The new Mini Coopers have electric power steering. (They are often cited for noise and require a fan to keep the motor from overheating.)  Racers have used electric water pump drives to squeeze out the last ounce of horsepower from their engines. So why not electrically drive the water pump and power steering ? Just think, you could add a speed control for the water pump - have it pump based on the water temperature, not the engine RPM.  
The equation to figure out is if it costs more in drag on the alternator to generate the power needed to run the electric motor than you gain by not turning the pump with the fanbelt. That would make for an interesting experiment. Perhaps it would be worth running the A/C compressor on an electric motor drive.... 
  
Todd 
'88 Westy 
  

----- Original Message -----

From: "Alistair Bell" <albell@SHAW.CA> 
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2015 11:58:12 AM 
Subject: Re: Electric Power Steering 

Yes, the UK guys have been doing it (Germans too). 

What I liked about the one I saw was how inexpensive it seemed to be. 

Alistair 

> On Jul 23, 2015, at 10:16 AM, Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM> wrote: 
> 
> http://www.ultimate-engineering.co.uk/powersteering.html 
> 
> and.... 
> 
> http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7150246&highlight=nsk+japan+famous+bearing+eps+manufactured++corsa++late+2000#7150246 
> 
> -- 
> Neil n 
> 
> Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca> 
> 
> 1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy> 
> 
> 1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/> 
> 
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