electric beetle - lose gear, keep diff?

[rip]

how would you stop? possibly hook up a relay from the brake light switch to kill the power to the motor? So then as soon as you hit the brake the power to the motor is shut off, and is free to be slowed down by the brakes.

New to the idea of how a elec car works. And having one always "in gear" might have some issues, or is this how it's done?

[jeremy_rutman]

The braking is taken care of by the motor controller.
When you hit the brake the motor gets rerouted as a generator,
sending power back to the batteries and back-torqueing the
wheels (slowing the car). Its called regenerative braking.
Only if you really slam on the brakes do
the mechanical brakes kick in.

I read recently that 60% of fuel used in the city is wasted on
braking. With 50% regen braking efficiency I stand to gain
30% fuel efficiency off the bat.

Anyone happen to dig up any blueprints?

[Bruce2]

The gear carrier supports the forward end of the pinion shaft, so I don't think you will be able to remove it.

The R&P reduces the speed of the pinion shaft by either 4.375:1, 4.125:1, or 3.875:1.