Swapping the A2 for a BMW i3 - thoughts please

i can see the appeal. I wonder what the cost of converting an A2 to all electric would be? There have been some major advances is hub mounted motors recently. Developments by Michelin have produced front mounted motor hubs too.

James

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jp.oog said:
i can see the appeal. I wonder what the cost of converting an A2 to all electric would be? There have been some major advances is hub mounted motors recently. Developments by Michelin have produced front mounted motor hubs too.

James

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There is a great series of utube videos showing someone actually converting his A2 to Electric drive with a pretty big motor in the engine bay. Interesting viewing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKwYMIIJP5E

Steve B
 
I have seen these videos before. Mounting the motors in the hubs would negate the need for a huge motor under the bonnet.

James

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jp.oog said:
I have seen these videos before. Mounting the motors in the hubs would negate the need for a huge motor under the bonnet.

James

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Yes, but I have only seen the hub mounted motors used for moving caravans etc.? Are they really a genuine option?

How do they maintain the same speed on all four wheels when travelling in a straight line and how about cornering? the wheels have to turn at different speeds for that?

If they can genuinely do that I would be very impressed.

Surely you need a differential ? and surely that means one motor and a gearbox?

I am probably just way behind on this technology.

Steve B
 
Check out 'Michelin Activewheel in hub electric motor at EVS26' on YouTube

James

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manhattan$ said:
The stiff carbon shell also helps.

The REX is about an extra £3k and sounds like there is a little moped in the boot. It also suffers with EML problems. Those and the fact of dragging a heavy mechanical lump around, slower 0-60 time and more things to go wrong put me off.

I had a test i3 for a few days and it threw up the EML and the chugging engine was embarrassing.

Imo, go all electric, with the new higher range i3.


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Thanks for the chat this am Paul, I see the points you made rewards the REX - I'm going to loan test drive the REX model and run it in to the red zone to engage it and see how I feel about it - ultimately IF the 600cc engine was acting as a hybrid engine then I'd jump on it - but since it's simply a generator for the electric motor I'm
Inclined to give it a miss


Andy Nicoll
07977170544

JDM Import specialists
www.facebook.com/bhpimports
 
The Alu A2 would be the perfect car for a conversion.


jp.oog said:
i can see the appeal. I wonder what the cost of converting an A2 to all electric would be? There have been some major advances is hub mounted motors recently. Developments by Michelin have produced front mounted motor hubs too.

James

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No problem at all Andy.
Let me know how you get on and your thoughts of the REX. :)
andynics1 said:
Thanks for the chat this am Paul, I see the points you made rewards the REX - I'm going to loan test drive the REX model and run it in to the red zone to engage it and see how I feel about it - ultimately IF the 600cc engine was acting as a hybrid engine then I'd jump on it - but since it's simply a generator for the electric motor I'm
Inclined to give it a miss


Andy Nicoll
07977170544

JDM Import specialists
www.facebook.com/bhpimports
Click to expand...
 
jp.oog said:
Check out 'Michelin Activewheel in hub electric motor at EVS26' on YouTube

James

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Very interesting.

I can only assume that they somehow control the speed of each individual hub by computer control, that is quite clever when the speed differntial across axles has to be spot on and across sharp turns and gentle bends.

They have obviously overcome that problem, since there are cars out there, I guess?

Steve B
 
manhattan$ said:
If your average is 60 miles per day, you will be all ok in the winter months.

The bmw i3 App has a timed pre conditioning which can be set. This will warm the batteries up to normal operating temperature to increase range. It will also warm the interior up for you, so you wont have to de ice your windows.


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I am a fan of the i3 and if I could find a way I would buy one.

But When you said the above I thought "Prewarm the batteries to make them more efficient?" How does that work? You have to use energy to heat them, so you are using energy to increase the range?
And preheating the cabin etc.? That too takes energy.

But I think I missed something, that was that overnight you are probably charging the car anyway and so the energy comes from the mains feed (effectively). So that really does increase the range, nit to mention the advantage of jumping into a pre-warmed car..
I like that!!

Steve B
 
Birchall said:
I am a fan of the i3 and if I could find a way I would buy one.

But When you said the above I thought "Prewarm the batteries to make them more efficient?" How does that work? You have to use energy to heat them, so you are using energy to increase the range?
And preheating the cabin etc.? That too takes energy.

But I think I missed something, that was that overnight you are probably charging the car anyway and so the energy comes from the mains feed (effectively). So that really does increase the range, nit to mention the advantage of jumping into a pre-warmed car..
I like that!!

Steve B
Click to expand...

You can set it whilst the car is on charge or overnight whilst you are asleep.

When the battery is fully charged, it will keep the batteries heated or cooled to optimum working temperature for your set leaving time. This uses power from your wall charger or public charger, not the battery pack and improves the range.

It will also heat the interior, so on icy days the windows are defrosted and interior all nice and warm. Hot days, it will also cool the batteries and interior.

It costs me £1.59 for a full charge at home and will return 75-100 miles.


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jp.oog said:
Check out 'Michelin Activewheel in hub electric motor at EVS26' on YouTube
James
Click to expand...

Thanks James. I viewed that and another YouTube video. Interesting. I found that the Heuliez Will electric car with Active Hub was developed in 2008 http://www.treehugger.com/cars/michelin-unveils-active-wheel-in-affordable-electric-car.html but seems to have not got any further. Another article in 2008 http://www.gizmag.com/michelin-active-wheel-production-electric-car-by-2010/10489/ mentions the launch of the Hy-Light in 2010. I guess that didn't make it.

Maybe there is (was) a problem with the technology or maybe conservatism of ICE manufacturers or the public. Hence hybrids like the i3 seem to more popular.
 
Alan_uk said:
Maybe there is (was) a problem with the technology or maybe conservatism of ICE manufacturers or the public. Hence hybrids like the i3 seem to more popular.
Click to expand...
Not too sure why the active hub didn't make it too market. Something like that would be great on an A2.

Ah, also the i3 is not a hybrid.
 
Optimising suspension to handle the 'sprung' weight of hub motors could also have been an issue on cars. Springs and dampers would need a massive upgrade and the important ratio between sprung and unsprung weight would change significantly and have a detrimental effect on ride and handling.

Cheers Spike
 
Personally I love the look of i3, almost as much as I love the looks of the A2, and I have considered one myself.
Almost identical proportions:
FullSizeRender (11)1111111.jpg
 
One bit I don't like on the i3 is the front bumper - looks like a stuck on afterthought compared to the A2's fully integrated design.

Simon.
 
Its actually closer to 20 years now as its based on the Audi Al2 concept car that was first shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1997 and probably designed far earlier than that even. This was around the same time that the Mk1 Vauxhall corsa and mk3 fiesta were being sold which puts things into context.
 
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