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Concept: Through-the-Road PHEV Conversion Kit
July 20, 2008
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| The Poulsen Hybrid system attached to a Jetta. Click to enlarge. |
Poulsen Hybrid is developing a conversion kit that will add through-the-road plug-in hybrid capability to conventional vehicles by externally mounting electric motors onto 2 of the wheels. The motors are normally applied to the rear wheels, in the process converting a FWD car to all-wheel drive, but the system works with rear- and all wheel drive vehicles as well, according to Poulsen.
The system will be available in kit form and could be installed by individuals (do-it-yourself, DIY) in a day, although Poulsen says that it has not decided whether or not to offer the kit that way, due to potential liability issues. Poulsen, which is competing for the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize, plans to offer the system through a network of authorized installers.
