Brit firm builds 640hp electric Mini

[LSK]

...snip

PML’s specialty is flat “pancake” brushless electric motors — it makes them for various military, marine, and construction applications — and in the Mini these motors are entirely contained inside the 19-inch wheels. Each wheel contains an identical motor, each rated at 160 horsepower, which makes this an all-wheel-drive 640-horsepower Mini. Top speed is estimated to be in excess of 150 mph, with a 0-to-60 time of 4.5 seconds. The figures are estimated because, as this is written, the PML QED (for “quad electric drive”) Mini has not run with electric power; its creators have been too busy drumming up interest at the British International Motor Show and the Electric Vehicle Symposium in Japan.

But the company is confident that it has a better solution amid the electric-and-hybrid-vehicle debate. Hub motors are not new, but PML claims its motors have the best power-to-weight ratio in the industry. PML’s motor unit, including the miniature Hi-Pa drive inverter, weighs 53 pounds, and the complete wheel assembly, including the tire, is only 4.4 pounds heavier than a regular Mini’s, so the effect on unsprung weight is small.

To produce the vehicle, PML starts with a new, dealer-purchased Mini and then removes the engine, the transmission, and the brakes. Under the hood go a 300-volt lithium polymer battery pack and a series of 135 supercapacitors that boost top-end power as well as electrical power. Each wheel motor is electrically controlled and requires no transmission or differential. The motors also act as the brakes, taking the car’s kinetic energy and converting it to electrical energy. At this stage, PML has not developed a way past legal requirements that call for a mechanical backup brake system. Under the rear floor, in space liberated by removing the original exhaust system, is a 250cc twin-cylinder four-stroke gasoline kart engine that, when required, will run at constant speed to recharge the batteries. PML expects the electric power will last about four to five hours at an average speed of 50 mph before the gas-powered generator fires up to refill the batteries. Fuel consumption is claimed to be about 65 mpg. The batteries can also be charged from a household electrical supply.

snip...

http://www.caranddriver.com/carnews/12050/pml-flightlink-electric-mini-cooper.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Wow

This is a really interesting concept. I'm emailing it to others who don't frequent this board, because I know they'll be interested.

[LSK]

2. i will repost in GD if theres not a lot of responses/views here

[ClassWarrior]

3. I wasn't able to get an electric vehicle the most recent time...

...but chances are looking better and better for the next one.

NGU.

[AndyTiedye]

4. Sounds Great If

1. they can keep the batteries from exploding.

2. they can make the batteries last more than 4 years.

[LSK]

5. i didnt know lithium batteries exploded n/t

[tridim]

6. Only problem I see is that Li-Polymer batteries are dangerous

and expensive. I use them every day for my hobby (RC planes) and have seen several fires in 2 years. It's not just typical fire either, but spitting, explosive fire that's nearly impossible to extinguish. The rest of the car is great, but I don't think the battery tech is quite there yet. I pay about $60 for 1 11.1v 2200mAh LiPo pack, they last about 13 minutes @ ~250watts and can be recharged about 100 times. I can't even imagine what a 300v LiPO would cost. Probably well over 10 grand.

[AndyTiedye]

9. In Fairness, RC'ers Abuse the Heck Out of their Batteries

LiPo's can get a lot more cycles than that if you aren't draining them at 2C or greater, as many RC'ers do.

The batteries are still toast after about 4 years though, even if you baby them.

[tridim]

10. I fly 3D, so I do abuse them, but..

Think of how a typical car drives around town, the starting and stopping will be hell on the LiPos and 0-60 will draw major wattage. Maybe the capacitors keep that from happening?

[ClintonTyree]

7. I want one....

now all I have to do is win the lottery. On a fixed budget something like this is only a dream. Oh well....we all have to have a dream.

[IDemo]

8. 640 horsepower? Hmmm.....

They need only a fraction of 640 horsepower to build a real world vehicle. 160 hp, what they claim to be delivering at each wheel, would be abundant power for the entire car at a fraction of the cost. This and the Tesla roadster may sound fantastic but they don't do a great deal to promote the concept of EV's as a viable transportation option for the common man.