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I would love to have a classic British roadster like an old Jag, MG, or Healey with a reliable electric powertrain. I'm told the original electrical systems were horrible and the motors do not hold up with unleaded gasoline, so that might be a win-win. Adding a torque-vectoring system or Torsen would be useful too.
I would love to have a classic British roadster like an old Jag, MG, or Healey with a reliable electric powertrain. I'm told the original electrical systems were horrible and the motors do not hold up with unleaded gasoline, so that might be a win-win. Adding a torque-vectoring system or Torsen would be useful too.
We did a Datsun 1600 Roadster and a few mini pickups (Courier and Toyota) + a Cortina
I saw one of the 1970's EV conversion Beetles we did recently at an EV show (still delivering as an EV after 45 yrs)
I stuck with diesel (homebrew)... still delivering 50 mpg 43 yrs later. ~ 70,000 gal of dino fuel saved for others to waste. (compared to my 12 mpg 4x4 pickup it replaced)
We did a Datsun 1600 Roadster and a few mini pickups (Courier and Toyota) + a Cortina
I saw one of the 1970's EV conversion Beetles we did recently at an EV show (still delivering as an EV after 45 yrs)
I stuck with diesel (homebrew)... still delivering 50 mpg 43 yrs later. ~ 70,000 gal of dino fuel saved for others to waste. (compared to my 12 mpg 4x4 pickup it replaced)
Cool. Maybe one day I'll have the time to figure out how to convert my own British classic with a modern EV powertrain. I've seen a Honda S2000 with a Tesla motor/Bolt battery pack/Volt charger (talk about a Frankencar), but the S2000's original powertrain seems so perfectly balanced as a high-revving roadster that balanced power, reliability, and fuel economy. I hope the car was a shell or flood-salvaged loss.
I would love to have a classic British roadster like an old Jag, MG, or Healey with a reliable electric powertrain.
Lotus. Very light weight, so much more return for the weight of the electrics, or fewer batteries needed for the same result as a heavier car.
I have a Lotus Elan Plus 2, the slightly larger, touring-oriented version of the Elan, and I always thought that if, Dog forbid, the engine ever blew up beyond repair, electrification might be a real hoot. A decent-size motor could go where the transmission is and good bank of batteries where the engine is. In original condition the car weighs only about 1700 lbs, and it could probably be electrified without going too far above that.
But then I could also just drop a Ford Zetec in it, which is a known and well-proven modification.
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I'm told the original electrical systems were horrible
Sometimes, but they're not beyond hope of redemption if you have patience and a little skill. Most any troublesome system (electrical or otherwise) in old British cars has likely seen a lot of neglect but some proper attention can put it right.
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and the motors do not hold up with unleaded gasoline, so that might be a win-win.
That depends. Most any cylinder head rebuild done after about 1984 will include unleaded-compatible valve seats. The bigger issue for the old carburettors is ethanol, which some seals and floats don't like.
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Adding a torque-vectoring system or Torsen would be useful too.
Maybe. The aforementioned Lotus Elans have independent rear suspension that does a good job of keeping the power glued, but if you race or are just way too obsessed, limited-slip differentials that fit in the original diff-case are available.
Pretty much any car can be retrofitted to become an electric with only the cost of doing so stopping most.
I think I saw somewhere that Ford was coming out with an electric F150 so that will be neat to watch how it is received.
From some of things Ive been reading, swapping out the gas burner for an all electric motor is fairly simple, mating it to the transmission is the biggest hurdle.
I imagine a full rebuild VW Beetle of the late 60s or early 70s. Replace the engine and fuel tank for batteries. Use available space for full electronic controls. Decide if you want one, two, or all four wheels powered by an electric motor. Install electric powered AC/heat, LED dash and exterior lights (except for headlights). Upgrade the suspension and brakes. With such a project you can make it sports car fast acceleration or just fast enough to keep up with today’s traffic. Install some sound and heat insulation as well as improved seat cushion and materials. Not sure if it’s possible to install a front and side airbag system in such a vehicle for improved safety since they aren’t known for crash safety at all.
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but of course I had to punch a paper tape (ASCII code) to do it....
