Macroscien said..



Lets build light electric car like that:
1.-first flat chasis - containing battery and 4 electric motors in hub wheels. Complete power drive system , flat and low - as level of your existing car floor.

Macroscien said..



1. When your EV has limited range of 100 km and suddenly you decided to travel 200- 300 km we have following easy options:
a) Have a net of service station to swap batteries in a minute
b) Have a portable petrol generator that is inserted into the boot of that car for the trip . Car is designed to accommodate such generator. Or on the roof rack or below the floor.
c) Future EV version could have also space in the floor allowing to swap battery pack for flat design petrol motor just for the trip.
d) Attach to tow bar a trailer with petrol generator and link back with cable to recharge car on the go. You don't need to own one. For a one trip is better to rent it from service station.

Now range or our EV is unlimited.

2. This is why structure of the drive train chassis could be build in such way that could easily slide to extend in length or widths. Just few structural elements - beams could expend or slide in like a ram to allow distance between wheels :
-increase for better stability for large cabin
-decrease for small city commuting , in space saver cabin

We never are going to replace 10 tone truck or bus but if think far ahead we could use bottom modules to clip into one centrally operated vehicle.
So for example we could connect 2 drive trains to build one longer limousine or van .

Since average family has now 4 cars (two for parents and two for kids) that we don't have to look far if need extra power drive train.
Join even 4 to create extra wide and long, as long as you have roads wide enough to support it. One cabin sitting on all 4 power drive base unit.
16 wheels in total. Crazy ? maybe today yes but again at no cost at all you could now transport a serious bulky stuff.

Because our car have motor in the wheels we could also easy lift whole floor platform above the ground - high clearance or lower it. By pneumatic or mechanical rams whole suspension could go up or down.

FormulaNova said..



Why not just have a removable battery pack?

If you have a need for such cars, why not just have multiple cars instead? Whats the cost of an extra battery and motor setup versus the complexity and restrictions of having multiple cabins that can be swapped.

I don't know how Macro's idea of a small car platform is going to work when he wants to add on his 'delivery van' cabin. They have significantly different widths and lengths.

Macro wouldn't have been inventing a motor car back then, he would have been inventing a plutonium powered pogo stick with interchangable battery packs.

FormulaNova said..


Lets throw it into a Toyota and call it a Prius or maybe a Hybrid Camry? What? It's been done already?

Dezman said..

Now this stupid idea that a electric car has to have long range for the once a year holiday does not add up!.

seanhogan said..

Formula, you're not yourself, have a snickers....

Dezman said..

Now this stupid idea that a electric car has to have long range for the once a year holiday does not add up!
Now look at what we got now a car that weighs 10 times more than its cargo, .

Ian K said..



You can average much less than 70kW FormulaNova and still have a driveable car, also from Gizmag


"Similarly, so that the car can drive a significant distance, PML has used a very small, lightweight 250cc four stroke motor to power a highly-efficient electrical generator. The engine is run at a continuous speed and load, which results in optimum efficiency fuel conversion. After delivering the energy to the battery system the mileage translates to around 80mpg and gives the QED a range of 1000 miles (1500 kilometres) between recharges or visits to the petrol station. Driving it without the generator offers a still healthy (by EV standards) range of 200-250 miles (350 to 420 km depending on how much of a leadfoot the driver is)."

Ian K said..



10 times more than its cargo! That's a conservative estimate. I'm sure, more than once, someone has jumped in a Toyota Fantasylandcruiser, weighing 2.5 tonnes, to duck down the shops for a packet of smokes. Do they even weigh 100 grams?

Edit. Thought I'd better check my guestimates on the web

Landcruiser Sahara Turbo Diesel

Kerb weight 2720kg
GVM 3350kg

It can only take at max 23%of its own weight!

4 blokes in it, crossing the Sahara would have to travel pretty light. You'd be better off on 4 camels. Macro's right. There's room for improvement in vehicle design and construction.

Dezman said..

It's a joke hey? If only the government could push up the rego going by weight and engine size as well. Encourage lighter cars would reduce collision impact, save wear and tear on roads etc. I'm all for higher fuel tax for its a user pay system.

FormulaNova said..



My understanding is that they do push up the rego for heavier cars. At least here in NSW. Once your car gets over 1500Kgs its charged a higher rego fee. I am sure there are lower categories too.

I think in Qld they push it up based on the number of cylinders.

I am not sure about your idea of 'reduce collision impact'. What does that mean? Two small cars colliding head on is still going to involve the same deceleration as two heavy cars colliding head on.

I am not sure the wear and tear on the roads would be noticeable either. I read somewhere ages ago that cars tend to create more wear on the roads than trucks, although I guess the obvious difference in Kms driven, trucks would probably cause more.

I might have to go buy a ute now. That way I could clip on another bit and call it a panel van! If only I could get one long enough for boards to fit in easily.

FormulaNova said..




I thought it was more like when Homer got the chance to design a car