Converting from 2wd to 4wd

[helen&tony]

Hi
Very nice project!...I hope it works
Idris...
That's bookmarked, in case we get to move!....
Cheers
Helen

[mikeonb4c]

So I better divulge my plan before everyone gets too carried away

A few years back I converted a Vw golf to full electric drive. The Project was a success and delivered good Performance and reliability.
I drove the car daily 30 miles to work, plugged it in during my hours and drove it home.

I built this car as I wanted something quite unique and interesting: I also wanted to develop my knowledge of Electrical drive Systems.
The only downside to the conversion was having to own a second car for the longer journies. And a small Budget meant heavy lead acid batteries which carried alot of weight.

After moving to Germany a couple of years ago I split up the golf and sold the donor and Motor as a Project. I kept alot of the parts for a future Project!
I have been for a Long time searching for a vehicle which is the perfect compromise of a van and car and since the summer have I owned the Bongo.

The Bongo is a very versatile car and thats how I am going to Keep it. It wont have an only Electric drive System.

The initial plan so far:
Standard rear wheel engine drivien.
Front wheel driven by Electrical Motor coupled to a front Diff.
Small capacity high Output Lithium Battery pack for Electrical drive and electrical store for campervan requirements.

The Motor can be operated at the same time as the engine to assist in acceration and\or reduce load on the engine. The Electric Motor should be able to deliver over 100hp. and will have the advatage of being able to deliver 100percent torque from 0rpm.
The engine should also be able to run idle in neutral, when I choose to use electrical drive only. The engine is required to run the vacuum pump, powersteering, heating etc.
The other mode will be engine only driven which will also drive an additional high Output Generator to Charge the battery pack. There will also be an on board charger which can be plugger into any 240v supply.

So in summary:
Ev mode- short range or City driving
hybrid mode- for assist or burst acceration.
normal mode- Charge main battery pack for electrical drive System or energy for Campervan.
Independent 4wd System.
A Little more Research and planning is required first but I will start a new thread once I know the Project will go ahead

Totally brilliant and a great (and deserved) tribute to the Bongo, which I have always maintained is a classic design (jeebers it's why I bought one). The only contribution I can offer is to consider every opportunity for recycling the kinetic energy otherwise given up in braking 2 tons of Bongo, in and out of town. I'm guessing you've got that covered in the design mind you, as you clearly know your onions.

Can't wait to see how this progresses - this is definitely my kind of project

[928uk]

I've cheated, daily driver is a Vauxhall Ampera with a bongo for the weekends!
A merge of the two would be fantastic! Good luck with the project.
Roy & Debs