My T/E-Maxx setup

[zeropointbug]

digitalsilo: No, I have no webpage, as it is still just a concept. But I am working on a Toyota 1/4 ton electric conversion. We got 5x Ford-Siemens 3-Phase (130hp @ 380v) induction motors for ~$6000 total, a great deal. Just lead acid batteries for starters on this one, once worn out, will replace with really good batts (4 years).

The XE Avow:

-3-phase hybrid synchronous motor (BRUSA AG)
-BRUSA DMC514 controller (480v, 150amp, 98% eff.) roughly 95hp
-Altair Nano batteries (uber powerful, last >15,000 cycles)
-dry vehicle weight will be something like 650lbs.
-motorcycle moto sport tires
-~60Wh/mile power consumption

I have concept sketches and everything, I started about 1 year ago, and this car here pops up out of nowhere. Almost identical to mine (except for 4 wheels), even uses carbon fiber and Kevlar, which is what I was going to use. I was so shook up about it when I saw it, I was so surprised, and yet frustrated that it could be SO SIMILAR to mine, basically the same thing, those dang Chinese.

So tell me, what kind of hub motor are you using? The only good ones I have found were from PML Flight in UK, and cost 4x as much for a system that a single motor and direct drive gearbox. Although they do have some new ones they just launched, they call them the 'Hi-Pa' drive. They come in 40, 80, and 120Kw versions, the 120's being the most power dense.

Please, if you have any questions about something you guys are not sure of, I am here. I know of almost every available battery, motor system, inverters, chargers, etc. All the top of the line stuff.

Nice to know there is a growing movement towards EV's! Especially for racing!

[BrianG]

ZPB, you gotta spend less time on this piddley R/C stuff and get that Avow project going! I want to see some vids of it!

I always wondered why car makers don't install BL motors on the rear tires of the psuedo sports cars (you know, the FWD Focus, Neons, etc) to give them that extra kick on takeoff and passing. It would also reduce the need for as much power on the existing 4-cyl. So basically, the car would run off the gas engine normally and use the electric when it is needed for extra torque. Just an idea.

[ClodMaxx]

isn't that what a hybrid does? maybe not the motors on the wheels, but dc somehow kicks in to give an extra boost. or maybe the other way around, lol.

when i worked part time at the apple store about a year ago, i had a GM engineer come into the store and praddle on for about a half hour (i had to stop him - my mgr. was giving me dirty looks) about this 'new electric technology' where they were attaching enormously powerful motors to the hubs of cars, and accelaration was super quick. now there's the tesla car. :dft002:

[zeropointbug]

That would be considered a 'mild' hybrid with that setup. But the payback on that setup is minimal. The only hybrid setup I would use, would be a very small, efficient engine running to recharge the batts, with a big powerful motor doing all the work for accelerating and cruising.

Thanks, I know, I have a lot of 'hobbies' so to speak. But ultimately, I want to start up my own company to make small runs of these things, and just expand from there.

You are right though, "why don't auto makers do something" as they have massive resources to R&D battery technology, as the batteries are, and always have been the limiting factor in EV's. But, we are also to blame as well, really, for not asking for more of this kind of tech. But there are technologies out there that would change the world as we know it, they just don't get the massive funding that they need. Like Europositron in Finland, they have a battery that has 1330Wh/kg density (10x Lithium Ion), and they say the limit is ~1700Wh/kg, and only $40/kWh. That, my friend, would change everything.

[zeropointbug]

Originally Posted by ClodMaxx

isn't that what a hybrid does? maybe not the motors on the wheels, but dc somehow kicks in to give an extra boost. or maybe the other way around, lol.

when i worked part time at the apple store about a year ago, i had a GM engineer come into the store and praddle on for about a half hour (i had to stop him - my mgr. was giving me dirty looks) about this 'new electric technology' where they were attaching enormously powerful motors to the hubs of cars, and accelaration was super quick. now there's the tesla car. :dft002:

where do you live BTW? UK (PML Flight Link) is the only place I know of that has these motors, 160hp/wheel.

Yup, I know all about the Tesla Roadster.

X1 electric car 0-60mph 3 sec, he uses Lithium Polymer (he says 4000amps)

Try this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qDZOBQs60w

Or this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsGeQby7Jnw

[ClodMaxx]

the hybrids are definitely mild. a friend has one, and is considering the 'fred flintstone method' to improve accelaration but cutting a hole in the floorboard and using his feet, lol. that thing has zero power.

i'm in the motor city. this engineer was discussing some testing they were doing on electric cars... he didn't mention a model name, although it wasn't the Volt concept, i don't think.

there was another electric car GM was working on (don't remember the name now) about 5 years ago. i was parked next to one in a parking lot - it was the most surreal thing. the guy got in and drove it away, with no sound but the gravel under the tires. it was like i had cotton in my ears.

[zeropointbug]

Was it a GM EV1 by any chance? They were all canceled, all the leases were destroyed, and all cars taken to be crushed. I mourned on that day, I mourned.

[ClodMaxx]

yep, that's what it was called. it was a white one.

that was really strange - it was all the latest talk around here, then suddenly it disappeared. all the cars were crushed? i didn't hear that part. i don't think i could've been the guy to pull that lever on them...

[zeropointbug]

It's a shame isn't it?!

They were really good cars too, 0-60 6 secs, IIRC 150 miles range, and no maintainence.

There have been quite a few scapped projects for EV's by manufactureres. In fact that is where I got my motors from, the 'Ford EV Ranger'. I got 130hp motors for $6000, a steal.

[digitalsolo]

The hub motors we're planning are custom, built by my Uncle. :)

He's designed some near unity motors in the 6-8 HP range already, and we're planning to scale them up massively (the 6-8 HP motors are only a few pounds each). In theory these can be pushed over-unity (not technically, as they pull/replenish energy via magnetic field switching) for zero loss on the batteries. In reality, the wind resistance, rolling resistance and wire resistance will keep it in the high 90s. Still VERY good efficiency. ;)

We're going to build a remote control (which will eventually become "intelligent" enough to cut the lawn by itself) lawnmower based on a combo of brushless and hub motors (brushless drive, tank style 0 turning radius w/ hub motors for the blade system). Should be fun, I'll post some pictures when we start getting somewhere. Both projects are just napkin designs currently. ;)

On the topic of my T/E hybrid, I got it back on the road today, and found out about 8 minutes in that I have a cracked shock tower (from the old accident), but it's just an annoyance for bashing, but will need fixed before I track it at all.

Now that my Lipos are properly charged and balanced, all I can say is WOW. I killed a rear center driveshaft (stock e-maxx) about 10 minutes into the run. I had spare E-maxx axle assemblies, so I modified one to replace the damaged part, worked fine. I am definitely going to need to upgrade to something stronger though. I only have 5 more assemblies, so that's only an hours run time. ;) Any recommendations?

I'm also going to start playing with gearing, as I'm way to heavily geared right now. It hauls ass, but is well beyond my needs, for anything beyond speed runs. Temperatures are moderate, but low enough the MM isn't going thermal. Probably going to pull 2 teeth out of the pinion and try it again. I'll post up some pictures as soon as my dipurgital charges up. :)

[digitalsolo]

Well, I've been working some bugs out of the truck (too busy repairing/replacing things to get any good pictures).

Primary problems I've found (none of these really surprising) are the center drive axles and the factory slipper.

The center drives have CVDs on the way (should be here any time now) and I just picked up a Strobe slipper w/ high temp pads and a 15T 5mm mod1 pinion. Hopefully that should alleviate both problems, and allow me a little bit of slip so that I can quit abusing drivetrain and keep the front wheels on the ground a little better. ;)

I also mounted a cooling fan on my MambaMax ESC; temperatures dropped from ~140-150* range to ambient. I'm VERY happy with that result. The current setup runs for ~35+ minutes of bashing, with the motor temps in the 140* range and the ESC at whatever ambient sits at (40x40x20 mm cooling fan on the ESC, + UBEC). That's on 4s2p 5000 mah ThunderPower packs (balanced every change with my CellPro 4s, which is a great charger BTW).

Aside from that, I did manage to crack a lower a-arm and bulkhead, and pop a shock cap. No major breaks, just a few hairline cracks, truck still drove fine. I have spare parts for all of that, so a few screws and she'll be happy again. :) I'm also considering picking up a longer T-Maxx chassis and applying my modifications to that, to try and increase my in-air stability and keep the wheels on the ground a little better.

I promise, I'll have some pictures up soon. :D

[GorillaMaxx360]

you should give the FLM chassis a try it is only 90 bucks and it comes with the rear dogbone and drive cups. you will still be able to use your front metal dogbone that is on the way just not the rear, but that would be the case anyway if you got a longer maxx chassis.

[digitalsolo]

The FLM chassis looks nice, but it's more a matter of me liking fabrication, and I can pick up an extended T-Mass chassis for ~15 dollars. :)

I may still look into the FLM chassis, it is a nice looking piece, if a little "bling" for my tastes.

[Procharged5.0]

digital solo......

I have a new "in the package" Racer's Edge Big-Block conversion chassis if you're interested. I have no need for it so I'll let it go cheap.

[digitalsolo]

Define cheap. ;)

Does it have the correct chassis braces with it as well? I'm guessing this is the web style one they sell, correct?

Just drop me a PM.