Talk:Vehicle conversion FAQ

Hybrid vehicle conversion
At the moment, I mentioned that the kits to convert an internal combustion engine vehicle to a hybrid tend to be quite expensive, difficult to install and as a consequence, the user isn't able to regain his investment.

That's a correct statement, but it only relates to conversion kits that add electric engine propulsion to the internal combustion engine vehicle. It probably isn't correct for kits that convert internal combustion engine vehicle to a different kind of hybrid. What I'm thinking of is for instance:
 * internal combustion engine-flywheel energy storage hybrids
 * internal combustion engine-compresssed air "hybrids"

For the first one, I was thinking that kits may be available that allow the internal combustion engine to regain the power stored in its flywheel. More precisely, when stuck in traffick, and when the engine is turned off, the energy in the flywheel could be reused when starting the engine again. At present, that energy is lost I believe when the engine is turned off with the car key, even if the clutch pedal is pressed in (because the engine gets physically/mechanically halted).

There "might" be kits that can eliminate this mechanical stopping ?

Next, for the internal combustion engine-compresssed air "hybrids"; this idea doesn't make for a hybrid at all (since I don't intent users to build in a compressed air engine), but would rather involve switching the internal combustion engine to run on compressed air in the city (where there's a lot of starting/stopping). Compressed air tanks hold very little energy, but it might be enough for running in the city (where the tanks can be refilled fast at regular filling stations -filling stations tend to have an compressor service too, ie for inflating tyres, ...). The idea here is that an air-start system could be added (these are commonly available i.e. from companies like Ingersoll Rand) and an electric switch to switch between the fuels could be placed near the driver. Perhaps that the open-source ECU may even perform this function as well.

If someone knows of any people that did such conversions, we can mention them here. ECU Modder (talk) 01:15, 2 February 2017 (PST)