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Cont: Electric Vehicles II

acbytesla

Penultimate Amazing
acbytesla
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Continued from here.
Posted By: Agatha



novaphile said:
I don't think you'll be happy with the maths.

My car typically takes 10 kWh to charge.
I have 8 188W solar panels, which generate, on average, about 5 kWh per day.

Hence, it would take at least two full days to charge my car.

Note that a 10kWh battery is tiny compared to modern all electric vehicles.
Two full days of solar panel output gives me 45 km of range.

The current Nissan Leaf has a 40 kWh battery, hence eight days to charge from my current eight panels.

I think you can currently buy 300 W solar panels but you'd still need a lot more than one to charge an EV.


Ideally, you'd put something up like a hay shed (or carport) with a sloping roof to maximise your solar collection. I was lucky, my roof slope is within a degree of ideal for this latitude.
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I recently purchased for a friend 24ea 430w panels at $175ea at SanTan Solar. They have great deals there all the time. They sell new and used panels. Right now you can buy a pallet of 25 435w Sun Power panels for $3,000.

Having a shed can be convenient, but you can also build a rack. that's what my friend did. Actually he built three all out of lumber from trees he cut down from his property. We even build a tilting mechanism so he could change the tilt angle a few times a year.
 
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novaphile said:
I don't think you'll be happy with the maths.

My car typically takes 10 kWh to charge.
I have 8 188W solar panels, which generate, on average, about 5 kWh per day.

Hence, it would take at least two full days to charge my car.

Note that a 10kWh battery is tiny compared to modern all electric vehicles.
Two full days of solar panel output gives me 45 km of range.

The current Nissan Leaf has a 40 kWh battery, hence eight days to charge from my current eight panels.

I think you can currently buy 300 W solar panels but you'd still need a lot more than one to charge an EV.

Ideally, you'd put something up like a hay shed (or carport) with a sloping roof to maximise your solar collection. I was lucky, my roof slope is within a degree of ideal for this latitude.
Click to expand...
Yes, that's part of the problem. Around here plenty of people are putting up pretty substantial solar collectors, but my buildings are unsuited for that (old house with slate roof, outbuildings all point the wrong way, etc.), most of the land on a north-facing slope, so I'd have to put something up in a field, and the whole thing would be expensive. Charging stations have arrived in the region, including towns where I shop, so that helps. But so far, the whole thing has not been either economical or urgent enough to warrant the cost, given that at least for a while still I have a dirt-cheap little car that gets good gas mileage.

It's interesting to speculate, though.
 
If my yt feed has anything to say the conversion kits for existing vehicles is becoming a lucrative market. That's good news for those who desire the old Camry, a hybred/electric and be free of limitations like Tesla imposes.
It seems even Chevrolet is on this now.

Progress in even grassroots efforts is making the EV revolution happen.

Last week in the body shop we had a hybred Camry and Prius parked side by side, a year ago that wouldn't have happened. I am liking the new look.
 
8enotto said:
If my yt feed has anything to say the conversion kits for existing vehicles is becoming a lucrative market. That's good news for those who desire the old Camry, a hybred/electric and be free of limitations like Tesla imposes.
It seems even Chevrolet is on this now.

Progress in even grassroots efforts is making the EV revolution happen.

Last week in the body shop we had a hybred Camry and Prius parked side by side, a year ago that wouldn't have happened. I am liking the new look.
Click to expand...

They're available in the UK for classic cars, but the cost is pretty darn steep and quite honestly I reckon they eviscerate the cars involved. If we're going to have electric cars I'd rather have the likes of the vw electric bus. It makes no bones about being sporty but provides sensible transport for those who want it - just like the original.
 
When a classic is beyond a certain stage of restoration there is no shame in making it a fun driveable car.

The farms of the US are awash with "classic" cars stripped of engines and such, rotting out slowly, that could be made safe daily drivers again.
Purists may find a rare options version that could be worth millions if the original engine and whatever could be found. Until then it's still a junk old car.

Have some fun with your dream car and get the benefits of a modern drivetrain. For many it's close enough and avoids the costs of driving a gallons per mile car.
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Oh, true, some of the trashed relics missing everything but a rusted out body shell and maybe the back axle might well be good subjects for electric drivetrains, but those aren't classics I'm talking about.

And the idea of a modern electric drivetrain in a classic car fills me with horror. I'm quite capable of enjoying a classic car as it was designed and built.

One pedal driving an e-type jag for instance?

Shudder.
 
An old Austin or Mini is basically a cheap low end car that wouldn't be shamed by the conversion. A mint RR Silver Ghost probably would be.

I watch a bit of banger racing and it's obvious that any old car out of inspection is fair game for wanton destruction. Trying to keep one within MOT regs by making it electric seems more noble.
 
8enotto said:
An old Austin or Mini is basically a cheap low end car that wouldn't be shamed by the conversion. A mint RR Silver Ghost probably would be.

I watch a bit of banger racing and it's obvious that any old car out of inspection is fair game for wanton destruction. Trying to keep one within MOT regs by making it electric seems more noble.
Click to expand...

I know someone who wanted to convert an old mini here in Australia.

He's given up on the project because the bodies are so incredibly expensive.

(In his case, he was looking for a mini van, because the stub axles at the back made a space which was ideal for housing a big battery tray.)

Saw a flash old VW combi the other day that had been converted. (One of the campers with barn doors) It looked like a new car, and I was jealous.

Also find myself wanting to buy one of these:

https://morris-commercial.com/morris-je/

No idea why, best guess is that it resembles a toy that I had as a child (but can't remember).
 
The one that left me wanting was a 1965 Ford F100 4 by 4. With two big batteries it was pretty much the same power rating as the V8, about 200lbs heavier and about the same distance on battery as the gas engine on one full tank.
(My 1978 F250 with a 351 V8 would go 100 miles max on a tank. Seems a standard for the vehicle.)

Bottom line, a vehicle that would serve my needs and uses parts I can get anywhere . I wouldn't be afraid to put it in a situation it could be damaged by hauling stuff.
 
I've had a few old VW buses (though mine were later, a couple of 71's, a 73 and a 75, three of them pop top campers, plus a couple of '72's for parts). Nice in their way, but I'd never want one now. About the only thing worse in a crash is an Isetta. My last one, a '73 with partially removed interior, was a running car, but I refused to give it to any of my kids. But for electric conversion they'd not be bad. Lots of room - you could just put a big battery under a false floor in the middle, and the weight would be in the right place. And they were rated to carry a ton of cargo already.

I like the idea of electrifying some older cars, especially ones that had some charm or some features that I miss. But around here, the enemy of cars is more likely rust than wear and tear. The conversion business makes more sense in the south, where you'll find intact bodies. Here the woods are full of vehicles that are no longer roadworthy but mechanically sound. I've had to toss or sell several vehicles over the years that had many miles left in their drivetrains, but rusted too badly to stay on the road.
 
8enotto said:
The one that left me wanting was a 1965 Ford F100 4 by 4. With two big batteries it was pretty much the same power rating as the V8, about 200lbs heavier and about the same distance on battery as the gas engine on one full tank.
(My 1978 F250 with a 351 V8 would go 100 miles max on a tank. Seems a standard for the vehicle.)

Bottom line, a vehicle that would serve my needs and uses parts I can get anywhere . I wouldn't be afraid to put it in a situation it could be damaged by hauling stuff.
Click to expand...

There seemed to be similar standard here.

Pretty much every passenger car would have a fuel tank that would allow a trip from Adelaide to Melbourne without filling up (IIRC). (726 km/450 miles). NB. My current car doesn't do that, it has a max range of 550km with a full tank and battery. (I don't think SUVs were expected to have the same range, and mine has a fairly small fuel tank).
 
The VW air cooled vehicles were always a first option for conversion. The vans offered open floor space that is easy to work with. The cars were dirt cheap for years, not anymore however, because the engine was usually junk.

Not a favorite of mine for a few reasons but as commuter cars go they are ok. The Smart car would be a better option but they already do an electric version.
 
8enotto said:
An old Austin or Mini is basically a cheap low end car that wouldn't be shamed by the conversion. A mint RR Silver Ghost probably would be.

I watch a bit of banger racing and it's obvious that any old car out of inspection is fair game for wanton destruction. Trying to keep one within MOT regs by making it electric seems more noble.
Click to expand...

The classic mini was certainly cheap and low end, but outgrew that description to become icons by being fun to drive and cool. I own two and am quite happy to keep the ICE engines because they remain above all fun to drive. I have no need for anodyne electric power. There are conversions available which cost way more than any but the most expensive restored minis around.

8enotto said:
The VW air cooled vehicles were always a first option for conversion. The vans offered open floor space that is easy to work with. The cars were dirt cheap for years, not anymore however, because the engine was usually junk.

Not a favorite of mine for a few reasons but as commuter cars go they are ok. The Smart car would be a better option but they already do an electric version.
Click to expand...

I agree with the combi because it was never considered fun to drive. Iconic, yes but only because of being the transport of choice of the hippie generation.

Hence my preference for the VW ID Buzz. Based on an Icon, but no pretention of being any sort of sports car.
 
Back for the moment to old VW's, the fragility of the "upright fan" aircooled engines made beetles and earlier buses a prime candidate for electric conversion, since they'd often suck a valve at around 40 thousand miles and need a new engine. A few hardy pioneers re-powered old beetles with golf cart or forklift motors.
 
It was the closest chassis and a very simple vehicle compared to today. Add in convenient fatal flaw a low price tag it's fair game.

The Tata Nano is it's closest current equivalent now but won't meet safety standards in many places. I understand Tata already makes an E-version.
That is what would serve my family needs right about now.
Even if my wife thinks she needs something more like a VW Jetta, and a chauffeur.
 
We have a new business right next to my shop that uses google blood money to convert gas cars to electric. Theyre really learning as they go and doing some amazing work. I'm super excited as they bring in CNC machines, laser cutters and other goodies that are just perfect being next to a music school where the kids may want to make guitars.

They had some potentially scary mishaps and growing pains (accelerator pedal wired backwards!) but its all part of the fun. Some pretty amazing stuff

Their VW van conversion is pretty epic so far. I'll see if I can get some pictures today
 
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Lplus said:
Electric powered army vehicles anyone?



https://www.nationaldefensemagazine...hape-army-charges-ahead-marines-stay-cautious
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In the interest of saving you a click:

For its part, the Marine Corps maintains it still has no requirement for an all-electric tactical vehicle, preferring to invest in fuel-saving retrofits and cautiously develop a hybrid truck while waiting for technology to mature.

[...]

The Army doubled down on the challenge, publishing its own climate strategy the same year with a 2035 deadline to field purpose-built hybrid tactical vehicles and a 2050 target to field fully electric tactical vehicles.​
 
Another EV story on the BBC. Nissan are being accused of "Dumping EV pioneers"

I thought it would be about some fundamental technical shortcoming which was leaving drivers stranded but instead it's an issue with their phone-based app:

The firm says the app - which allows remote control of functions such as heating - is stopping because the UK's 2G network is being switched off.

But customers have reacted with anger, telling the BBC they did not expect it to be withdrawn.
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And how many people are affected ?

Around 3,000 Nissan Leaf and e-NV200 cars made before 2016 are affected by the app being withdrawn.

These older vehicles are fitted with 2G control units which communicate with the app.
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The media sure loves an EV scare story :rolleyes:
 
"things stop working on old cars - shock"

Also, that original app is rubbish. It doesn't work at important times like on cold mornings when you want to press heat your Leaf. "Luckily," my infotainment system failed and they replaced it with the newer version on my Leaf 2 or I'd be facing losing the app.
 
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