mt_goat

Will someone figure out for me how to do a hybrid engine conversion on my truck please. Either that or how about an SAS conversion, ARB lockers, winch bumper, or a lift kit for a new Toyota Highlander?

elripster

I know excatly where you could get a hybrid conversion with 250HP but it will cost about 25K at this point. For a little more dough you could easily be at 400hp. (you gotta see how easy it is to get hp from an electric motor as opposed to a piston type ICE).

Check out www.l3research.com And www.challengex.org The first is a company started by my professor from technology he developed at my school. That's where you could get the conversion. The second is a competition in which my school is taking part. I can't go into they details of our hybrid plans for the Chevy Equinox but it'll be very very cool.

One good note though, as more and more trucks become hybrids, more options will come about and the price will come down.

Frank

mt_goat

I want one. Thanks for the links Frank. I'm thinking the torque from the electric motor would be great for wheeling.

kickaha

I saw something somewhere about a couple that modified their engine rather cheaply to burn used vegetable oil. Clean vegetable oil would work too, just more expensive. They then drove around the country without ever paying for fuel by getting used oil from various restaraunts. Part of the system included a filter for the impurities. Only problem was that burning the used oil gave them the munchies because of smells produced.

I'd gladly buy a hybrid vehicle. Hopefully they'll be more widely available by the time my 4runner needs replacing.

kyle_22r

you're thinking of biodiesel. a diesel engine can run most any kind of oil with little modification...the only problem is, it'll get more expensive as it catches on, as everyone will find that people are willing to buy their fat that would've been thrown out...

kind of like how sodium fluoride was once regarded as toxic waste, then people decided it was smart to put it in water and the cost skyrocketed

ctcost

lol. Think I'll go for THE ATOMIC CARRRRRR OF THE FUTURREEEEEEEEE:

jimbo74

haha... that looks like an old nash

kyle_22r

hey, if that's what cars in the future look like, put me down. much better looking than the fisher price hybrids we have today

ctcost

Yeah this design strictly for drag coefficient and cheap production has got to stop! Bring back a well designed auto from a guy with sense of style!!!

oly884

or there's this

Seems pretty cool

kyle_22r

i like that idea much, much better than fuel cells. it uses existing technology, who cares if it's not as efficient as fuel cells? if we could only have functional nuclear power to produce the hydrogen, it wouldn't be a big deal.

plus, i can't live without the sound of a piston engine

elripster

Funny you should mention that. The electric motor will revolutionize our sport. Dual cases will be a thing of the past as well most of the gears in your tranny. Expect to see much much less breakage as you no longer have all that rotating inertia snap shafts, etc....

Wheeling will also be very quite. You can be in the mountains and hear sounds other than your motor.

Frank

BT17R

The future is now. Over 10,000 firm deposits are down on the 2006 Lexus RX400h. The Highlander HSD will follow soon after, also AWD with electric motors all around.

News here



Of course my favorite is Volta, but will it ever see production?



Toyota has already announced that every series of vehicle will offer the Hybrid Synergy Drive modular option by approximately 2010. We already have Prius, next up are RX, Highlander and Camry in 2006, then most of the rest later. Not that Toyota is resting, they're main emphasis, bigger than the hybrid revolution, will be fuel cell technology that is already operational and being fleet tested in other countries.