[hankweirauch]

Hello Everyone this is Hank W in the Colorado high country. My wife and son gave me a really cool looking 2002 S-10 Ls Club Cab for my retirement. I am planning on wrapping it this summer in High Gloss Black. Would also like to discuss what it would take to do a hybrid conversion. I have limited funding so I feel hybrid might be able to swing over cost of full electric. What do all of you out there ,suggest?,
Let's talk ,
Hank

 

[hankweirauch]

A really slick conversion would be to put the entire Two-Mode hybrid system from the 2008-2013 GMT900 trucks... but the transmissions would be hard to find and everything would be very expensive. A much newer equivalent would be the similar power-split hybrid transmission from the Cadillac CT6 PHEV; those must be rare.

A hybrid has a smaller battery than a battery-electric vehicle (much smaller if it isn't a plug-in hybrid), but the hybrid system is so complex that overall project cost might not be any lower.

You might try adapting a mild hybrid system.

So what would be a ball park figure on what a system like this would cost? Thanks for your input Hank

 

[hankweirauch]

What do I suggest? Forego the pussy-boy, money-burning, wrap and spend the money on an electric, not hybrid, conversion.

The question I put out there only concerns the how to or type of electrical system. I am not discussing the wrap that is going to happen anyway.. That has been bought and paid for since christmas. Please take your ideas or opinio s to another website.. I don't do political opinions.. Have a good day..
Hank
Hank

 

[hankweirauch]

Please give me a ball park figure for going FULL ELECTRIC, I have had one company
This just in: From FLASH DRIVE MOTORS rated " Best overall" on these type of conversions.
Hank,

This would be a pretty difficult conversion, but we would be up to discuss it. What adds complexity is the weight and lack of aerodynamics. Also, if this is an automatic transmission, that will also complicate the conversion process. My initial impression is this would be a Tesla swap that would replace the rear end with batteries in the front. This would give you the most range with the weight of the vehicle.

I would ballpark something like this around $75K.

James

This is the first pricing to convert my vehicle to electric 2002 Chevy S-10 LS 4X4 Crew Cab

 

[hankweirauch]

Full electric will be cheaper because hybrid is even harder. Cost depends totally on your skill and what parts you use. Converting my Land Cruiser with a donor LEAF cost me about $10k

Right

Full electric will be cheaper because hybrid is even harder. Cost depends totally on your skill and what parts you use. Converting my Land Cruiser with a donor LEAF cost me about $10k

PLease give me a ball park figure of going Full Electric. One company called flash drive Motors ha quoted me 75K last week. That is definitely not n my price range..Thanks Hank

 

[hankweirauch]

I am currently researching another conversion company: EchoDrive PLEASE GROUP LOOK AT THIS AND LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS FEASIBLE. HANK
The company’s new EchoDrive bolt-on hybrid-electric system, which can reduce annual fuel costs by as much as 50-percent in some cases, consists of a Remy electric motor and a light-weight battery storage system.

In the near future EchoDrive will also be offered direct for installation on 2015 GM 2500/3500 gas-powered 2WD pickups. Installation is performed by an Echo-certified installer. Customers may choose to use a certified partner in Echo’s nationwide installation network or get training and certification for their in-house tech(s).

EchoDrive is being offered as a $12,500 upgrade. But that initial sticker shock is far less intimidating if you consider Echo Automotive has a lease program that is less than $200/month.

 

[hankweirauch]

This echo Drive system looks like a good possibility to me if we can get all the parts to fit, they claim only four hours to convert AND if you sell the truck they can be removed and installed in the new ride.

have a good night,
Hank

 

[hankweirauch]

Thanks guys this is what I have been wanting all along. The actual dollars needed for the nuts and bolts part of the job . WAY TO GO GUYS, you all ROCK.
Thanks Hank.
Colorado High Country

 

[hankweirauch]

Good to know, great feedback, I do drive a 10 mile hill with a 2000 feet elevation change going from where I used to work to where I live,so it looks like I would need a huge battery system to make it work. I saw someone put all his batterys under the bed of his s10 and made a tilt bed. Looks kind of cool and worked for him
Hank

 

[hankweirauch]

I run a 6% grade, at times 8%, for 5 miles in a 3400 pound factory EV (Bolt) into town so know those numbers too well. Almost exactly half your run with half the elevation drop. Your weight should be in that ballpark, I'm guessing.

Not a huge battery...you'll need about 40-60kW to climb fully electric and about the same to be able to regen and slow down for curves going down hill.

You can do the math on the clock time and assume 20-80% SoC battery use for min pack size.

Cost depends totally on your skill and what parts you use mate

Thanks for your input, Have a good day.
Hank

 

[hankweirauch]

A link to Echo Automotive would help. When I searched for EchoDrive I get guitar electronic, When I searched for Echo Automotive I find Echo Automotive Fails: Bolt-On Plug-In Hybrid Kits Used Bright Technology the article is dated September 5, 2014. Did the company start up again? or is this a completely different company?
later floyd

YES, this is the same company I referenced I missed the date when I found it. O Well maybe it was to good to be true anyhow. Thanks for trying. Hank

 

[hankweirauch]

I hope some company bought the tech and is developing it again. Looks like there would be a market for it.
Another option might be using a Lexus GS450H transmission and inverter like @gregski is doing although the transmission looks huge compared to a S10 transmission from what I remember of the last S10 tranny I looked at close to 40 years ago.
later floyd

Well with all the new technology now a days, I was hoping something would pop up less expensive and easy to install. One S-10 video on you tube I saw, the gentleman put all his batteries under the bed with a tilt bed. I really liked that plan. Thank you for your input.
Hank

 

[hankweirauch]

A conversion by someone else includes a lot of their expensive labour, as well as buying every component from them. It's like getting a custom car built by someone else - unless your budget is something like "it shouldn't be much more than one hundred thousand dollars", you're probably not rich enough to be a obiouslycustomer for that sort of nonsense.

The point of "DIY Electric Car" is doing it yourself. That is much more difficult but replaces the huge labour expense with lots of your time and effort.

Brian, the problem I seem with the Do It Yourself concept is , no one person can or has given me the details needed to do the whole project step by step, listing prices and parts needed. You are right, I cannot and will not pay someone to do this at 75K this is totally unrealistic to put that kind of money on the nice little 6K truck I bought at christmas time. However if someone could do the whole thing for 10K and I did not have to mess with anything that would obviously be a done deal.
In my researching to see if this conversion either full electric or hybrid conversion is something I want to have done I have not fully explained to all of you what I call my "ACE IN THE HOLE".
My son and his best friend since childhood have this weekend hobby of working on his friends cars on the weekend. His best friend is a fully functioning Electrician with his own business and a fleet of vehicles. A few years ago this Best friend build a Lamborghini look alike on a pontiac Fiero frame and engine. His friend bought and set up his own vehicle repair shop with all the nice tools, he has a lift, tire machines and all the tools to do whatever I need. He even has a business name so he can get the necessary discounts for parts. He just doesn't. do business as a repair shop. So no labor charges for Old Hank would apply here, I would have access to all the tools needed, part discounts, and somewhere to build this for awhile, AKA "MY ACE IN THE HOLE" Please see my son who is a Software Engineer by daytime working on the truck he wrapped inside his best friends workshop. Now you know my secret. Have a good day, Work Safe, BE SAFE. PS: When you see these photos, remember this is a private shop.
thank you,
Hank W.
Colorado High Country.

 

[hankweirauch]

CALLING MR. REMY_MARTIAN,
What are you wanting from me? I am searching for answers to Full Electric or Hybrid Conversions for my S-10. I am totally confused at this time which way to go, everyone I have talked to have a different answer as to which way to go. I have seen no consistany or any standards in anyone's build .
Thank you,
Hank

 

[hankweirauch]

Thank you, I will consider your offer to come to Morrison, I am just down the road on Woodland Park. Have a good night.
Hank

 

[hankweirauch]

THE NEED FOR AN ELECTRIC PICKUP IS GREAT!!
Please watch this, to see what happened to her RED TESLA 3, Hint she made her own pickup. Please reply back if you like.

Please have a goodnight, hope you enjoy this.
Hank

 

[hankweirauch]

Still gotta give an "A" for the effort.
Hank

 

[hankweirauch]

Thanks for letting me know about that detail, I am sure that day was ALL ABOUT MUSK, and not much praise about what she did with the creation of Truckla, however we and a lot of people agree that was no small project for her and her friends to undergo. It reminds me of what Mark Smyth does in Rhode Island, with SMYTH PROFORMANCE with the six sedan models that he sells kits to make utes or small pickups. I ESPECIALLY like his vw beetle and audi a4/s4 conversions. Have a great day, Work Safe, BE SAFE .
From Colorado High Country
Thank you,
HANK

³

 

[hankweirauch]

Good Afternoon all you do it yourselfers:
A couple of months ago I emailed Mark Smith of Smyth Performance and asked him uf he currently had any plans to cut up any current electric vehicles to make "Utes" ie small pickup not at this time but it might be coming later. He is waiting with what the Government is going to require in the future. Mark is the founder of factory five which has been making kit cars for years. His brother bought him out so he could start, SMYTH PREFORMANCE. He slowly adds
new kits every so often. He started out with vw Jetta/Golf, Subaru Impresa wrx, Audi a4/s4, Dodge Charger, more recently added the VW Beetle and Jeep Cherokee kits. All vehicle maintain the same frame and dimensions so everything that runs the car/truck remains the same, perfect for insurance and licensing. Everything to finish the new bed is complete in kit.
Please see examples below.
Thank you,.
Hank

 

[hankweirauch]

Alpha wolf , Pickup truck anybody ever heard of it. Small California Companies idea of a small pickup truck. Not fully developed yet but here is a very interesting video to watch. I am a S-10 owner looks very promising for some one like me. What do all of you out there in DIY Electric LAND Think???? Please reply anybody else think this is neat or not???
Hank