REVR

ICE vehicles are responsible for over 20% of global emissions. Commuters are seeking alternatives such as EV’s but they are too expensive and have considerable emissions impacts from their manufacture, similarly existing public transport is inadequate for most. The existing 1 billion + fleet of ICE vehicles are perfectly functional and fit for purpose. Retrofits retain the carbon invested in ICE cars and do not require a new carbon debt for a new car. Car retrofits for electric drive are not widely available to the general public and the present approach of replacing the entire drive train is slow and expensive.

REVR is a Hybrid retrofit kit that enables rapid conversion of ICE vehicles to Hybrid-electric. A novel axial flux outrunner motor with a large inner cavity it is able to mount directly between the cars wheel and disc brake. Since the disk brake and wheel mount to the rotor of the motor and are thus free to spin, the original axle and systems of the car, hydraulic braking and ICE are still able to work as well. The motor provides direct drive benefits of high efficiency and low weight while taking only minutes to install with zero specialist knowledge.

REVR may help retain mechanic workshops working and employ thousands across Australia, open new manufacturing jobs, precinct, reduce costs for commuters/workers. Retrofits reduce tailpipe emissions of ICE vehicles by 70-100% (depending on retrofit config) cheaply and quickly with minimum manufacturing emissions and cost and equitable access. REVR will allow for rapid transition to electric by facilitating a smoother transition process from ICE to electric and higher EV update at end of life. This is because the retrofits will demonstrate the petrol savings, improved car power, reduced noise, reduced emissions and reduced maintenance costs of eleric vehicles at considerably lower cost.

This project started with a desire to convert an old toyota corolla affordably. Existing services are $50k+ adventures that take up to a year to complete, mostly being ’restomods’ targeted at classic vehicles. In-wheel motor technology is the least invasive retrofit approach. For this reason a YASA (yokeless Axial segmented architecture) topology was chosen for its unmatched power and torque density. Over several years the REVR motor was designed to produce upwards of 700NM (peak). This is high enought that gears and associated heavy wearing components can be removed. Cars require little to no modification making this a bolt-on hassle free conversion system, Since little specialist knowledge is needed installation by consumers is possible for a low-voltage hybrid conversion. The REVR control system is built on a opensource hardware and software worldwide initiative VESC for continuous and rapid performance improvements. The battery pack is built from lifepo4 cells which enable fast charging and discharging as well as extended lifespan and safety with reduced cost (the price of lifepo4 has plummeted over previous 2 decades). Since converted vehicles contain large 10kwh batteries they can also participate in upcoming schemes like vehicle to grid (V2G) to maximise battery utilisation.