Owning a hybrid electric vehicle runabout could be high up on many motorists’ minds, but the cost may be a deal breaker. An Australian design student wanted one for short trips, but he was short on cash too. And so Alexander Burton and his dad modified their 2001 Toyota with a battery plus two axial motors, and may have changed that reality forever. If Australia’s latest Dyson Award winner tickles your fancy, then do read on.
Their Solution: Two Axial Flux Motors and a Battery
A conventional EV conversion would have involved replacing the combustion engine, drive train, and braking system. Neither the design student nor his dad had US$ 30,000 available, but they did have an old car ripe for conversion.
So they hit on the idea of installing a battery, plus two axial motors between the rear brake drums, and rear wheel recesses of the 2001 Toyota. This begs the question what exactly is an axial flux motor? We investigated, and report as follows:
- An axial flux motor aligns its magnetic flux parallel to the axis of rotation.
- This arrangement decreases the inertia and overall mass of the rotor.
- It is potentially more energy efficient than traditional electric motor design.
- The high torque-to-weight ratio is ideal for electric vehicles and aviation.
- The ‘pancake design’ made it possible to fit it into the available space.
A ‘Do-It-Yourself Conversion’ in a Kit Form
Website De Zeen explains how Alexander Burton and his dad concluded a ‘DIY’ conversion by a skilled mechanic would help contain costs. And so they developed a hybrid kit containing a battery, plus two axial motors plus a controller system in the trunk. They hoped their solution costing around US$3,250 would cut carbon emissions, and they seem to have achieved this.
“You can’t fit a huge battery in a wheel well but we wager you won’t need one,” the inventors explain. “While people drive a lot, especially here in Australia, on average they drive 35 kilometers a day and it’s mostly commuting. “This distance would require only a five-kilowatt-hour battery, and we can put three times that in the wheel well.”
More Information
First Hybrid Electric Lohner–Porsche Auto
Mild Hybrid Vehicles the Pros and Cons
Preview Image: Axial Flux Motor and Battery
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