EV Conversions

[Matt]

What are shiters thoughts on cars being converted to EV?

 

It ranges from homegrown DIY stuff with people converting old cars in their garages using car batteries and forklift motors right up to higher end conversions like this converted MR2 by EV West

 

 

or this Beetle by Electric Classic Cars

 

 

The technology isn't going backwards and history teaches us that it gets cheaper over time too so could EV conversions like the above become mainstream for classic cars some time in the future? Perhaps EV conversions will become a common part of restorations in the future. If companies are building themselves around converting cars for customers already I don't think it's a far fetched idea.

[Fabergé Greggs]

I do ponder converting my LML- luckily mine is ostensibly euro 3 compliant due to manufacturing date, but basically the new London Ultra low emissions zone coming into effect in 2019 is going to make a lot of people think about electric conversions I reckon.

[dollywobbler]

I've driven that Beetle. I thought it was great!

 

On the downside, it didn't have a heater. Lovely conversion though.

[PiperCub]

Think there's a few places in the USA that do it to various vehicles but it's all pretty small scale. I don't want or need an EV but as an electronics engineer by trade, I find the engineering & fabrication/building side  very interesting. There are some inventive, creative and talented folks still out there - thankfully.

 

What was the EV converted car that was on Brewer bought on WD a series or two ago? That was in the US wasn't it?

[Heidel_Kakao]

What was the EV converted car that was on Brewer bought on WD a series or two ago? That was in the US wasn't it?

Was a Maserati Bi-Turbo, I think owning a Maserati of that era would make you think about installing a reliable electric motor!

[twosmoke300]

I've driven that Beetle. I thought it was great!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2tG1s1FChw

 

On the downside, it didn't have a heater. Lovely conversion though.

 

No heater ? Most beetles didn't have one after they were 10 years old anyway did they ?

[twosmoke300]

They do a lot of conversions on Suzuki swifts in the USA I think , known as the geo metro I think

[theorganist]

Personally for me it would be the end of "classic" car ownership if we had to go down that route. And I'll just buy a cheap electric car or hybrid.

 

One if the reasons I love my Renault 5 is its tappety ohv engine and slightly rubbery gearbox. It defines the cars performance and driving characteristics. It is a big part of the cars character, as much as the looks, the seats etc.

 

The thought of driving it with an electric motor doesn't appeal.

 

Maybe I am just odd though!

[Junkman]

No heater ? Most beetles didn't have one after they were 10 months old anyway did they ?

 

EFA

 

It was the chassis they didn't have after ten years.

[Matt]

They do a lot of conversions on Suzuki swifts in the USA I think , known as the geo metro I think

 

That's exactly what I had in mind when I said homegrown DIY. The limiting factor for that kind of conversion is cost and the fact that Swifts/Metros have hardly any space to put batteries.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Personally for me it would be the end of "classic" car ownership if we had to go down that route. And I'll just buy a cheap electric car or hybrid.

One if the reasons I love my Renault 5 is its tappety ohv engine and slightly rubbery gearbox. It defines the cars performance and driving characteristics. It is a big part of the cars character, as much as the looks, the seats etc.

The thought of driving it with an electric motor doesn't appeal.

Maybe I am just odd though!

I'm with you on engine sound. Part of the charm* of Beetle ownership is the sound of the air-cooled flat four. That, and a constant 'welding to do' list, obviously.

[RayMK]

Personally for me it would be the end of "classic" car ownership if we had to go down that route. And I'll just buy a cheap electric car or hybrid.

 

One if the reasons I love my Renault 5 is its tappety ohv engine and slightly rubbery gearbox. It defines the cars performance and driving characteristics. It is a big part of the cars character, as much as the looks, the seats etc.

 

The thought of driving it with an electric motor doesn't appeal.

 

Maybe I am just odd though!

 

I'm sure that a bit of programming could be introduced to play Renault 5 sounds and give R5 power characteristics to turn an EV in to a bearable simulation.  An electric Saab 2stroke with the same mod, and perhaps a smoke generator would be great.

[tooSavvy]

There has deffo been an EV Hillman IMP.... possibly in the USA  .

 

Forklift motor + Batt pack in front boot.

 

http://www.thestreetpeep.com/2011/02/1966-sunbeam-sport.html

 

...or...

 

http://www.diyelectriccar.com/forums/showthread.php/ev-1965-hillman-imp-ii-40970.html

 

 

TS

[Arragonis]

I used to follow this guy when he started out converting cars and bikes to EV - he has loads of other stuff too.

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPcTVKQxhpFwN140EEDVZfg

[dollywobbler]

I would LOVE to convert the Bluebird. Cost is, as ever, the biggest hurdle.

[phil_lihp]

Ditto, I would love to change the (admittedly endlessly dependable) diesel lump in the Hiace for an electric motor.  As ever, range and cost make it a completely unviable project but it would be cool nonetheless.  

 

I reckon 'futuristic' older classics like the Citroen DS and SM lend themselves to this sort of thing, particularly when like the DS the original petrol engines never quite lived up to the rest of the car's credentials.  Wheeler Dealers USA did a Maserati BiTurbo which turned out pretty well, not the car I would have chosen but it had already been started by a previous owner so was just 'modernised'.  I've yet to actually drive an electric vehicle which is something I aim to fix fairly soon, seeing as a friend has recently ordered a Tesla Model S and I know where he lives .

 

I remain convinced that electric mopeds and motorbikes are a brilliant concept whilst having nothing much to back that up.  They do seem perfectly suited to the use of something that has short range but silence, efficiency and simplicity.

[Pillock]

I'd love an electric classic as long as it was an improvement over the original. For example, that Beetle - I like it because they do a quick one that's something like 8 seconds to 60.

If I'm swapping an engine for an electric motor, I want there to be advantages. If it made it even slower than a 45hp Beetle then I'll just stick with petrol.

[SiC]

It's something I've pondered doing to the MGB maybe in the future. Front engine, RWD and not a lot of electronics are easiest to convert. Most people in the US have gone down the series wound motor route (basically a forklift truck motor) and lead acid batteries. Unfortunately this makes it heavy and slow.

 

I'm waiting till Nissan Leaf/Zoe/others get cheap and written off. Possibly good donor candidates.

[Tayne]

It's something I've pondered doing to the MGB maybe in the future. Front engine, RWD and not a lot of electronics are easiest to convert. Most people in the US have gone down the series wound motor route (basically a forklift truck motor) and lead acid batteries. Unfortunately this makes it heavy and slow.

 

I'm waiting till Nissan Leaf/Zoe/others get cheap and written off. Possibly good donor candidates.

 

 

 

Nah, you want to get a Tesla drive unit (motor, reduction gearbox and inverter) and bolt it in place of the rear axle then simply build your battery pack out of 18-650s in the shape of an engine and transmission (guess where thats going), re-size the rad for battery cooling (and air-con if required), fit a charger in place of the patrol tank and cable it all up via the transmission tunnel.

 

Simples!

[Asimo]

I'd like a V8 Leaf.

[dollywobbler]

I'd love an electric classic as long as it was an improvement over the original. For example, that Beetle - I like it because they do a quick one that's something like 8 seconds to 60.

If I'm swapping an engine for an electric motor, I want there to be advantages. If it made it even slower than a 45hp Beetle then I'll just stick with petrol.

 

The one above was a 1200. As I recall, it was about 70bhp on electric, but the real difference is torque! It actually accelerates up hills! Plus, it still sounds 'classic' because of the transmission.

[robinmasters]

I'm waiting till Nissan Leaf/Zoe/others get cheap and written off. Possibly good donor candidates.

 

 

I'd like a V8 Leaf.

 

I've got a suggestion...

 

[Matt]

Somewhat related, I've never seen anyone do this conversion before and I think it's brilliant.

 

Looks like a 1956 Chevrolet Pickup...

 

 

...Is actually a Prius!

 

 

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/1946-chevy-prius-truck-34935.html

[dollywobbler]

Interesting. Needs better wheels though. 

 

I love the idea of building my own EV-conversion, but my problem is that sums are involved, and I'm rubbish at sums. 

[Matt]

Interesting. Needs better wheels though. 

 

It does but I'm guessing having Prius front suspension limits the options. I don't think the black steelies in the last photo are too bad, maybe they're just too new and need beaten up a bit to match the truck.

[tooSavvy]

Prius 'et al' modding.....

 

DONT CUT BIG ORANGE CABLE

 

 

TS

[Matt]

It turns out that there are companies out there that will sell you conversion kits. They aren't cheap but not tends of thousands. Here's a 2CV one that starts at £4,000

http://www.everything-ev.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_118&products_id=384

 

The same sight has kits for the Peugeot 107 / Citroen C1 / Toyota Ago, Classic Beetle and , of all things, the Daihatsu Hijet (and ride on mowers!)

 

http://www.everything-ev.com/

[vaughant]

I should look into this as I've been dealing with inverters in some shape or another for about 20 years.

 

Now in industry, pretty much everything is inverter driven and for what they are size wise etc they pack an exceptional punch.

 

I converted over 25yr old mitsubishi inverters for new types at Xmas. The old were about a foot square making 2.2kw and the new were a 1/3rd of the size max, even that small new frame type goes up to 8.3kw and is smaller than a double din stereo!!!

 

The parameters even in the most basic inverter are infinitely adjustable so the tubing options would be immense!!!

 

Again, as always, the battery power is the limiting factor which is why I believe hybrids are a far better option, basically using the hybrid engine to charge the battery when required.

 

All very exciting stuff.

[Ghosty]

http://www.bloodshedmotors.com/zombie-specs.html

 

[catsinthewelder]

I looked into converting a HiJet a few years ago. The one I was using for work cracked its head after being thrashed 1/4 mile up the hill between sites once too often. An EV would be perfect for that role but I couldn't convince the bosses so we got a petrol Suzuki.