SUVs and electric vehicles

by Pat
(Maple, Ontario, Canada)

Hybrid SUV: Making the connection

by Lundy
(Alton)

Electric hybrid S-10 Blazer

by Jim Cannon
(Bethesda, MD)

Chevrolet Suburban Hybrid

by Mark
(Vancouver, WA)

I was thinking about attaching an electric motor to the driveshaft of my 2 wheel drive, 3/4 ton 454 Suburban. The truck eats gas by nature of course...but what if I could drive it at idle pretty much all of the time?

With an updated charging system, a couple of steering wheel controls tied to the electric motor system for brake and acceleration coupled with a gas pedal and brake pedal override for the gas engine and wheel brakes, I could potentially use the electric motor to accelerate, brake, and drive at constant speed without ever pushing the gas pedal.
All the while the gas engine charging system is charging the batteries.

If I run into a situation where I need to accelerate quicker than what the electric motor would provide, I simply press the gas pedal. Same for the brakes. What fundamental issues with physics am I missing with this logic?


Hi, Mark -
If I'm understanding you right...

Toyota already thought of this; they patented it, called it "synergy drive", and put it in their Prius.
It takes a computer to make it work smoothly, though. Are you thinking of going computerless?

I don't think you're missing any laws of physics. (May be expensive, though.)

An electric motor company called NetGain has come up with a nifty way to take a gas-guzzler such as your Suburban and give it an electric assist, a lot like you're describing - and dramatically improving the gas mileage.
You can read my interview with them here.

Regards,
Lynne