On 6 Aug 2014 at 3:37, Dennis Miles via EV wrote:

> Ben, autos stopped using chain or belt drives 80 years ago ... 

Thank goodness!  Imagine having to crawl under your car to clean and lube 
the chain every month or so.  

That's something to think about for this Mustang hybrid conversion - how 
will you lube the chains, Ben?

Curiously, one limited exception is/was early Solectria Force EVs.  They 
used an exposed cogged belt between the motor and transaxle.  Sales were on 
the order of a few hundred, though, so you could hardly call it a mass-
produced automobile.  

There are a scant few others.  

I think one version of the Toyota Prius (2004-2009?) has a chain and 
sprockets somewhere in the PSD (driving the differential?).  It's fully 
enclosed, however, so it's maintenance-free.  I've never heard of one 
failing.

Depending on how you define "chain or belt drive," another exception might 
be the FWD Oldsmobile Toronado (correct spelling) introduced in 1966, and 
still on offer into the early 1990s.  It had a fully enclosed chain between 
the torque converter and transmission.  The transmission was mounted next to 
the engine, facing "backward," driving the front wheels.  

The same "folded" front wheel drive system was also used in a Cadillac 
model, and in some GM RVs.

FWIW, I don't know of any Toros that have ever been converted to EVs.  It 
would be quite a challenge.  They were monsters, very large and heavy, and I 
don't see any way you could replace that customized automatic with a manual.

The Corbin Sparrow / Myers NMG EV also had/has a belt drive to the rear 
wheel, but that's really classified as a motorcycle, so I guess it doesn't 
count.

David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA
EVDL Administrator

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