http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 2:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 2:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/
Just paint it orange, everyone will think it's a boot ]]>May 8th 2008 4:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/
Who the hell is going to steal hub motors? (nature loving criminals?)

What the hell are they going to do with them anyways?

Will it hit 88 mph?

Now, we're just one step closer, anyone making a MR.FUSION?]]>May 8th 2008 3:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/
With the expensive gas price, some dude actually modify his truck and suck out all the diesel from gas stations in Quebec. Eventually that guy is caught. Isn't that smart?]]>May 8th 2008 3:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 7:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 8:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/
How many Prius's get stolen?]]>May 9th 2008 12:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/]]>May 9th 2008 2:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 9th 2008 1:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 2:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 4:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/
Because we all know front wheel drive is the work of the devil!]]>May 8th 2008 2:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 3:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 3:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 2:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 3:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/its-happened-boy-hit-by-hybrid-mom-blames-quiet-running/

E, hope you won't mind me linking, it's your sister site after all :)]]>May 8th 2008 3:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 3:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 2:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 4:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 3:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/
Theft seems like it would be a major problem too.]]>May 8th 2008 3:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/
Most of todays smaller vehicles are 3000 lbs or more due to safety regulations.

If this lets me into the HOV lane as the only driver, I think it would save me tons of time idling in certain areas throughout my commute.

Being stolen would require either the complete vehicle stolen, or just the hub motors, I would imagine chrome rims being stolen before these.]]>May 8th 2008 3:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 3:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 3:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 3:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 3:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 3:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/
This doesn't have to be very complicated at all, almost like a tow trailer with a battery and hub motors for wheels :]]]>May 8th 2008 3:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 3:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 3:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/
Maybe the IRS could give us a deduction for buying this thing or for using it every year.]]>May 8th 2008 3:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 3:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 4:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/
;)]]>May 8th 2008 10:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 3:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 4:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 3:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/
The hwy mileage differs by 8 mpg... does the Prius have a better electric motor than the Honda Civic or is it all regenerative braking?

BTW -- I'm in the market for ONE of these, but I will probably wait for the next Prius (Spring 2009)... supposed to start at $21K and get better mpg.]]>May 8th 2008 4:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 4:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 3:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/
The first thing I thought of was "how do I put air in the tire with that on it" but they put a valve extension in the drawing that doesn't look like it made it on the prototype.

Each motor gives 7hp which would be great for adding power on the highway but I really worry about throttle control and what these things will do to the safety of the car. They would have to increase braking distances and are probably not the most responsive things. I also worry aboout hurting your car's transmission and engine with the extra push that doesn't come from the inside. Something is going to burn out.

The best application would be a FWD car on the highway. You would just thrown the car into neutral and let these wheel motors propel you once you get to speed. 120Ah isn't going to get you very far though.]]>May 8th 2008 3:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 3:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/-Taylor]]>May 8th 2008 3:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/May 8th 2008 3:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/
A company in India put together a whole car and is selling it for $2500 and still making a profit. You'd get more for your money with that than spending $3300 on these hub motors.

All of the R&D on these motors has been done for a long time. All they did was modify the motor so it can be attached to a wheel hub with an adapter plate and add a torque arm. Not exactly a lot of money there.

You'll probably end up with more than $3000 in repair bills for your car due to the car not being designed for use with this system.]]>May 8th 2008 5:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/
14 hp / (3000 lbf * 55 mph) = 0.0318181818

That's a 3% grade (as they said).
So do you destroy your car by driving down 3% grades? by stopping on them? by reversing up them?

The most likely way of damaging the car is pulling the bumper off, if they're not attached to the frame/unibody properly...]]>May 8th 2008 7:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/]]>May 8th 2008 6:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/08/poulsen-hybrid-car-conversion-kit-takes-aim-at-x-prize-your-wal/
Then I remembered what a Prius looked like.

In all seriousness, though, this actually seems like a cool idea. I wonder what the actual MPG savings are.]]>May 8th 2008 3:50PM