VX EV: Any Interest?

[mbeach]

There's no way on Earth that I would drive one of those Myers'.
I'd rather get poked in the eye with a dirty stick.

The only draw for electric vehicles is the instant torque. That'd be a cool feeling, and ideal for point-and-shoot autocross antics. But for every day use? C'mon. No one can actually believe that a car that plugs in to a wall socket somehow reduces our dependency on fossil fuels...

This electricity comes at an environmental cost as well -coal, oil, the atom...
Plastic solar panels, lead batteries...
Remember, if it can't be grown, it HAS to be mined.
So go big oil! (that's a joke -but seriously -I want to buy a boat).

Now diesel is something that I can get down with. You pull off a reasonable priced conversion and I'm right there behind you. Maybe not with biodiesel (my property is on a mountainside, not conducive to crop growing), but I'm all over dino-diesel.

Yesterday I passed a fleet of diesel Touregs on their way up to Prudhoe Bay. They were decked out with big aluminum roof racks and German flags -most likely doing some promotional trip to the arctic circle or something...

[Joe_Black]

Electric is way cleaner that fossil, even in considering the infrastruture to use it if on grid and the properties of the panels if off grid. The cost of conversion would take several years to recoup solely from fuel savings, but it can be done especially when you consider there's no longer an engine to maintain with consumables or a transmission and coolant system. Depending on your motor design you may have to replace brushes or bearings periodically, and the battery pack will need replacement every 3 - 6 years.

Weight isn't that much of a factor with EV's. It was up until recently (electric cars have been produced since the 1900's) but with vastly improved energy density of the newer battery technology you can get that 50 miles with about 400 - 500 pounds of battery. Add the motors and control circuitry and your net weight is less than a stock VX. Remember, we're talking about removing the ENTIRE drivetrain except axles. The fuel tank, all its lines and the entire coolant system including the heater core and radiator.

Again, this is just a mental exercise and won't appeal to everyone. Especially the average American. I'll eventually fab the brackets and probably tinker with a Trooper just to have a little fun. Especially light-to-light.

As for the biodiesel project... The engine and 5-speed will be ordered as soon as payment clears from someone providing a new home for the Dragon. Then the IronMan gets torqued!

[TEN36VX]

I like the idea, Joe.
So long as the off road performance would be equal or better.
If you could have custom panels made, it might be cool to replace the hood insert, and rear side windows (not to useful anyway) with panels. And deck the roof out. Electric would run silently too, eh? Stealthy...
I know nothing about this so here's a few questions:

How long would it take to regen the batteries from dry on solar?
Could panels be used to extend range or even run on (even if at low speed)?
Are the batteries easy to come by?
Where do you get rid of them?

I am up for anything to make our unique vehicles even more so.

[Joe_Black]

How long would it take to regen the batteries from dry on solar?
I hadn't really thought about doing PV panels on the VX, that was an idea for the Trooper conversion. You could get a respectable panel to fit the insert, but as a custom item (shape and contour) it would be pricey. Panels on the roof filling the space between the rails might be better, I just couldn't imagine plonking big square panels on the VX though. Another option many are doing is a solar charging station in their yard. This is simply a small shed or enclosure housing a battery bank that's maintained by a PV array, like a smaller version of what a solar powered home would use, and you simply plug into that for your overnight charge.

Could panels be used to extend range or even run on (even if at low speed)?
Yes on the range, as long as you're getting sun you're getting charge. You'd have to have a HUGE array to directly power the motors for something the size of a regular car. Ever see the Solar Challenge vehicles? They're spindly little creations covered entirely by cells.

Are the batteries easy to come by?
The most popular battery right now for garage conversions is the yellow and blue top Optimas, which you can get just about anywhere. A lot of places offer good quantity discounts and some are pooling their conversion projects to get group buys.

Where do you get rid of them?
Any place you'd drop off an old car battery, like AutoZone/Pep Boys type places or your local recycling center.

[Groovium]

Hi Joe!

Excellent thread --thanks very much, btw, for your earlier advice (re: "Engine trouble: fix or forget it?"). I'd have talked to you about your Dragon, but I bagged a Fox ;-)

Despite my geek credentials, I've been flummoxed by image uploads to the site, so I could just email you the quick sketches I made of a retractable solar panel. It's 40 miles from my home/shop to Monterey, so an EV SUV with charging stations at both ends could be molto groovy.