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AWD custom chassis hybrid

360 Views 2 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  MACANAC
I apologize if this subject has been discussed I have been unable to find it if it has.
I am in process of buying components, and planning a 1 off car build. I have a 6.0l LS and Porsche transaxle for a mid engine RWD drivetrain. My question is would it feasible to put a Tesla small front drive unit on the front wheels? With a battery maybe big enough for 50 mile range making the car AWD.
If I was to do this what are your thoughts on performance? Handling? Pros? Cons?
Would I be able to run both systems together? Or would they fight each other or 1 drag the other down?
Right now I'm just curious what you guys think? It sounds really cool to me but I have zero experience with any kind of EV.
Thank you guys for any help and for your opinions you may share.
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Bosch developed the very same system for the upcoming hybrid Corvette. They only burned down one car during the development.
I apologize if this subject has been discussed I have been unable to find it if it has.
I am in process of buying components, and planning a 1 off car build. I have a 6.0l LS and Porsche transaxle for a mid engine RWD drivetrain. My question is would it feasible to put a Tesla small front drive unit on the front wheels? With a battery maybe big enough for 50 mile range making the car AWD.
If I was to do this what are your thoughts on performance? Handling? Pros? Cons?
Would I be able to run both systems together? Or would they fight each other or 1 drag the other down?
Right now I'm just curious what you guys think? It sounds really cool to me but I have zero experience with any kind of EV.
Thank you guys for any help and for your opinions you may share.
Just completed construction on a home built hybrid sports car (merd 3.2L Acura V-6, fd AC-50 EV via Miata diff). This started out many years ago as an experiment to add acceleration torque, and there was not much info or support available at the time. Now there are a few production models and high end race cars that use a hybrid derivative, so it's not a total folly.

My thoughts to date:
Performance: Calculate hp/weight as a push, added torque is attractive, but will know more after road testing.
Configuration: Kept throttle issue simple by mechanically linking EV throttle to ICE throttle cable. (One alternative would be to link a second throttle position sensor to the ICE and wire it to the EV system.) For my build requirements I'm programming controller for mild regen at low ICE throttle / cruising speed, EV power on at mid ICE throttle.
Handling - Based on reference material about 4wd race car design, there are tradeoffs - benefits to straight line acceleration, weight penalties for extra running gear, changing f/r weight distribution. I am particularly curious about the impact of adding acceleration forces to the front tires during corner exit (reference "circle of traction" in race car design books).

Glad to discuss details if we can do it without cluttering up this forum. BTW You may get mixed responses - some purists discount it, many car guys are intrigued.
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