Hybrid idea

[Hobovan]

Hi, i'm thinking of converting my transit (mk7 panel van, fwd, l3h2) to a on demand hybrid, for off-road use, by that i mean some muddy roads, maybe little bit of snow.
However i can't find much info.
My idea is to keep the diesel in the front, add electric motor to the back.
The question is can i fit rear axle from rwd transit, to a fwd one? Is the body of them same or not, shape, mounting holes, suspension.
Also i've only seen rwd axles with 16inch wheels, but mine fwd is on 15, would prefer the original size of wheels, so can i put 15inch wheels on rwd axle?

[loot]

I thought something similar an electric motor that controls the rear axle.

Few thoughts.

The floor height differs for fwd and rwd vans due to the axle.
15 inch won't fit on the rwd axle AFAIK.


You'd need 16 inch wheels and raised suspension I assume to accommodate the rwd axle height. If not using the propshaft then you might clear it.

I guess you could make a tunnel in the floor and a false floor to keep it flat etc, I would say that the axle mount points etc should be the same.

You'll need to get the tape measure out and get creative

[bambi mk 1]

I thought something similar an electric motor that controls the rear axle.

Few thoughts.

The floor height differs for fwd and rwd vans due to the axle.
15 inch won't fit on the rwd axle AFAIK.


You'd need 16 inch wheels and raised suspension I assume to accommodate the rwd axle height. If not using the propshaft then you might clear it.

I guess you could make a tunnel in the floor and a false floor to keep it flat etc, I would say that the axle mount points etc should be the same.

You'll need to get the tape measure out and get creative

He would need to don a Gimp suit for when the motor goes into a big puddle Loot

[loot]

I thought something similar an electric motor that controls the rear axle.

Few thoughts.

The floor height differs for fwd and rwd vans due to the axle.
15 inch won't fit on the rwd axle AFAIK.


You'd need 16 inch wheels and raised suspension I assume to accommodate the rwd axle height. If not using the propshaft then you might clear it.

I guess you could make a tunnel in the floor and a false floor to keep it flat etc, I would say that the axle mount points etc should be the same.

You'll need to get the tape measure out and get creative

He would need to don a Gimp suit for when the motor goes into a big puddle Loot

Ah puddles are for losers

The motor will be up in front of the diff mounted between the chassis rails and have the rear sliding prop, there are actually motor driven axles out there. Can't be any worse than the in hub motors
But just in case.

[Hobovan]

Ah puddles are for losers

The motor will be up in front of the diff mounted between the chassis rails and have the rear sliding prop, there are actually motor driven axles out there. Can't be any worse than the in hub motors
But just in case.

I think in hub motors or electric axle is not an option i want. From what i've found so far, electric motors have some spinning ressistance, when not used, or generate electricity, which will probably convert to heat, if the battery is fully charged.

Other thing is, that the electric motor is intended to be used at slow speeds, let's say up to 25km/h and short distance, just to get through mud and thats it.

I'm not an expert by any means, so i could be wrong, but for my intended use i think of drivetrain like electric motor>clutch>gearbox>maybe short prop shaft>axle.
My thinking is that by that i can use the electric in three modes -drive, regen braking, completely off.

[DAZZ]

Ah puddles are for losers

The motor will be up in front of the diff mounted between the chassis rails and have the rear sliding prop, there are actually motor driven axles out there. Can't be any worse than the in hub motors
But just in case.

I think in hub motors or electric axle is not an option i want. From what i've found so far, electric motors have some spinning ressistance, when not used, or generate electricity, which will probably convert to heat, if the battery is fully charged.

Other thing is, that the electric motor is intended to be used at slow speeds, let's say up to 25km/h and short distance, just to get through mud and thats it.

I'm not an expert by any means, so i could be wrong, but for my intended use i think of drivetrain like electric motor>clutch>gearbox>maybe short prop shaft>axle.
My thinking is that by that i can use the electric in three modes -drive, regen braking, completely off.

this is for sale near me, the motor is in between the rear prop flange and the axle

thehttps://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-TRANSIT ... SwjydeFe27

[Hobovan]

this is for sale near me, the motor is in between the rear prop flange and the axle

thehttps://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-TRANSIT ... SwjydeFe27

From what i've found that transit started as a rwd and motor is connected to prop shaft by belt. Nice thing is the obd connection. Also i think that Ashwoods mainly focuses on fleet conversions and not single car conversions.
Anyway thanks for the tip.