Let's Talk About EV Conversion

interested as well, my dad is building an electric VW caddy pickup for commuting. the batteries should be here sometime within the next month or two

 

If it gets this simple I'm on board for a classic cruiser.
https://www.hotrod.com/articles/ecopo-crate-engine-way-forward/

 

My point with direct drive (or semi-direct) has nothing to do with the inability for the drivetrain to handle the power and torque. That can be (and is) limited electronically anyway. Just dial it down to a point the hardware can handle it.

My thing is efficiency. Any time you add gears, differentials, or linkages, you loose efficiency. Toss some batteries and a motor in a pickup, and you have a glorified golf cart with all (or most) of the inefficiencies of an 80 year old design, and can't really take full advantage of EV, aside from being quieter.

I'd like to see something that actually uses EV to its full advantage, like fully independent wheel speed control. Even the most modern traction control systems today are just applying the brakes to certain wheels. That wastes energy, something EVs don't have a lot of to spare.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have an EV that looks just like my Tacoma, I really hate the spaceship look of most of the EVs/hybrids out there. But with all the work that's really necessary to get something that makes sense (to me), seems like building a frame/chassis from the ground up will result in a much better outcome, and probably cost the same or less depending on your fab skills, lol. Then I can just bolt my Tacoma body on it.

 

https://youtu.be/CDw-BllyFVE?t=225

 

I'd love to share my thoughts on this, assuming anyone cares to read and respond.

I was just about to start a thread about this very thing. Glad I found this one! I've often thought about keeping my Taco well into the future myself, I like most, don't need a $100K luxury EV truck that still gets the same range I do now. I love the utility of a 4x4 transfer case. I also think a straight up EV is not a practical substitute for my truck. There is potential energy stored in liquid carbon based fuel that becomes underrated until you attempt to cram thousands of pounds of lithium packs onto your frame. Our trucks can get heavy enough as the OP stated earlier, especially with skids, armor, and gear.

A better solution might be a series hybrid. There was an article I was reading about recently where a team from LSU converted a Subaru BRZ into a series hybrid, which inspired some thoughts of mine. A chevy volt, for better or worse is another perfect example of this. Electric propulsion is POWERFUL to say the least. Trains and ships have been using diesel/ electric propulsion since I've been alive. Batteries alone on the other hand are still underwhelming when it comes to power density. So a series hybrid Taco where an onboard generator (could be tuned to run on multiple fuels) would keep a smaller battery pack charged as well as provide the current to power propulsion motors seems like a better route to take.

The build process could be expensive, especially if done cleanly and you would run into endless tuning issues and idiosyncratic issues just like an ICE engine swap project. That said, if I had a reliable DD and more free time, I would probably start a build thread on my 2014 today.

FWIW, Ethanol is a renewable fuel which gets a bad rep, but it is a safer fuel that is superior to conventional 87 Gas. More compression can easily be made, just look at all the E85 tunes out there. Ethanol also does not contain benzene and can be easily made from anything that is cellulose (plant) based and harvested using onsite EV powered equipment by solar/ wind, so don't give me the corn scandal bull crap. The reasons we cant have renewable carbon based fuel is strictly political so I'll digress until we get real people in office.

 

they are here now

 

IMHO Toyota's entry into the electic car market will be a Camary that performs like a Tesla. They have gone with mileage over performace with thier expanded hybrid line. The Prime offerings are very hard to get and selling at an insane mark-up. I'm waiting to see what Toyota offers before dropping $45K on a Tesla

 

I heard their plan was to team up with Porsche and design an electric MR2 or something like that.

 

This is contradictory...right? I agree with your opinion about Toyota favoring efficiency over performance. Their ev versions will be faster than the original ice version, but slower than and more affordable than tesla.

Agree with that line of reasoning that with newer vehicles, electronics have taken over automation of too many systems. EVs being purely electric accentuate this issue further. Hence why a simple range extended, perhaps user controlled charge management, EV would bridge the gap.

Everyone wants automation of everything. Why cant we have manual CVTs controlled with a dial or lever and engaged with a clutch. Why cant we just have the option to charge an EV with a small onboard ICE with the flip of a few switches instead of some overly complex parallel hybrid system found on the Prius and so many others? Liability I supposed.

I’ll end my rant now, gnight folks

 

The problem with fossil fuels, even renewable substitutes, is they’re still carbon fuels. Which we can’t get away from too soon. The shortcomings of ev’s will get better, those of ice won’t. It won’t happen overnight but it will happen if only out of necessity. Ethanol and home brew diesel are just more of the same. Good ideas when the idea was to reduce dependence on foreign oil but that’s a stop gap to reducing dependence on any oil. Gas is the hay of our times, the more we use the more shit we’ll have to deal with.

 

Not sure how I missed this thread. I have been looking into EV conversions for a few years. I was initially intrigued when Edd China on Wheeler Dealers updated a Maserati Biturbo. They used the motor and batteries from EV West. Later on, I saw a show on MT called Vintage Voltage and they retrofit classic vehicles with electric motors. They have used Tesla motors and running gear in a Ferrari 308. They do really great work. But, it's not cheap.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/toyota-confirms-ev-hybrid-trucks-pickups-suv.717903/

 

This thread is gross and made me sick. Now I got to drive a cat-less vehicle around to feel better.

 

Our next family vehicle purchase will be EV all the way. Most likely for my wife as her current ride is an '09 Rav4. Still in great shape with <100,000 miles on it. I come from a family that is historically one and done on pickup purchases. I plan to keep my Taco for the Long haul as it fits my needs, my family, and I don't think I could ever afford a modern-day monthly vehicle payment. I could easily see an EV conversion. My question is: Where do all the batteries go in conversions? What secondary concerns are there WRT fire/spark protection, suspension for additional weight? Tesla and Ford have developed EV crate motors. Surely Toyota is to follow soon.

 

I know ford created a crate motor but not Tesla. You can but Tesla motors and batteries online but not from them. BAttery placement should be as low as possible in the chassis.

 

Points to consider.

pound for pound, batteries will not hold as much energy as gasoline.
Maintenance will still be required.
Battery pack will be heavy.
Computers and MCUs will be needed to control the charge/discharge cycle
Recharge time is long
Range is limited

Good luck.

 

Water is still an issue with EV's so you can't go

Water on the road and trails can kill the fun.

 

Things people need to be aware of for sure. But these issues are constantly being worked out. So what's the appeal of EV's worldwide?

 

What do you mean water is an issue with EV's?

 

You can't drive through water crossings like you can with a gas engine. They aren't meant to be submerged like that. Even small puddles if you go fast enough can cause failures.