[maniac matt]

Hello all!!!

This is my first time posting here, but I have been on the site before and have spent many hours reading and learning, and I thank you all!

So, in the future, maybe in year or less? I would like to begin an EV conversion. I have been going back and forth on what donor I should try and get my hands on and what set-up i want to run... So, I came here... because most of you have real world experience.

Okay so the donor cars:

Jeep wrangler
Jeep Cherokee
Ford ranger (or small pick-up)

Yes, I know these are not the best cars for a conversion (aerodynamics of a brick), but I live in New England and 4 wheel drive can be necessary at times... Therefore I would like to keep the 4 wheel drive system in tact. I know this adds weight and will kill range when used, but if I need it, I most likely wont be too far from home.

I picked these cars because I like the way they look and they are on the lighter side of 4 wheel drive vehicles, and even more so with the engine and transmission pulled out. And yes, I do not want to leave the stock transmission. I only say this because I feel like a lot of the time most of the transmission isn't used for an EV and therefore is just dead weight... so i was thinking of trying out a Powerglide perhaps one similar to this one:

http://www.kansasev.com/evglide-powertrain.html

But, I don't really know if this is feasible if I want to keep the 4 wheel drive.

thoughts?


Now for the motor....

AC is what I am thinking... for two reasons..

1. Hills. I live in a hilly area. lots of em.

2. Regen- with a slightly heavier car I think regen could be promising.

Batteries...LiFePO4.... I hope. They are light and can hold quite a bit of juice.


So here are the initial thoughts...

Jeep Wranger- Either use the AC50 or AC55, but this is where it gets fuzzy, I know that the AC50 is much smaller than the AC55, but I think it could move the wrangler with 108 volt battery pack of 180- or 200ah CALB cells.

Any thoughts on performance here? I don't need the thing to be a rocket, just an everyday driver.

any thoughts on range if the curb weight was around 3,000 lbs?

I know that the AC55 would have more than enough power (and its a lot heavier) but it needs a much higher voltage which means something like double or more of the batteries and half of the Ah per cell... so something like 70 100 ah Thundersky or CALB cells.

any thoughts on performance here? in general and compared to the AC50 setup mentioned above?

As for the Cherokee and Ranger, The setups are essentially the same, but with the Cherokee I feel like the AC50 is way underpowered for it.... and with the ranger I feel like it could go either way as well, but maybe a little more towards the AC55 side..

As for range, I would like to get the best range I can with these cars, the more the better. If the AC50 setup got better range at 108 volts and the 180 or 100 ah cells i would be more apt to go with that, but if the AC55 got a better range with more cells with smaller ah ratings, then that would be great too..

As for performance, I don't need anything fancy, but enough to go on the highway and commute to work.

and for cost.... reasonable... I want to see what is out there first before i put a limit on anything.

As for my experience, I am a young college student who doesn't know much about EVs and electronics ( I am studying to be a mechanical engineer) but i want to learn more. I do tend to set the bar on the high side, but I love to get my hands dirty, and even if I fail, i feel like i learn more setting the bar too high than too low.

And thank you for reading this novel... if you read this far ... and I look forward to hearing what you all have to say

Thanks,

-Matt

[Salty9]

Have you considered the Geo Tracker or one of the other smaller 4wds? It has a curb weight of 700-800 lbs less than the Wrangler.
The Suzuki Swift has a curb weight about 200 lbs less than the Tracker.

dtbaker has one in the garage http://www.diyelectriccar.com/garage/cars/64

[maniac matt]

Originally Posted by Salty9

Have you considered the Geo Tracker or one of the other smaller 4wds? It has a curb weight of 700-800 lbs less than the Wrangler.
The Suzuki Swift has a curb weight about 200 lbs less than the Tracker.

dtbaker has one in the garage http://www.diyelectriccar.com/garage/cars/64

No, I had not thought of any of the smaller 4wds. I guess I didn't realize that they were that much lighter. If I can get my hands on one then perhaps I would, but for right now I was thinking the wrangler.

and should i be paying more attention to curb weight or gross vehicle weight?

thanks

matt

[Salty9]

Gross weight determines power requirements. I would try to start with the lightest vehicle that would meet my needs.

Found this listing on Craigs List: http://capecod.craigslist.org/pts/2409006159.html

[dtbaker]

Originally Posted by Salty9

Have you considered the Geo Tracker or one of the other smaller 4wds? It has a curb weight of 700-800 lbs less than the Wrangler.
The Suzuki Swift has a curb weight about 200 lbs less than the Tracker.

dtbaker has one in the garage http://www.diyelectriccar.com/garage/cars/64

The tracker is about the lightest 4wd you are going to find, on the flimsy side actually.... The Swift is not 4wd, it is fwd.

Subarus work and are more solid vehicle, but require a very deep adaptor that might be hard to find to match the way they do the clutch. Old Outbacks are pretty easy to come by...

Regarding AC vs DC.... AC MIGHT make sense if you are going over one of the many passes in the Berkshires on a daily basis, for engine braking if nothing else. Just be aware that the AC solution adds a couple grand to the package.

[Salty9]

Information I found on the web said the Swift was produced in 2 and 4 wheel drive. The 4 wheel drive would probably be heavier than 2 wheel drive.

[maniac matt]

Salty- I didn't really think of that approach, but perhaps I should, and thanks for the link!

dtbaker- I don't go through the Berkshires all that often, just mainly lots of hills around here in the Farmington Valley in CT.... so perhaps i should be thinking DC? I know you can still do regen with DC... do you think that would be worth it?

[dtbaker]

Originally Posted by maniac matt

perhaps i should be thinking DC? I know you can still do regen with DC...

unless you have LOTS of hills where you use compression braking, or LOTS of stop and go like a mailman, I think it is more cost effective to go straight DC and put a couple extra bucks into a bigger battery pack if range is an issue. Trying to get regen out of DC can be done, but is pretty complex and probably not much of a net gain, and not much if any savings over AC.

[dtbaker]

Originally Posted by Salty9

Information I found on the web said the Swift was produced in 2 and 4 wheel drive. The 4 wheel drive would probably be heavier than 2 wheel drive.

I have never seen or heard of a 4wd Swift/Metro... there is no tunnel for driveshaft or room for rear diff that I can see. Subaru has the 'small' 4wd pretty much down to a science, but you pay a little in weight and efficiency.