Keeping the soul, bringing the zoom - a Hybrid 911 build

[Chuck Moreland]

The story goes back several years. It began as a crazy "what if" idea, like so many others that sounds good over a few beers. Unlike so many, it still sounded good the next day. The kind you can't put down.

The inspiration was the 918, a truly incredible piece of technology. Hybrid technology. Not the kind that powers Prius into a future car-as-appliance dystopia, devoid of excitement, performance or engagement. No, this is the kind of hybrid technology that laps the ring with authority and ends up on posters.

The crazy idea was to boost an air-cooled 911 with the same type hybrid technology as the 918.

Air cooled 911s are amazing to drive, like no other. Keep the engine, trans, exhaust note, and immersive driving experience. Just enhance it with a taste of technology, merge the experience with modern acceleration. And if it can be kept light and packaged discreetly, that would be win.

The idea that can't be put down, we decided to go for it.

I will share the behind-the-scenes for the build.

Step one was to get a car to be the build platform.

[Sailkane]

Can’t wait to see it! If you need the test car I have one for you......

[masraum]

Cool! It doesn't sound like a quick, easy endeavor.

I assume you're going to use a C4 as the base so you can use the space from the drivetrain for the front for the electric.

You're a jerk for this teaser post!!

[Hi_Fi_Guy]

Look forward to following this thread.

[Chuck Moreland]

Fist we had to pick the car platform.

Masraum, yes a C4 has some really advantages for this project....traction for putting the power down, regenerative braking on both front and rear wheels.

For me the purist of the 911 driving experience is the cars through 1989. Great cars came after, but they are more refined. On one level the refinement is great, on another level the driver immersion went down. A key objective is to add hybrid power without harming the driving experience, so it makes sense to start with a most engaging platform as a proof point.

The decision was made that it should be a G50 car. As you will see the added power is going through the trans, and the G50 is the most capable of the 5 speeds.

Coupe bodystyle, because this is going a performance build.

So the search was on for 1987-1989 G50 coupe. This would be a very normal driver 911, nothing special.

I searched all the usual channels. And put the word out through my network. Ultimatley I found listing on Bring a Trailer, that really hit all the points.

1988 Coupe, G50, dark blue. Priced to market, and right here in the bay area. Perfect.
Except the auction had ended several months before without selling, and I couldn't see anyway through BAT to contact the seller. But in the listing some receipts were presented. Checking the name on the receipts, I recognized it as one of our customer shops. I figured I'd ring him up and get find the car owners info.

But before I could make that call.....a dark blue 1988 G50 coupe pulls into Elephant Racing, and the owner wants to get the suspension upgraded.

You guessed it, the exact same car for the BAT listing.

I asked the owner if he was still interested in selling, and soon a deal was struck. It was fate.

[wjdunham]

Great to see this project moving forward. I was in the shop picking up some parts and Chuck was nice enough to let me wander around out back. This was one of the many cool things they have going on, the engineering is fascinating. This will be a very interesting thread...

Bill

[thor66]

AWD or RWD?

[Quickstep192]

Easy Peasy... Keep the existing engine in the rear; add an electric motor on each axle in the front. Done!

Seriously though - I can’t wait to follow this thread.

[ChrisHoover]

Elephant Racing has an electric motor power adder. It mounts in the bell housing

[Tremelune]

Very cool. What's the plan? Motor between the engine and transmission? Maybe pancake motors on each rear axle...?

This is gonna be involved.

[island911]

in 2010 I saw a OE 911 with E-motors on the front wheels. That was at the Paris auto expo. At first I was thinking WTF Porsche? ...a hybrid? Then saw their system to do nothing but add gobs of HP, if only for brief intervals. 163HP for 6 seconds. They stored the energy in a flywheel, rather than a battery.

I'll look for those pictures.

Edit:

Here's one.


https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/hybrid-electric/a6266/porsche-911-gt3r-hybrid-flywheel/

[Canada Kev]

[Larmo63]

Somewhere above, Dr. Porsche is smiling and nodding his head.