RWD Fiesta (Hybrid technology)

[team_zi]

I'm toying with fitting a rear axle on my Fiesta Mk1 that would allow me to drive the rear wheels through hybrid technology. This may sound barking mad but the class I'm in (I hillclimb and sprint) pretty much allows me to do anything within the rules, to the car. I'm suffering most from poor starts due, particularly in the wet. I have 200 BHP at the moment, with a LSD, through the front wheels, and I'm rebuilding the engine for 260 BHP. Once she's rolling and the tyres are hooked up, its fine. But launching is proving difficult (and inconsistent).

I was thinking about fitting a rear axle from a rwd car, and driving the input shaft to the differential from either an electric motor, or from a pneumatic motor, and then carry the appropriate energy source on the car.

Weight is as always the key. The car is currently around 675KG, and I really don't want to add 100KG of weight just to see if this'll work.

Am I going to make significant gains from developing this idea, and if so, which direction should I go in? Compressed air and pneumatic drive, or batteries and a suitable electric motor? Which axle setup should I go for?

I'd probably only use the rear drive for launches, therefore the axle doesnt need to withstand 500lb/ft or anything as substantial. So a lightweight solution is required.

[105Ian]

Electric powered cars are instant full power as soon as you touch the throttle , and pick up remarkably quick the ones I have been involved with are all full electric Renault ones and don't have gearboxes they just have a reduction box otherwise would break the driveshafts , they all use 400 volt motors the motor itself is only about 2 feet wide by about 1 foot high but once you bolt the charging unit and the converter unit to it it ends up about the size of a normal engine . As for the battery you could use a fairly small electric vehicle battery as your not going to be charging it and driving it far .

[rwd2ltrfiesta]

what about the gubbins from a rs2k escort? irs all bolts in simple and you can use all the transfer box and go 4x4

[RWD fords rule]

Convert it to RWD and all will be fine, adding hybrid will add a load of weight and complication imho

[exboyracer]

Convert it to RWD and all will be fine, adding hybrid will add a load of weight and complication imho

Either that or just live with what you have, the weight penalty would surely offset any performance gains IMO

[Joe-Tait]

Nice custom rear cradle and cosworth/supra style diff arrangement to keep weight down

[molecular bob]

Put an evo drive train in it. Alan McDonald has a hillclimb evo mini and it is just mental http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA1u2_LSw_MShould be enough room in a fester bay to fit it in

[danknight72]

Make it mid engined use the engine and box you have maybe use st150 subframe and arms and struts