4 Wheel Drive EV Conversion for Everyone

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Views: 10516
Transportation

 

Currently there is a need/desire for alternative energy vehicles. One major problem is the cost. The Chevy Volt is selling for about $35,000 and the Nissan Leaf is around the same. Not a bad price for a new vehicle, but my problem is I already own my car. I don't owe anyone, anything. I truly want an electric vehicle, but I don't want the car payment. I have looked into conversion kits and they aren't very good. The engines aren't great, the batteries aren't great and none have a 4 wheel drive capability. So what can I do if I want to keep my car, keep it 4 wheel drive, but make it electric?

I have designed an in wheel electric motor. It runs on the principles of an induction motor. It would fit in the same area as your breaks. There would be one in each wheel giving the person the capability of front, rear or all wheel drive. There is a newer battery that has yet to hit the market that will change the range and recharge timer for the future of electric vehicles.

Think of how many cars are completely functional they just don't get good gas mileage, their engine has broke or don't run, not due to the battery being a problem. ALL of these cars could be converted into electric cars. What a great car for a new driver . . . Right.

We would have to develop/design a computer hub for the system, but these also have already been developed.

So many people, like myself, love their cars and want to jump on the electric vehicle band wagon. I feel by offering an in-wheel conversion capability that people would feel much better spending maybe $5000 to convert than $35,000.

Manufacturing of this product would be the fun part. Because there are many different types of vehicles and different types of axle/wheel designs we would have to make a few different kits. One simple option, like demonstrated in my drawing, is stop the axle from spinning, pin/weld it. We would then be able to attach the Induction motor to the axle and then reattach everything we took, without sacrificing anything he car has to offer.

Note: I don't know much about cars. I can change tires and that is pretty much it. I do have ample experience on Aircraft engines.

Note 2: I don't have a CAD system so I drew them in Photoshop.

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  • ABOUT THE ENTRANT

  • Name:
    Tim Cooley
  • Type of entry:
    individual
  • Profession:
    Unemployed
  • Number of times previously entering contest:
    never
  • Tim's favorite design and analysis tools:
    Photoshop at the moment
  • For managing CAD data Tim's company uses:
    None
  • Tim's hobbies and activities:
    do it yourselfer, snowboarding, out door activitie
  • Tim belongs to these online communities:
    Facebook
  • Tim is inspired by:
    I get bored and think about random things
  • Patent status:
    none