But it happened that the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant produced interesting hybrids, which had no equal not only in the USSR and Russia, but throughout the world. Have you already heard about the UAZ-2970 - a diesel-electric minibus shown in 2006? But this is not all interesting domestic developments.
UAZ-451MI
It’s worth starting in 1974, when specialists from the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant, together with colleagues from the VNIIEM Minelectrotechprom, created an experimental batch of full-fledged UAZ-451MI electric cars.
The very first UAZ-451MI. Photo: Youtube.comIn total, five copies were made without traditional internal combustion engines, running on alternating current. The idea was not new - by that time, experiments with electric cars were carried out by various organizations in the Soviet Union, although NAMI always acted as an innovator.
Outwardly, the UAZ-451MI looked like cargo "Tadpoles" with a van-type body. There were a lot of batteries - they occupied almost the entire compartment. For cargo, there was a reserve of 500 kg. But the total mass of the car was 2,4 tons.
It is not surprising that with such a weight, the UAZ-451MI did not have a large power reserve. Of course, the engineers tried to make the structure as light as possible, for which they made the van out of aluminum, but this did not help much.
Five prototypes of the 1974 model year had external chargers, so it was possible to "refuel" only in a special box. The fact that electric cars were quite efficient is evidenced by the fact that they were used for the transportation of sausages from the Cherkizovsky meat processing plant.
In 1978, a new batch of UAZ-451MI electric cars appeared - an improved version.
Differences:
- ? All-metal body
- ? Installation of battery packs under the floor on the frame
- ? The charger was placed on the car, which made it possible to "refuel" from any electric point.
In just one hour, the batteries were filled up to 70%, so it was enough to connect them to the outlet during loading and unloading.
Second generation UAZ-451MI. Photo: Youtube.comOutwardly, the UAZ-451MI of the new batch practically did not differ from the gasoline versions. But on board there was a large inscription "Electro", eloquently hinting at the unusualness of the model.
Inside, the UAZ-451MI had only two pedals, and instead of the standard dashboard, the car had voltmeters and ammeters, as in trolleybuses.
UAZ-3801
The carrying capacity of 500 kg for electric cars was clearly not enough. Therefore, in 1980, the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant began piece production of a new model. UAZ-3801 received a carrying capacity of 650 or 800 kg (information in different sources is different).
Batteries "moved" to the body, there appeared a special compartment for them.
Total from 1980 to 1985. 65 all-metal vans UAZ-3801 were manufactured. The first copies had a power reserve of up to 50 km. The latest versions received a recovery system, due to which the batteries were charged during braking. In urban conditions, the mileage increased to 75 km.
UAZ-2970
The most interesting hybrid of the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant was the UAZ-2970. This minibus, equipped with a diesel-electric engine, was shown in 2006 at an exhibition of military equipment.
This is UAZ-3801, which has survived to this day. Photo: Youtube.comWhen the development of this car was started, it is not known exactly, but no later than 2003.
Interestingly, the model was created on the basis of the ZMZ-5143 diesel engine, which had just begun to be serially installed on UAZs since 2006. Two electric motors turned the wheels, and the diesel engine was a generator responsible for charging the batteries.
The idea was interesting, but the execution let us down - despite the cargo compartment filled with batteries, the power reserve on electricity was only 30 km, and fuel consumption reached 11,5 liters per 100 km. For a diesel engine, this is a lot and it is not clear what is the point and savings. Plus, the UAZ-2970 looked frankly clumsy and ugly.
It was planned that the strange hybrid would go into service with the Russian Army, but it was abandoned. The prototype did not want to go, although the wheels were spinning when hanging. The batteries were ordinary, automobile (starter) and occupied the entire body. It is clear that there could be no question of any tests with such a performance.
Frankly bad design and rough execution. Photo: Youtube.comBut the designers of the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant should not be blamed - they did what they could in the absence of funding. The Sollers company did not see fit to invest in a strange hybrid, and this development remained experimental.
Military running layout from SKB "MAMI" tuning studio CARDI
Simultaneously with the UAZ-2970, third-party specialists were developing a running model of a new military SUV. From 2003 to 2006 The CARDI tuning division of SKB MAMI has assembled an interesting car. The customer of the project was the Ulyanovsk plant.
Unlike the UAZ-2970, the running layout from a third-party manufacturer turned out to be more attractive in appearance, and it was able to move under its own power.
Features of the model:
- ? Diesel-electric hybrid engine from UAZ-2970
- ? Capacity 9 people
- ? Load capacity - 1 ton
- ? Modular design
The car was rejected by the Russian military, so it did not receive further development.
Hybrid UAZ-Cargo and Patriot
After a bad experience with military SUVs in 2006, the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant switched to commercial vehicles. In 2010, a UAZ-Cargo prototype appeared with a hybrid gasoline-electric power plant.
The MAMI running model is outwardly much more interesting. Photo: Youtube.comThe novelty did not attract much attention, and the manufacturer himself did not position it as a serial one. It was just an experimental development, Sollers did not allocate money to launch it into production.
Among the interesting features of the hybrid UAZ-Cargo, it is worth noting the receiving and distributing device between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. It was created on the basis of a standard UAZ transfer case.
An electric motor is capable of both transmitting forces to the wheels of a car and operating as a generator. The fuel consumption of the UAZ-Cargo is significantly lower than that of the gasoline model, but the car was too expensive to be put into mass production.
In 2013, a new prototype appeared from the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant. This time, the manufacturer took the issue seriously by creating a hybrid model on the Patriot chassis. This SUV also did not become serial.
One of the latest developments is Hunter's electrical modification. Photo: Youtube.comA year later, an attempt was made to once again return to the launch of the commercial UAZ-Cargo series. Having created several samples, the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant even started advertising its hybrid.
Despite the past years, nothing new has appeared in UAZ-Cargo. The stock of clean running on electricity was only 40 km. The ads talked about fuel economy, but the hybrid's cost and weight actually made it pointless to buy a new car.
The only serious advantage of UAZ-Cargo was the ability to use the car as a generator. In the future, this assumed the operation of the machine as a mobile outlet with refrigeration equipment, even in the most remote corners of the country.
But this hybrid car did not become serial. The owners of the Ulyanovsk plant did not finance the launch of the model into production.
Hybrid and electric UAZs remained prototypes and prototypes. Sollers also has no plans to finance this area yet.
