DIY Passive Plug In Hybrid to an ICE car?

[zonkers_garage]

I have a 1989 Geo Metro XFi model I want to supplement with an electric motor.

My thoughts revolve around modifying the electrical system to make possible to delete the alternator and replace it with an electric assist motor. Charging will happen via 300w solar panel and a 110v charger for overnight topping off.

Currently the car's lifetime average is 50.9 mpg. I'm shooting for 75 mpg.

The goal is to travel from Los Angeles to Phoenix and back on 1 tank of gas (700 miles)

Has anything like this have been done? If so, I'd love to read about it.

[JockoT]

Fine if you are an electrical/electronics engineer but the fact you think that a 300w solar panel will get you anywhere denies that.

[zonkers_garage]

Originally Posted by JockoT

Fine if you are an electrical/electronics engineer but the fact you think that a 300w solar panel will get you anywhere denies that.

Ooh. Snarky.

I do not expect a 300w panel to keep things charged while operating, that's what fits on the square footage of the roof panel. I will be plugging in at night on heavy usage days.
The solar panel will provide a float charge when the car is sitting idle, which is on average 23 of the 24 hours of the day.

[trollbait]

Is the EcoModder forum still up? This would be the type of project members would do.

Putting a motor in the alternator position means loss from spinning up the engine. I've heard of an original Insight that a pop down fifth wheel driven by a little electric motor.

[InvisiBill]

Originally Posted by zonkers_garage

I have a 1989 Geo Metro XFi model I want to supplement with an electric motor.

My thoughts revolve around modifying the electrical system to make possible to delete the alternator and replace it with an electric assist motor. Charging will happen via 300w solar panel and a 110v charger for overnight topping off.

Currently the car's lifetime average is 50.9 mpg. I'm shooting for 75 mpg.

The goal is to travel from Los Angeles to Phoenix and back on 1 tank of gas (700 miles)

Has anything like this have been done? If so, I'd love to read about it.

It's not DIY, but GM sold basically this system on some models 10 years ago as eAssist. It wasn't plugin, but it used a motor in place of the alternator to regen and boost power. It seems like it wasn't really worth it, but you might be able to rig up something with some OEM parts and some improvements that have come out since then, to wind up with something decent.

https://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/...t-pay-off.html