Yesterday, I used to be invited again to the cluttered however all the time thrilling electronics and engineering workshop of Francisco Shi. He unveiled his breakthrough saying: “If Elon Musk tried this modified MG ZS EV, he would inform his minions to go and modify the Tesla. An all-wheel-drive Tesla and a monitor with this know-how could be superb!”
Modded MG ZS EV with engineer Francisco. Photograph by David Waterworth.
Francisco has retrofitted his spouse’s MG ZS EV for “one-pedal driving.” Earlier than the retrofit, the MG had some regen braking however wouldn’t come to a whole cease. It slowed to about 8 km/h after which would proceed to creep ahead — just like his BYD Atto 3, however a bit higher.
After the modifications, the MG will come to a whole cease with out utilizing the brakes. He has reset the extent 1 braking to behave just like the previous degree 3 braking. Not solely that, however the automotive battery receives the identical quantity of regen it doesn’t matter what velocity you’re doing. Beforehand, the slower the automotive was shifting, the much less regen it obtained.
Maybe he would possibly make this out there to others, as a paid service?
Francisco explains additional: “How a lot braking you get is proscribed by the utmost torque of the engine and the way a lot energy the battery can soak up. With the MG, the utmost enter is 50 kW. On the decrease settings, the utmost braking drive at 60 km/h will convey you to a whole cease. I’ve designed the know-how in order that the total regen drive is accessible all the way in which to a cease and could be as finely managed as when you had been utilizing the mechanical brakes. The brand new degree 2 is twice the brand new degree 1, degree 3 brings to bear the total torque of the motor.”
Francisco has beforehand experimented on an i-MiEV, and is perfecting his modifications with the MG. After a brief check drive across the industrial property which is his base, I can attest that it takes some apply to get used to it. I’ve beforehand pushed an unmodified MG ZS EV. This one is way peppier, and does certainly come to a whole cease. He may even enable the automotive to roll backwards.
Francisco’s modification has additionally fastened a difficulty with the MG ZS EV cruise management. Beforehand, the cruise management would enable the automotive to speed up down a hill till the velocity was considerably greater than the authorized restrict (say, from 100 km/h to 105 km/h) after which apply the mechanical brakes. With the modifications, regen slows the automotive and retains it at a continuing velocity down hills. It is a extra vitality environment friendly type of braking and saves on put on and tear. Why didn’t the MG engineers consider this one?
Not like the Tesla, you don’t take your foot fully off the pedal as you utilize the motor to brake. With this technique, you may brake later, adjusting your foot to handle your braking. Francisco tells me that for him, it appears like a nicer drive. My inexperience made the drive a bit “lumpier.” The automotive truly belongs to Krystal, Francisco’s spouse. She would like to not drive it now, as she additionally has a BYD. She thinks that the modified MG would spoil her for driving the unmodified BYD.
Francisco tells me that his modification not solely permits one-pedal driving, but additionally offers “obscene accelerator response — much more instant than some other EV. Put your foot down, take it off instantly, and you may spin the entrance wheels. It’s like an underpowered GT.” On our check drive, he had a possibility to show this. Spin the wheels, he did.
Hey, Elon Musk, check out this modded MG ZS EV.
For these with out the endurance to look at a 20-minute video, the important thing factors are: The unmodified MG takes longer to brake and ultimately the mechanical brakes must be engaged. That is then in contrast with a Kona which has extra aggressive regen and brakes to a cease 50 metres earlier. Now, the modified MG takes the identical check and brakes to a full cease utilizing regen and with out utilizing the brakes. It’s price noting that the brakes are nonetheless there if the driving force wants to make use of them. Feedback beneath the video hail Francisco as a genius.
On a aspect be aware, the skid marks on the street within the video present that locals use the realm to apply their ICE car braking additionally — burning up some rubber!
Why not modify the BYD Atto 3, I requested. Apparently, it could be too tough, as all of the controls are inside. It could be exhausting to place the modifications into one “field” as he has accomplished with the MG. The “field” is straightforward and could be unplugged simply to return the automotive to its unmodified state. Francisco feels that the prototype pictured is a bit messy. The ultimate model can be in a field and mix in with the remainder of the “beneath the bonnet” panorama.
Francisco magic field plugged into the MG ZS EV. Photograph by David Waterworth.
To switch a Tesla, Francisco says he must hack the communications — a troublesome job and he’s undecided he might do it with out some cooperation from Tesla engineers. A fundamental Tesla has two and half occasions the ability that the MG has. Think about what it might do with Francisco’s tech? He says that the he must be cautious with the modified MG in sport mode — he’s frightened he might make his passengers throw up.
He want to patent his idea and know-how however fears there’s little curiosity. He has had some knockbacks along with his concepts to revolutionize manufacturing. “It was exhausting to get the suitable individual to pay attention. I ended up speaking to center administration and so they quickly realised that my concepts would imply that their jobs had been not needed. Naturally, the concepts had been by no means handed upward.”
He’s hoping to promote the gadget in package type for the MG, and can be engaged on kits for different automobiles. There’s a LEAF within the workshop that he’s at present taking part in with. He has to work by the problems round guarantee and insurance coverage. Thoughts you, he factors out that the after-market ICE trade does modifications, with the recommendation to the client that they’re bearing the chance relating to guarantee and insurance coverage. He would possibly simply do the identical. Modifications on an EV are safer than these on ICE autos as a result of the elements in an EV defend one another, and are programmed to close down if needed.
Not glad with racing the Cybertruck to market wit his transformed Pajero, Francisco is now bettering different EVs in the marketplace.
