Hybrid "Alternator" replacement question

[Mavrick Man]

I tend to be someone who worries about things long before I need to, but I like to be prepared. I know the Maverick Hybrid does not have a traditional belt driven alternator but rather an electric motor within the CVT that charges the 12v battery. My question is, if that "alternator" / battery charging electric motor goes bad and has to be replaced, does the entire CVT (transmission) unit have to be replaced. That would be a very expensive "alternator" replacement.

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[Automate]

Yes, but the hybrid motors are designed to last the life of the vehicle. Much stronger and well built than a typical auto alternator. They can move the whole truck, not just supply power.

 

[Mavrick Man]

Thanks for the reply, I got that impression from a video I saw that broke town the internal workings of the CVT. Just one point, there are two electric motors inside the CVT, the more powerful one helps drive the vehicle the other smaller one I think is dedicated to keeping 12v charged. I don't think it helps in the propulsion of the car, but I know very little about the inner workings and most definitely could be wrong I was hoping that the smaller motor could be replaced, but even then the CVT would have to be dropped to get to it.

 

[Automate]

Both motors also work as generators as required and can send power to the battery.

 

[TheWizziard]

The 12v battery is charged by a DC to DC converter from the high voltage battery.
This converter takes the place of a traditional alternator.
The two motor/generators charge the high voltage battery when in generator mode.

 

[Maverick Life]

Anyone know if these components are part of the hybrid powertrain and covered under that 8 year warranty? I would assume so if they are unique to the hybrid.

 

[Darnon]

Anyone know if these components are part of the hybrid powertrain and covered under that 8 year warranty? I would assume so if they are unique to the hybrid.

Yes, the transmission assembly and DC-DC converter (which, as mentioned, is the part that actually is doing the 12V charging analogous to an alternator) are considered part of the hybrid drivetrain. But don't necessarily assume that because a component is "unique" to the hybrid that it automatically falls under that warranty. See the thread about the exhaust coolant heater not being covered. CARB-states that require more components be considered extended emissions items notwithstanding.

 

[Chris_G]

The 12v battery is charged by a DC to DC converter from the high voltage battery.
This converter takes the place of a traditional alternator.
The two motor/generators charge the high voltage battery when in generator mode.

How high is the high voltage?

 

[TheWizziard]

How high is the high voltage?

Approximately 450 volts DC

 

[Chris_G]

Approximately 450 volts DC

That's high!
Thank you.

 

[Darnon]

Approximately 450 volts DC

That's a bit of boilerplate warning. In practice the HV system is usually around 220V ± 20V.

 

[TheSEARCH]

I believe that smaller motor/generator also controls the transmission ratio by rotating either forward or backward the outer planetary ring. This is how "gearing" is slowly changed . At least that is how I think it works. Amazed by the thinking that went into the design. really by Aisin .

 

[GPSMan]

That's a bit of boilerplate warning. In practice the HV system is usually around 220V ± 20V.

This is correct. The battery is a 220v battery. Usually between 210v and 230v.

There is a High DC to Low DC converter.
This charges the 12v battery.
There are also two inverters in the transmission. The wheels run on AC and you've been lied to: the "generator" is REALLY an alternator!

While not traditional the hybrid has TWO very large alternators.

Wheels turn going down a hill.
AC electricity is "generated".
Then converted (rectified?) into DC.
The DC charges the HV battery.

To send power to the wheels, DC voltage from the 220v battery is converted (inverted) to AC then the AC power powers the motor that spins the wheels.

Just like your 12 volt battery can invert 12 volt DC and make 120 VAC for you household sockets, the 220v battery can invert the power to 450 VAC to spin the wheels.

While I have put a meter on the battery and can see it is 220 volts, I don't know how measure the AC high voltage so I don't know what it actually is. But it is at least possible to be 450 VAC.

Sounds confusing but with modern electronics this is all easily done in microseconds. The hybrid concept has been around for over 100 years but was not practical until high speed computers became available.

AC power is much easier to control than DC power, and it can be argued that AC motors are better than DC motors.

So all commercially produced hybrid and electric vehicles drive on alternating current!!!

Fascinating AND true!

 

[TheSEARCH]

This is correct. The battery is a 220v battery. Usually between 210v and 230v.

There is a High DC to Low DC converter.
This charges the 12v battery.
There are also two inverters in the transmission. The wheels run on AC and you've been lied to: the "generator" is REALLY an alternator!

While not traditional the hybrid has TWO very large alternators.

Wheels turn going down a hill.
AC electricity is "generated".
Then converted (rectified?) into DC.
The DC charges the HV battery.

To send power to the wheels, DC voltage from the 220v battery is converted (inverted) to AC then the AC power powers the motor that spins the wheels.

Just like your 12 volt battery can invert 12 volt DC and make 120 VAC for you household sockets, the 220v battery can invert the power to 450 VAC to spin the wheels.

While I have put a meter on the battery and can see it is 220 volts, I don't know how measure the AC high voltage so I don't know what it actually is. But it is at least possible to be 450 VAC.

Sounds confusing but with modern electronics this is all easily done in microseconds. The hybrid concept has been around for over 100 years but was not practical until high speed computers became available.

AC power is much easier to control than DC power, and it can be argued that AC motors are better than DC motors.

So all commercially produced hybrid and electric vehicles drive on alternating current!!!

Fascinating AND true!

Cool I didn't realize it was AC voltage to the motors . I guess the ONLY time it converts the DC to AC is when driving the wheels so in order to measure the AC voltage the car wheels would have to be being driven I guess? Run along side of Mav with meter, lol.

 

[Darnon]

The motor controller is basically a three phase variable frequency drive controller (or 2 siamese'd together). So in, say, industrial applications a VFD would be fed AC mains voltage which it then rectifies into DC and then re-inverts at the frequency needed to the three phases for desired speed. In this case we can skip the initial rectifying step as we have DC piped in directly from the battery. I've seen some with solar setups doing similar for being able to more efficiently drive larger A/C units without needing to run it through an inverter and incur conversion losses.

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