it..............

[GasSavers_landon]

As near as I can tell, this system transfers it's power through twelve rivets fixed to the sheet metal of your car. It just doesn't sound like a good solution. Great idea though.

[kamesama980]

no, it sounds like a great idea for a few hundred miles till the vibration/torque rips the plastic bumper off the metal fender (vast majority of cars have plastic bumper on the rear sides, the sheet-metal rear fender is SO early 90s)

now it takes 6x as long to change a flat tire if it's in back.

now you have at least a few hundred bucks on the black market of hardware pop-riveted and allen-bolted to your car and they don't even need cinder blocks to get them.

it'd be interesting to see how it fits something like my old 88 cressida... really wierd/nice lotus designed rear suspension that changes camber and toe (by a lot) as the wheel articulates. but then they do say 'fits 90% of cars'

rated 13hp @ 1000rpm (~60mph) I wonder what happens if you turn on the regular engine and go faster. does it toast the bearings? the motors?

overall, it's a nice idea. if I had 3500 and an old <2000lb civic laying around I'd buy it to get to work and back BUT I'd hook it to the car's alternator to charge while still moving if I wanted (with a switch of course. no need to charge them all the time it's running (highway))

[fumesucker]

Originally Posted by kamesama980

no, it sounds like a great idea for a few hundred miles till the vibration/torque rips the plastic bumper off the metal fender (vast majority of cars have plastic bumper on the rear sides, the sheet-metal rear fender is SO early 90s)

Rigging a mount for the torque arm to go to the frame could be done by any competent welding/fab shop for a few hundred bucks..

now it takes 6x as long to change a flat tire if it's in back.

Agreed, that would complicate things.. Run flat tires have been around for quite a while now though.

now you have at least a few hundred bucks on the black market of hardware pop-riveted and allen-bolted to your car and they don't even need cinder blocks to get them.

Look at what people invest in oversize tires and rims that have the same problem.. When I had my wheels and tires stolen about thirty years ago, they didn't even bother with cinder blocks, car was sitting on the ground when I came out in the morning..

rated 13hp @ 1000rpm (~60mph) I wonder what happens if you turn on the regular engine and go faster. does it toast the bearings? the motors?

Bearings would be no different than wheel bearings, probably a good bit smaller since they don't have to support the load of the car..

As for the motor, brushless motors are just wire, steel and magnets, I'm sure the controllers would be designed to cut power if you accelerate past the max speed of the motor.. Brushless controllers these days are usually built around some sort of microcontroller, it takes just minutes to reprogram a microcontroller with the right equipment..

overall, it's a nice idea. if I had 3500 and an old <2000lb civic laying around I'd buy it to get to work and back BUT I'd hook it to the car's alternator to charge while still moving if I wanted (with a switch of course. no need to charge them all the time it's running (highway))

That is completely opposite the philosophy of the unit, you want to use wall power rather than gasoline power since it is cheaper and less polluting.

[fumesucker]

The motors are rated @ 7hp each @ 1000 rpm (60 mph).. That works out to 36.76 foot pounds.

It appears the torque bars are about 2 ft long so the load at the end of the bar would be about 18 lbs or so under full power..