Moss Motors, Ltd

Here is something to ponder.  I was thinking of getting an MGB that has no motor or transmission.  I would replace the transmission with an AC electric motor of 50-75 hp with stepped down gearing.  I would then put a small portable propane generator to power the electric motor.  The next step would be to remove the steering column and all pedals.  I would mount a small step motor to the rack and pinion, another small step motor to the accelerator and finally one to the brake.  Where the stick shift was, I would mount a high end game controller joy stick to run the whole show.  In reality I will probably never even start on such a project, but was wondering what you guys think.

Norman  

Wow, a hybrid cyber MG for the 21st century! I'm sure Cecil Kimber would approve. There is lots out there on the web regarding electric vehicle conversions and DIY technology. It's well within reach of anyone with decent basic mechanical skills. The joystick controller is a pretty wild idea.

There's even an electric Midget: http://www.acterra.org/ev/

I was first made aware of that project when it passed me one evening as I cycled home from work!

Cheers,

Ed

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I want my MGB

Sounds like a real cool project. Much the same as robots that I've built in the past with the joystick controller and all. You could even program a yaw function to make doing a "fade" or parallel parking much easier!

The only difference between the car and robots would be the power plant.

Might I suggest that instead of stepper motors to steer and whatnot, use servo motors that respond to the magnitude of deflection of the joystick. That way, the farther you push the joystick, the faster the wheels would turn. The other benefit that you would get is that servo motors will stop when they reach the position dictated by the joystick. It would be much the same as actual driving, the quicker you push the stick, the faster the tires turn; and going around curves would be a snap since the wheels would maintain their position as long as the joystick was held steady.

MAN, I wish I were retired right now!

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On their death bed, nobody ever said, "Gee I wish I'd spent more time at work!"

Yes, servo motors.  That's what I meant.  Got my motors mixed up.  I was looking into the generators last night and found that the diesels and propane units burn about .4 to .6 gallons/hour.  At 55mph that's about 100 mpg give or take.  Perhaps it's time to start another savings account.

 

test

sorry folks. Having major problems posting here

5 failed attempts to reply so far...First off, I think it would be interesting to assess the drivability of a diesel electric power system. Then it could be adapted for cyber controls ;-)

This whole thing got me rather interested as to how one might proceed, using easily available components. I can anticipate a few wrinkles that would need to be ironed out. A generator will be designed to produce 50 or 60 Hz AC at 120 or 240V. However, most hybrid vehicle motors and controllers will require DC and likely have some particular voltage requirement. There may be industrial controllers that accept AC, however.

I love the idea, and I think it might be possible to make a truly efficient car. Since a generator runs at constant speed, its engine can be optimised for a particular RPM, even designed for Max efficiency. A far different proposition to the typica road engine, that must provide a wide range of speeds, with consideration, and compromise, regarding power and torque throughout the range. Then there is the electrical side. Generators are inherently efficient, as are modern "switch-mode" motor controllers. It would be interesting to compare efficiency of these last two links in the chain with that of the mechanical gearbox that they could replace.

Very interesting!

Ed

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I want my MGB

First off, I think it would be interesting to assess the drivability of a diesel electric power system. Then it could be adapted for cyber controls ;-)

This whole thing got me rather interested as to how one might proceed, using easily available components. I can anticipate a few wrinkles that would need to be ironed out. A generator will be designed to produce 50 or 60 Hz AC at 120 or 240V. However, most hybrid vehicle motors and controllers will require DC and likely have some particular voltage requirement. There may be industrial controllers that accept AC, however.

I love the idea, and I think it might be possible to make a truly efficient car. Since a generator runs at constant speed, its engine can be optimised for a particular RPM, even designed for Max efficiency. A far different proposition to the typica road engine, that must provide a wide range of speeds, with consideration, and compromise, regarding power and torque throughout the range. Then there is the electrical side. Generators are inherently efficient, as are modern "switch-mode" motor controllers. It would be interesting to compare efficiency of these last two links in the chain with that of the mechanical gearbox that they could replace.

Very interesting!

Ed

 

**** Apologies for the mess created above. You wouldn't believe the trouble I've had with this site playing up ****

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I want my MGB

My research into electric vehicles shows that AC motor are now replacing DC motors.  They apparently run better at steady speed under varying loads.  As this research is new to me I have yet to determine the power supply requirements for these motors.  I did find out that VW, Toyota, Opel, and Peugeot are all introducing diesel electric cars in Europe in the next year or two and Dodge already has a diesel electric Ram ready for production, all using AC motors.

Interesting. perhaps the AC motors will provide drive through some form of continuously variable transmission, or one of these fiendishly complex automatic transmissions that seem to be state of the art today.

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I want my MGB

With full power available from 0 to almost max rpm, only a simple 2 speed transmission is all that should ever be needed.  Most electric vehicles are direct drive right at the wheels and have no transmission at all.  I am hoping to use a big enough motor, or one properly gear reduced, to allow me to eliminate the transmission.  I would keep track of speed with either a GPS unit or a bicycle computer.  My big hurdle right now is that all the controls I have found are either DC to DC or DC to AC controller/converter.  I would need an AC to AC controller.  I am starting to look at industrial motors to get around this, but that causes a significant increase in weight.  200 lbs to 700 lbs kind of increase.  Most EV motors are liquid cooled to help keep the weight down.  Industrial motors use a lot of heavy cooling fins.  I just need to find an industrial controller that I can use with an EV motor or weight until someone comes out with one.

 

Would hate top see you do this to an MGB.  That you really need is a PA or certainly nothing later than a TC, of course with a RH joy stick!

Nah,

What I really want to see is a diesel-electric helicopter. Now THAT is where a joystick belongs.

The joystick in a car thing has actually been done, by Ed "Big Daddy Roth" of all people in the "Beatnick Bandit" and its sister car, the name of which escapes me. I have seen it in the fiberglass in an auto museum in Reno. Everything about this car was controlled by that one stick, and it was done almost forty years ago! I'm sure it could be done bunches better now, but I'm told it actually worked, and worked well.

Now let's get started on that hybrid eggbeater!

Bill

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Motorbill
From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon