Why an SUV and an EV make the perfect combination.
Posted 02-03-2009 at 02:08 PM by mattW
Tags suv
Many people seem to think that EV enthusiasts want everyone to drive a generic efficient car and lose their individuality and hobbies. What they don't think about is how having an electric car would actually benefit their recreation time. That's right having an electric car can actually make your SUV better and I don't just mean better in the nerdy 'more efficient' kind of way, I mean better in the world-conquering, give-me-a-mountain-and-I'll-show-it-who's-boss kind of way.
How you ask? Well an EV perfectly takes away the tasks that turn a fierce off-roading machine into something soccer mums use to pick up the kids. The thing that makes an SUV tame is that they have too many jobs to do. Yes they have off-road capability but it has to be watered down in their attempt to get better highway mpg or 'car-like handling'. Its like trying to get an Olympic sprinter who can also do your taxes, at trying to do both they don't end up very good at either. Electric cars are make extremely good speciality commuters- they cost almost nothing to run or maintain, they don't use any fuel when stuck in traffic, they'll keep running till the chassis falls apart and have fantastic low speed acceleration for moving between traffic lights. By having a specific commuter you can also have a speciality recreational vehicle too. And that's good news; because you'd spend next to no money (and CO2 if you are so inclined) on 'fuel' during the week you could afford to have a vehicle that doesn't get great mileage while rock-crawling. And you can justify getting the bigger suspension and off road tyres since your only going to use it for climbing every mountain and fording every stream. Sure its a bit of an odd combination but they compliment each other so well.
And don't think an EV commuter means a dinky shoe box either. Just about any car you like can be converted to an electric drive train to make a good commuter. Older classics make for EV with unique looks and reliability to be proud of. Pick a car and chances are someone has already converted it to electric. Not an SUV fan? Well the combination of an EV works with any recreational car; a classic, track car or just a head turner, using an EV for your daily driver frees up cash and fuel for your weekender of choice. So if your a car nut why not make your next project an EV conversion, its one of the few projects that might actually save you money and means that the one after can be made that much better!
How you ask? Well an EV perfectly takes away the tasks that turn a fierce off-roading machine into something soccer mums use to pick up the kids. The thing that makes an SUV tame is that they have too many jobs to do. Yes they have off-road capability but it has to be watered down in their attempt to get better highway mpg or 'car-like handling'. Its like trying to get an Olympic sprinter who can also do your taxes, at trying to do both they don't end up very good at either. Electric cars are make extremely good speciality commuters- they cost almost nothing to run or maintain, they don't use any fuel when stuck in traffic, they'll keep running till the chassis falls apart and have fantastic low speed acceleration for moving between traffic lights. By having a specific commuter you can also have a speciality recreational vehicle too. And that's good news; because you'd spend next to no money (and CO2 if you are so inclined) on 'fuel' during the week you could afford to have a vehicle that doesn't get great mileage while rock-crawling. And you can justify getting the bigger suspension and off road tyres since your only going to use it for climbing every mountain and fording every stream. Sure its a bit of an odd combination but they compliment each other so well.
And don't think an EV commuter means a dinky shoe box either. Just about any car you like can be converted to an electric drive train to make a good commuter. Older classics make for EV with unique looks and reliability to be proud of. Pick a car and chances are someone has already converted it to electric. Not an SUV fan? Well the combination of an EV works with any recreational car; a classic, track car or just a head turner, using an EV for your daily driver frees up cash and fuel for your weekender of choice. So if your a car nut why not make your next project an EV conversion, its one of the few projects that might actually save you money and means that the one after can be made that much better!
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Total Comments 24
Comments
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Are you saying that an electric SUV is the way to go, or are you saying that driving an EV as your DD should sufficiently offset weekend use of gasser SUVs?Posted 02-10-2008 at 12:51 AM by xrotaryguy 
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I'm saying the second, that having a specialist commuter EV means you can have a specialist weekender. It wasn't aimed at people who are already EV fans (i'm not at all suggesting you should get an SUV). I'm just saying to the average gas-car modder that an electric car makes sense too.
Posted 02-10-2008 at 03:03 AM by mattW
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I'd prefer to build a special off-road EV myself (or, at least, series hybrid), but that's mostly to prove to my fellow off-roaders that it can be done better!
Posted 02-10-2008 at 08:00 AM by Thalass
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I totally agree with this reasoning. It is part of the justification for my upcoming first conversion. Thanks for the encouragement.
Posted 02-11-2008 at 10:08 AM by Idrag
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Cool, I agree with that reasoning actually. I have an old Mazda race car that belches smoke and spits fire, etc. It's tons of fun to drive, it was cheap to build, and it is cheap to operate. I could never afford to build an electric car that could keep up with this thing. Like I said, the thing is way dirty, but I only drive it aout... shoot, about 3 times a year right nowQuote:Originally Posted by mattW
I'm saying the second, that having a specialist commuter EV means you can have a specialist weekender. It wasn't aimed at people who are already EV fans (i'm not at all suggesting you should get an SUV). I'm just saying to the average gas-car modder that an electric car makes sense too.
so it's not really polluting much. I also have a full size truck for towing the race car and other automotive projects. Naturally, the truck gets really crummy gas mileage, but again, I don't really drive it that much... maybe once a week in the winter. I drive it nearly every day in the summer because it has air conditioning. The rest of the time, I am riding my little electric bicycle. I cover about 20 miles per day on the bike at a cost of about $1.77 per month. At that price, i can afford to splurge on gasoline and pollute a little on the weekends. 
Posted 02-11-2008 at 12:58 PM by xrotaryguy
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I was hoping gas would hit $8.00 a gallon so I can drive to work without being behind a truck or SUV every second. The last thing I want to see is Electric monster trucks. I do see the fact that it would make EV's more acceptable to a bigger crowd which is always a good thing.
So, I was against it before I was for it.
DonmanvaPosted 02-14-2008 at 07:13 PM by donmanva
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I think that the low cost of operation vs gasoline vehicles will ultimately draw a large number (read most of them) of motorists. I don't think that large electric vehicles like full size 4wd electric truck will be practical until after EVs are a relatively common sight on public roads. At that point I expect large manufacturers to honestly invest in battery technology that would make that kind of vehicle possible.
I am with you however, I really don't like the idea of people driving large vehicles around for no good reason. I do have a full size truck, but it is 2wd because I don't need 4wd and I really only use it when I need to pull a trailer or pick something up... or when all of my more-responsible vehicles are out-of-service.Posted 02-15-2008 at 02:32 PM by xrotaryguy
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I'm a big fan of multiple vehicles. If the market caught up, I think we would see less expensive and more off-road capable SUVs necause people would have a diggerent car for commuting.
I also think that series hybrid SUVs with a low range would be very cool due to the torque properties of electric motors and the fact that they don't really use that much energy on average. You could have a low powered EV SUV that can still climb a mountain, just not very fast, which it wouldn't anyway.Posted 04-09-2008 at 10:15 PM by ElvishWarrior
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For me it will work to have a EV and SUV, I live in the country and sometimes need the SUV to get to town. In all other times I plan on using a converted truck to make the trips to town and not use gasoline.
My work commute and work is a company truck so I am stuck there.
Longer trips handled by fuel efficient car or motorcycle..
Maybe I have taken the multiple car thing too far..
JerryPosted 04-10-2008 at 01:53 PM by elevatorguy
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By driving my Yugo EV to work everyday, I save $50.00 worth of gas in my 1984 GMC 3/4 ton truck. (on average 120 miles per week).
Then on weekends I can go to auctions and spend a little on gas.
My pocketbook sure feels the difference.Posted 04-10-2008 at 10:24 PM by Coley
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The 4WD I plan on converting is an old Subaru Brumby (BRAT), so it's not exactly a monster truck like an F250 or a Tacoma. It's also fairly aerodynamic, with the cover on the back.
So hopefully it'll perform well enough on the road to be a commuter for me (50km range, keep up with traffic), and also perform offroad well enough to put those dino-burners to shame :PPosted 04-11-2008 at 03:32 AM by Thalass
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I've been considering the idea of having an EV + SUV. I have come around to thinking it would be a good idea.
Particularly since I live in New Jersey, and really don't like the idea of driving an EV out in a snowstorm. Plus, I could use it to tow a trailer, or carry anything heavy. For me, probably 40-50 days of use per year.
-dPosted 04-11-2008 at 09:26 PM by songofsixpence
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Just make some strong battery racks (in case you roll it like a friend of mine did in his geo 4wd ev, not a pretty sight.Quote:Originally Posted by Thalass
So hopefully it'll perform well enough on the road to be a commuter for me (50km range, keep up with traffic), and also perform offroad well enough to put those dino-burners to shame :PPosted 04-12-2008 at 04:56 PM by O'Zeeke
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an SUV EV would make people take EVs seriously
Posted 04-17-2008 at 10:50 AM by michaeljayclark
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A CRV would convert nicely I would think.
Posted 04-17-2008 at 12:19 PM by rbgrn
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I absolutely agree that EV and especially range extended EV SUVs would be a great help to promoting EVs.
Probably the biggest obstacle to there being more EV SUV conversions is that proportionally more SUVs were made with auto transmissions than pickup trucks.Posted 04-17-2008 at 04:20 PM by ElvishWarrior
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thats where direct drive will come into play.
Posted 04-17-2008 at 10:57 PM by michaeljayclark
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Yes, and with a transfer case with a low range, there'd still be some room for different gearings. Dropping the tranny and replacing it with a second motor would also trade weight for more power.
With the high power requirement and limited space for batteries, I have a feeling SUVs would be prime candidates for range extending engines, even if they're small. That way one could have a daily driver for short commutes and something that can function away from home.Posted 04-18-2008 at 11:06 AM by ElvishWarrior
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Everything about SUVs make them the antithesis of EVs.Quote:Originally Posted by ElvishWarrior
I absolutely agree that EV and especially range extended EV SUVs would be a great help to promoting EVs.
EVs need to be light. SUVs are not.
EVs need to be aerodynamic. SUVs are not.
EVs need to limit the number of WHr/Mile. SUVs can't.
EVs need to try to be cost effective. In an SUV? Please!
What's going to have to change to get EVs to be successful is the mindset of a populace that is used to hopping in a car/truck/SUV and being able to roar for hundreds of miles in tons of steel at a moments notice for pennies per mile. Those days are gone and they are never coming back.
It'll take $6/$8/$10 a gallon gas to start changing that mindset. And you best believe that we're going to get there.
But if it really takes a $90,000 LiPo filled EV SUV to change the minds of consumers about EV, then we're in deep, deep trouble.
ga2500evPosted 04-26-2008 at 08:18 AM by ga2500ev
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Points taken. Consider also - SUVs have become wide and less aerodynamic to prevent flipping. A battery pack placed within the frame and under the passenger compartment will make that less necessary. We could return to having SUVs that are the same width as compact cars.
Also, consider that the average power of a mid-size SUV could be supplied with a range extending high efficiency 4cyl engine typical of compact cars. My Hyundai Elantra has a more powerful engine than my Bronco II, even though it's smaller. Basic truck based SUVs used to be offered with 4 cyl engines barely over 100hp all the time, and Suburbans with less than 200hp. The low end torque required for takeoff and off-road would be much better served with a electric motor than a huge IC engine that the vehicle then has to carry around, not to mention turn over.
And if it costs $90,000USD, that's still under the price of a Tesla. It would be a foot in the door for EV development, another inroad into the automobile market.Posted 04-26-2008 at 11:32 AM by ElvishWarrior
