By Colin Wood
Feb 13, 2020
A rough translation of the video description: "An electric motor unit that achieves the industry's highest class power density for mobility, including automobiles, developed by Yamaha Motor." Even though there are no specs mentioned, and while Yamaha may not be the first to tease a drop-in electric motor for easy swaps, having options certainly couldn't hurt. Also, an Alfa Romeo 4C seems like an interesting choice for a test mule.
So, what's the first car that you would want to electrify?
2/13/20 1:31 p.m.
This would be sweet. An Alfa 4c is a great idea.
I want to electrify my antique jag however.
2/13/20 2:01 p.m.
I wonder if the two "barrels" on each side are twin motors driving the diff, or if like Tesla one side is the motor and the other is the inverter.
Either way, swaps to other cars are gonna get mad interesting, and FAST.
2/13/20 2:06 p.m.
It was effective, easy and cheap I'd electrify whatever project I happened to have in my driveway. I'd imagine we're still a little way off from being to check all those boxes.
2/13/20 9:43 p.m.
Motors have never been a problem for electrification. It has also been, and continues to be, the batteries.
2/13/20 9:51 p.m.
In reply to nimblemotorsports :
Maybe not batteries but a Diesel engine and a large generator? It worked here.
2/14/20 12:16 a.m.
The motor controller is a significant problem as well (on a budget).
2/14/20 7:46 a.m.
I likey. "Emotion Driven Engineering" is quite the catch phrase.
AEM is getting into EV controllers, EV Swaps are going to get really interesting really fast:
https://www.aemelectronics.com/articles/performance-ev-controls
It will be hard to say how this will work in grassroots motorsports, there is a multitude of unique safety concerns with EVS and smaller organizations are simply not equipped to handle these new challenges. I foresee a long time before the SCCA allows any sort of EV Swap, unless it is a fully contained EV Swap unit that is untampered.
2/14/20 10:14 a.m.
There's some hackaday projects still going on for open-source motor control. I know there's a group using a Zytek and one that's making an aftermarket controller from the ground-up.
2/14/20 10:28 a.m.
I'm not sure. It would depend on the dimensional specs of the motor along with the other component. I can think of any number of options that would be fun, although none are all that realistic. It also depends on what I'd want the car for. Converting a car to go and stop on electric power doesn't sound too difficult. Making it functional as a day-to-day car with things like HVAC and working gauges and ICE is another matter.
2/16/20 2:55 p.m.
1st Gen Toyota MR2. Keep the 4age in the back put electric up front in the frunk very likely being able to use some corolla or tercel stuff for the axles and hubs. Batteries will be rough to fit but there are places if you don't care too much about amenities.
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