$3,000 For A MINI Hybrid With Greater Power At The Wheels

Greencarreports.com features an article on a team at Middle Tennessee State University that has developed an inexpensive plug-in hybrid kit that could potentially be used on almost any vehicle. The kit consists of a battery pack and controller in the trunk, and a brushless DC electric motor on the drive wheels. The motors in the teams' Honda demonstrator fits around the brake rotor and the wheels can be attached normally, without modification. The motors each develop 200 lbs-ft of torque and work with the gasoline engine thereby reducing loads on the engine. This results in much better fuel efficiency for the same performance. According to Dr. Charles Perry from MTSU mileage in city driving could improve between 50 and 100 percent, depending on driving conditions. The electric motors turn on to assist when needed and are not constantly powered. The cost of the system is as little as $3,000, according to a statement on MTSU News.