[cleanspeed1]

I'm new to the site and from what I have seen so far, I am really impressed. This is my first foray into doing something that uses an electric motor drive system, having come from a heavy ICE environment.

I purchased some plans from Mother Earth News for a homemade hybrid drive system on a whim to see what would happen. The basic design was put together back in the late 70s or so. Here are the articles to give everyone a basic idea of what I am talking about.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green...onversion.aspx

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green...ctric-Car.aspx

The plans are simple enough, the inventor used a 5 hp ICE, a 100 amp dc generator, a 400 amp motor and a primitive controller ( a homemade pulser to deal with breakaway torque and a 50 ohm / 750W rheostat ). The system runs on 48V. Everything is designed around a 2500 lbs and under curb weight vehicle.

After looking at them, I can see where improvements can be made, especially with the controller.

Whatever chassis that it's going into has to have room for a family of 4.
I had been musing about an GM S10/S15 crew cab pickup and throwing the drive system in the bed ( or under the bed ), a friend suggested an Astro Van. At this point I am open to suggestions.

I know that there are some calculations that need to be done so that everything is good out the gate.

What I need help with is the selection of a decent controller. I am not trying to set the world on fire ( literally and figuratively ) so as long as the vehicle is reliable and can get out of its own way. That's more important right now, at least until I put some miles on it and work out the kinks.

As a side note, what's the deal with supercapacitors? Are they worth investigating?