Hi, *
I am newb at EV conversions, but became inspired to go this route for a few reasons:
- just had a solar array setup in my home and intend on getting battery packs (when prices are further within reason) to get completely off grid before it becomes illegal
- Had intent on doing LSX Swaps on 1 of 2 potential vehicles, but the cost by comparison seems similar *
- Saw awesome EV-west conversions and various others on you tube. *
- Intoxicated by the screaming harpy sound of this engine-less burnout on EV-West's Ford Ranger *
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhCRsaHAeFg ***- that sound is the stuff of nightmares.. I love it!
Skill level: I would consider myself a shade tree mechanic at best. Have plucked a motor on an ICE yet, and have the tools to do so. *I am definitely mechanically inclined yet realize this will take some time and research. *I definitely expect to have some custom metal fab work done by a shop for motor mounts, and tranny plate..etc **- I am no electrician, but willing to learn
Range Expectations: *I'd like to be able to get 100 Miles or something close to it
Performance Hopes : *closer to 400HP (equivalent) and more than 350lb torque
Money to spend on project: *$10-15k (over time)? *I had intended to spend atleast as much on the LS conversion
Donor Vehicle(s) : *I have possesion of 2 potential donors
1987 IROC Z Camaro with a V8 350 TPI (RWD) w/ 700R4 auto tranny: Love this vehicle..just tired of 1980's electronics and 80's fuel injection
2001 E39 BMW 525i with an Inline 6 (RWD) getrag auto tranny: *Love the body of this vehicle, engine still runs but has given me 250k miles and is smoking *- this may end up with an LSX one day, but as graphene and/or lighter/cheaper batteries become a reality, this could become conversion #2
Neither of these is a daily driver, both committed to the project car pile. *
I am leaning toward the IROC for my first conversion as it is the lighter of the 2 vehicles, and the IROC has T-tops, and currently has no AC/Heat. I may sacrifice AC/HEAT as I am in the texas desert with 308 days of sunshine a year. **The BMW would be awesome, but at its size, I feel i'd lose much of its space and purpose to battery packs and I believe it would be very expensive. *I have no need for the the back seats in my IROC, and will easily sacrafice them for battery packs.
Parts Considered: *???
This is where the bulk of my questions begin as I believe I am seeing 2 overall ways of going about this (please correct me where I am wrong)
- AC or DC motor paired to existing (manual) Tranny and rear end - with or without clutch - a bunch of battery packs - Controller - brake pumps, etc.
- AC or DC Motor setup in a direct drive manner with a simple forward and reverse switch (and parts above)? -
- Tesla Drive train ?? : Direct drive with no tranny, and motors at the wheels, and a plethora of battery packs - this one is a bit of a mystery to me.
I would like regenrative braking as well.
I ask for your patience as I am hoping to get an extremely high level overview of the differences between those two setups and a reality check on what is possible. I'm also open to any thoughts, as I'm still putting everything on paper at this point. *As things become clearer, and I know what to search for, I will have educated questions. Thank you in advance for any info you can provide to get me started.
TL

R
AC vs. DC
Tesla/direct drive vs. E-motor to existing drivetrain?
Camaro Vs. BMW
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