[chickpea]

Hello people, I am planning on living in a van in around a year or two once I save up enough money to move out. I want to get my hands on the vehicle in the title and convert it to full electric with tesla batteries. I am very new at this and have 0 mechanical experience but I have the grit to get this done.

Let’s assume the vehicle is in decent conditions for examples and such. I will also be driving a lot to travel the country so I would need good range if anything.

Does anyone have any tips, instructions, or resources on how I should get started or go about converting this vehicle? I would greatly appreciate any help. Thank you!

 

[remy_martian]

If you're living in a van, range doesn't matter cuz you don't have to be anywhere at a specific time.

 

[Electric Land Cruiser]

General thread will get general answers. Here are a couple.

-RWD lends itself well to EV conversions. Can use a common EV transaxle like a Tesla or LEAF with custom axles. This is pretty simple mechanically.

-dont fixate on specific batteries just because they say Tesla. You need to figure out capacity and voltage and where you will put them before deciding on a type of battery.

-for living in a van you will want a beefy DC-DC converter to run your accessories and solar would be nice to have.

-diesel/gasoline heaters are really good if you need heating without running the battery down.

 

[MattsAwesomeStuff]

And, the usual question...

What were you imagining this was going to cost?

Range is expensive. Unused range is even more expensive.

If you plan on driving a lot every day, okay, electric can save you some money. Otherwise if you park a lot and tour, what you want is: a gas engine.

Even then, if you're living in the van a year or two, gas will be cheaper than electric.

 

[chickpea]

General thread will get general answers. Here are a couple.

-RWD lends itself well to EV conversions. Can use a common EV transaxle like a Tesla or LEAF with custom axles. This is pretty simple mechanically.

-dont fixate on specific batteries just because they say Tesla. You need to figure out capacity and voltage and where you will put them before deciding on a type of battery.

-for living in a van you will want a beefy DC-DC converter to run your accessories and solar would be nice to have.

-diesel/gasoline heaters are really good if you need heating without running the battery down.

Oh ok that’s good to hear. Yea, i wanted tesla batteries just so i could charge at their chargers more efficiently when traveling. However, I hear you can charge other vehicles at those as well.

DC-DC converter and solar, yes definitely. This gives me more info to research, thanks!

 

[remy_martian]

You cannot charge Tesla batteries in a DIY at a Tesla charger - where did you get that idea? You can't even charge a salvage-titled Tesla car there even though the car was never damaged, merely stolen.

Tesla CCS-capable chargers will likely cost a premium over EA and other public charging stations.

 

[MattsAwesomeStuff]

However, I hear you can charge other vehicles at those as well.

Mmmm.... no, not yet. I think they announced an intention to do so, but they haven't done that yet and we don't know what it'll look like.

There are many other CCS chargers in the US. Wyoming and South Dakota you're in a rough spot, maybe New Mexico. But otherwise there's lots of coverage.

L2's, probably fine for a camper moseying along:

CCS:

CHADeMO

And Tesla, in comparison:

 

[piotrsko]

Based on a recent road trip Reno to Durango, charging long distance on expressways and major tourist roads seems pretty common. Passed every couple of whiles by electric stuff on I80, but never on I50

 

[remy_martian]

Just stay out of Wyoming. Nothing there...yet. That fossil state is in the crosshairs of the every 50 miles Fed mandate/funding.

 

[remy_martian]

A couple of years ago it was impossible to get the Bolt EV from Portland to Reno along the inland route (non-I5).

 

[piotrsko]

Which inland route? 395 , 139, 97, 89? Still not much there at least as of last year except cities but those are pushing range a bit much for my taste.

 

[remy_martian]

Through Burns