WHAT IS RETROFITTING?

For a while now, I have been doing my best to inform you about the difficulties encountered in the introduct

ion of electric vehicles and how to overcome them in our articles. As we have discussed several times in our articles, the two most important factors in the spread of electric vehicles can be summarized as meeting customer expectations of new electric cars and making the use of vehicles comfortable by rapidly developing the infrastructure. However, today I would like to address another issue that remains in the background in the spread of electric vehicles. I would like to explain to you a little about how internal combustion engine vehicles, which are called retro fittings in the automotive market, are made to work with an electric drive mechanism, that is, an electric motor.

When it comes to transforming vehicles into different technologies, several different methods emerge. First of all, there are several different energy proposals in the process of transition from the internal combustion engine to a different energy. If we list them quickly,

-??????? Equip with electric battery and electric motor

-??????? Powered by hydrogen fuel cell

-??????? Converting it to work with liquid hydrogen

-??????? Engine conversion that works with synthetic fuels

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According to the energy sources mentioned above, the first part of the transformation falls within the scope of our article and studies. In other words, we are addressing the removal of the internal combustion engine by placing the electric battery and electric motor in automobiles.

1.????? Rechargeable hybrid conversion: The engine is not removed, the battery and electric motor are added.

In this transformation, the internal combustion engine is left in place and the vehicle's transmission and other connected equipment are left untouched. However, the battery pack and electric motor can be placed at the appropriate point or points within the vehicle's body architecture. In this case, the battery pack will be small, as in other hybrid vehicles, and will have a capacity of 1 - 7 kilowatt hours according to general practice. In this way, the fuel consumption of the vehicle will be reduced to some extent, and at the same time, carbon dioxide emissions in exhaust emissions will be reduced, albeit slightly.

2.????? Partial conversion to electric car: The engine is removed, the transmission remains.

In this conversion process, the internal combustion engine of the vehicle is removed and replaced with an electric motor and battery. While elements such as the exhaust line and engine mounts depending on the internal combustion engine are removed, the gearbox of the vehicle is not removed. The vehicle is fixed in the preferred (most likely second) gear and the electric motor is connected to the transmission. The reason for this connection process is to complete the transformation without entering the car's communication system and making changes. Thus, some fixed information such as the vehicle is driving in second gear is sent to the electronic brain of the vehicle. This conversion is easier and cheaper since the vehicle's electronic system is not touched, but it is lower in performance than the complete conversion.????????

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3.????? 100% Electric Transformation into a complete electric car: The engine and transmission are removed and the electric motor and battery are connected.

In this type of conversion process, the vehicle's engine and transmission are removed as is. The electric motor and battery are installed in their place. The difficult part is finding a geometrically suitable volume to position the battery pack inside the vehicle. In addition to finding this volume, it is also necessary to adjust the center of gravity to ensure the balance of the vehicle in motion. Therefore, rather than simply replacing the engine and transmission with the electric motor and battery pack, there is a need to work on the geometry of the vehicle. Of course, as with all electric vehicles, the architecture of the battery and the software that will manage the electronic systems must be studied separately for each model.

In addition to the above information, in such a conversion, the vehicle's information processing communication system (CAN/BUS) must be entered and the information needed by the other electronic brains in the vehicle must be provided from the new electric battery and engine system. In order to do this, it is necessary to obtain CAN/BUS communication passwords from the vehicle manufacturer.

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4.????? Conversion with wheel hub engine

Another replacement method is based on driving the wheels with electric motors placed in 2 or 4 wheels of the vehicle. In this structure, if the vehicle is to be made hybrid, the internal combustion engine and transmission remain in place. Find a place for a small battery in a suitable place in the vehicle. If the vehicle is to be built entirely electrically, the internal combustion engine, transmission and associated equipment are removed, and the battery and battery management system equipment are installed in the space vacated. Such engines are sold commercially but are not generally used by automobile manufacturers.

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Vehicle conversion definitely has some consequences regarding the vehicle registration certificate. It is mandatory to have this change written on the license in order to be able to take part in traffic. Modifications made to the vehicle's drive system must be approved by the authority authorized to issue the vehicle registration certificate. This is a valid practice all over the world.

a.????? The body of the vehicle needs work. Since the body of the vehicle is primarily designed for the internal combustion engine, the most critical points are as follows:

??????????????????????????????????????????????????? i.???? In the final architecture of the vehicle, the center of gravity is designed to place the other weight in front of the internal combustion engine and the variable load on the rear axle. Therefore, if similar weights are placed at the same points, the center of gravity of the vehicle will not change.

?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ii.???? The location of the battery is important for safety. While it may be considered to replace the internal combustion engine predominantly, if possible, the electric motor may also be considered to be placed next to the battery. However, for safety reasons, the battery must be in a protected spot in the event of a collision. Hat

b.????? Two wheel housings are preferred for conversions with engines located in the wheel housing. However, motors in the wheelhouse have some weak points:

??????????????????????????????????????????????????? i.???? I. Since these engines are located in the wheel housing, they are directly exposed to the impacts of the wheels. So, in any situation where you think the rim has been hit, the engines are also at risk of damage. This situation can cause both the vehicle to remain immobile and the cost of repairs to increase rapidly.

?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ii.???? ii. Dynamic calculations may need to be reconsidered due to the weight of the engines in the wheel housing.

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