[JRP3]

Originally Posted by DIYguy

OK, its a dumb idea and it wont work.

I guess it depends on what you define as "working". Every time I open my hood on a cool day and feel the motor and controller heat I think "Damn, it would be nice to put some of that into the cabin." Then I think about what is involved in doing so, and how much it might actually change the cabin temps, and I move on. But I understand the temptation to tap into the free heat.

[DIYguy]

Originally Posted by JRP3

I guess it depends on what you define as "working". Every time I open my hood on a cool day and feel the motor and controller heat I think "Damn, it would be nice to put some of that into the cabin." Then I think about what is involved in doing so, and how much it might actually change the cabin temps, and I move on. But I understand the temptation to tap into the free heat.

Good point. Now u should feel mine. u run an AC set up in a small car. I run a 9" dc (for now) in a 4200 lb truck. I can tell u that mine pumps out some heat... lol The unfortunate part is, the 13" will have a much longer delay than the 9" so.... different again. Point is... there are different size shoes here feet... er um I mean people.
With my current set up, I don't think it would be a huge amount of work as it has this nice flange around the DE and adding a capture plenum would be pretty easy. If I was leaving the 9" set up, I would give it a go, just to poke fun if nothing else. Not sure it's worth it with the 13". A lot more work too I think. Oh well, someone may find it helpful . . or perhaps inspiring is a better term..

[TigerNut]

One could use a small air to air intercooler core to preheat the cabin air using the output from an aircooled motor... That would avoid one round of efficiency losses.

[JRP3]

Assuming you can fit ducting large enough to transfer a significant amount of heat.

[lithiumlogic]

Thread necromancy! Well only 6 months' worth of necromancy..

I guess we'll just have to wait till someone builds an AC system with recirculated cabin air for cooling. So long as they post every few months to let us know they still have no respiratory diseases.

I don't get with the "your motor takes 15 minutes to warm up, by which time you're nearly there anyway".

1) If you're concerned about still having to use resistive heat for the first 15 minutes of your journey, can you rig a cabin heater circuit to come on an hour before you set off for work in the mornings, that will largely take care of the first 15.

The corollary of this argument is that recycling motor heat only helps on the last 15 minutes of your daily commute.

2) Indeed, and your daily commute uses less than half the pack anyway, so who cares?

My daily commute is 50 miles, so i could afford to do it with the heater blazing, windows wide open, at 80mph in a string vest and a pair of Y fronts.

The crunch time for an EV would be the annual driving home for christmas scenario. 180 miles in the winter, at night, on the motorway (say 55mph in the slow lane).

If I can save 1.5 Kw on heating each hour for the 3hours of this journey, and keep my cells warm, that's significant. Even if i have to use a resistive heater for the first 15 when the motor is cold.

I'd also want to make sure i'm using HiD lights, perhaps.

OTOH, it's also a scenario that makes the choice of AC motor questionable.

I can manage my daily commute without regen. The Xmas drive is highway, and only has opportunity for regen on the first and last couple of miles. An AC 50 setup isn't significantly different in price to a Netgain 9" & Soliton combo, but is lower peformance.