914 semi-hybrid electric?, If the Persian Gulf is shut down Options

[PinetreePorsche]

914 gang: There's a new posting on a less "worldly" 914 club site, featuring Otmar Ebenboech, the power behind Electro Automotive, which makes the "VoltsPorsche" electric conversion kits, and the electric early-Rabbit kit as well (see his 914 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl9uejKnMFQ --his does 1/4 mi in 13-something and top speed at 140 mph!. Good interview.) This could become a VERY important source of mobility for some of us should the Saudi "King" either move to a radical position (see his condemnation of the US in today's -Mar 29- papers) or, worse, be overthrown by the Wahabbists who control the madrassas in Arabia. Or war with Iran, now or later! (Or revolution in Nigeria, or an angry Hugo Chavez transferring most of his sales to China, etc.) SO: HOW ABOUT A 914 "HYBRID" ?
For those interested in cleaner power and keeping our cars on the road further into the new century, could hybridize the 914 as follows: Keep a small motor-- the 1.7, or even replaced with a 1500 squareback motor-- set up for max mpg. Should be able to get near 45 mpg. (Or better yet, a small clean "new" diesel if we could get those that are made by VW for European sales--like out of wrecks, to keep cost low.) THEN: Put in an old-Rabbit front end, with the volts-Rabbit kit attached, in place of the whole 914 front end. (Yeah, probably a little fabrication of steering linkage needed.) For long range driving--trips: cruise on electric throttle, add fossil power on uphills, passing. Drained batteries after long mileage, idling in traffic jams or after doing extra errands?? -Go fossil till you get home. Commute on ELECTRIC ONLY. Those in cold climates could leave the boxer motor idling, and run the heater air over the exhausts with little loss. (And those who have to have AC, run the motor at idle with a bigger belt-pulley for the compressor--modern compressors don't steal much power anyhow.) If you want to show off at a stop light, -use dual power: independent f and r power (might need balance/tuning). Use Otmar's smaller (no 13 sec. 1/4 mile unless you use dual power) motor option to keep battery requirement as modest as possible. And there'd be no fancy electric braking like Prius, and no fancy extra controls for that). Just a double gas pedal--the one you've got and a second thing, maybe hanging down from above, able to be moved into place with some kind of slide-lever.
Issues, as I see it: A bit of structural fabrication/ welding to accept the slightly alien Rabbit front end/ steering/ motor ass'y. Maybe a modification to the orig gas tank--make it smaller, with batteries in part of that area. Additional battery placement? - more batteries over the r. axle, just behind the existing motor/trunk wall, presumably scatter others around. And if much of the front trunk is lost to the electrics,--its OK, we've got some trunk in the back, even with batteries. Final issue: how much battery weight (and cost!) will be needed for this mixed system? ASK OTMAR-- his interview says the lithium is getting cheaper and more long- lasting, finally, after over 25 years in development.
What do people think about the idea? And what does Otmar think, in particular, building on his experience? Anyone interested in making the first one--maybe he'll support you with stuff at cost. [And Otmar--are there any volts-Porsches or -bunnies that you've sold here in the mid-Atlantic area for me to look at?] This could make the 914 the car of the next 35 years! Lets talk it over. -Chris, in DC 'burbs

[Chris Pincetich]

I got my 914 for an EV conversion, but fixed it up, got hooked on driving it, and will likely get another roller and use #2 for the EV...unless I blow my $$$ on a AX engine first! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Another, simpler approach is to build a nice AC power all electric 914 and add gas powered electric generation. Having a small Honda portable generator running in the trunk is one idea I've seen floating. Not sure about balance between charging input and driving output, but should greatly increase range and you coulf actually just leave the generator running while the car is parked so you could come back and drive another 60+ miles after it sits and charges for 3-6 hours. The Rabbit front end idea HAS been used for a "hybrid", I read somewhere they got a Rabbit front end (it might have been biodiesel!) and hooked up a remote start button and throttle. The front end was not welded in, it was made into a trailer! Then the EV could hook up the trailer for long trips, remotely turn on the engine, and the Rabbit engine powered up the batteries in the EV while driving. Of course, the trailer would influence the handling characteristics of your 914, but so would a franken-car.

PS - thanks for that blog link! Awesome system he got - AC is much more efficient!