The TesLorean

104326 Views 124 Replies 37 Participants Last post by 266917, Oct 19, 2020

DrJeff

Discussion Starter · Mar 13, 2016

2

Introducing the TesLorean

TesLorean = Delorean & Tesla

Four years ago this week I got my Delorean with the plan to convert it to electric drive. I wanted to do a conversion project and coming from N. Ireland (now living in Texas) I have a connection with and love for The DeLorean DMC-12.

The plan is to fit the rear motor from a Tesla 70D and replace the DeLorean's V6 PRV engine (105hp at the wheels) and stock transmission.

Lots and lots of engineering, design, programming, and swearing to come.

Jeff

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DrJeff

Discussion Starter · #21 · Apr 18, 2016 (Edited)

jetpax said:
Nice project!

I'm planning on using the Tesla 70D drivetrain also, so I plugged the DeLorean into my EVcalc Google spreadsheet, using a Chevy Volt pack, and it looks like a range of [email protected] cruise, max speed 125mph, 0-60 ~4s

...

Hi jetpax,

Are you including both motors from the 70D (front and rear). The motor I have is the rear motor from the 70D AWD (two equal sized motors), which is listed as 170kw (or 259HP). Entering this information, looks like it should give ~6 secs 0-60 based on your calculator link. Cool calculator btw.

I think it might come in a little lighter than 3300 lbs. The Tesla drive unit has the advantage of being able to remove the transmission which shaves a few extra pounds.

Thanks
Jeff

DrJeff

Discussion Starter · #22 · Apr 18, 2016

corbin said:
Sweet! Where did you score the motor from? Any ideas for the inverter/controller?

The motor is the rear unit from a 70D (AWD). It was recovered from a salvage vehicle.

It looks like the most prospective control option is the UMC 2.0 (or is it 3.0 now) made by Michal Elias.

Karter2

· #23 · Apr 19, 2016 (Edited)

DrJeff said:
The Tesla drive unit has the advantage of being able to remove the transmission which shaves a few extra pounds...
Jeff

Jeff, ....are you planning to just use the Tesla motor, without the transmission ?
In another thread, it was stated that the motor casing and end plate was an integral part of the trasmission casing ? Have Tesla changed that on these 70D units ??

From the "Fun with Tesla Motor" thread...

eldis said:
The motor "face" and bearings are a part of the gearbox assembly, plus you have a water jacket through the rotor. So if you somehow hack apart the gearbox cast, you will find a splined shaft entering the gearbox.

DrJeff

Discussion Starter · #24 · Apr 19, 2016

Keeping the drive unit transmission, dropping the DeLoreans transmission.

jetpax

· #25 · Apr 19, 2016 (Edited)

DrJeff said:
Hi jetpax,

Are you including both motors from the 70D (front and rear). The motor I have is the rear motor from the 70D AWD (two equal sized motors), which is listed as 170kw (or 259HP). Entering this information, looks like it should give ~6 secs 0-60 based on your calculator link. Cool calculator btw.

I think it might come in a little lighter than 3300 lbs. The Tesla drive unit has the advantage of being able to remove the transmission which shaves a few extra pounds.

Thanks
Jeff

Thanks Jeff, I had difficulty finding the numbers for the rear motor alone.

I've updated the sheet; do you have a source for the max/continuous torque numbers (performance can be torque-bound at low speed) and max RPM ?

DrJeff

Discussion Starter · #26 · Apr 19, 2016 (Edited)

I haven't seen anything for max/continuous torque, I'll have a dig around.

DrJeff

Discussion Starter · #27 · Apr 19, 2016

I'm removing the stock DeLorean transmission, not the transmission from the Tesla drive unit (sorry, I didn't word the original post the best).

The DeLorean currently has a 5-speed manual transmission. I'm guessing it probably comes in at ~200lbs. Of course removing the stock transmission means the gear shift linkage will go to. I'm not sure about removing the gear stick itself since it will change the look and feel inside the car. I'm playing with the idea of leaving the gear shift lever and just hooking it up to some switches (maybe a new guide plate) and using it for some other purpose. Alternatively, I could remove the gear stick and put in some cup holders in the center console

jetpax

· #28 · Apr 19, 2016

DrJeff said:
Weight is measured with a scale but an estimate based on two measurements (sum of weights lifting one side then the other) 210 lbs

Other measurements (again just rough)
- 22 in wide (motor to inverter), 26 3/4in wide including the mount
- trans final gear housing is 8" wide (shaft port to port)
- 13in tall
- 25in front to back, including mount on front and back
- drive shaft to motor centerline ~8in (measured from above)

Jeff

The inverter especially looks really small compared with the original Model S.

Is it the same as the attached pic, or do you have any more pictures of the motor inverter assembly (ie other side than you posted earlier)?

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DrJeff

Discussion Starter · #29 · Apr 19, 2016

3

jetpax said:
The inverter especially looks really small compared with the original Model S.

Is it the same as the attached pic, or do you have any more pictures of the motor inverter assembly (ie other side than you posted earlier)?

Here are some photos of the inverter (still attached to the drive unit). I added these to my TesLorean album (if you can see that). Not used to uploading photos to DIYElectricCar, so hopefully I've done this right.

Yes the inverter is much smaller that the previous rear drive unit. It is one of the main reasons why the unit will (almost, we'll see) fit into the engine cradle frame in the DeLorean. The larger drive unit would have entailed removing and rebuilding the rear sub-frame of the DeLorean.

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jetpax

· #30 · Apr 20, 2016

Thanks Jeff.

My calculations suggest the torque number from a single 'new' motor must indeed be around 330Nm to achieve the performance that Tesla claim for the 90D, (which is half the published torque number, so that adds up) and its likely that this could be obtained from the 70D motor.

With the weight of the Model S this would mean only a grade of 19% so not great in hilly areas; however, if you can really keep your weight around 1500kg, you should be good for a 29% slope and a sub 6s 0-60.

And with a Chevy Volt pack it'll be good for [email protected]

Nice!

Karter2

· #31 · Apr 20, 2016

Jeff, Re you pictures of the inverter....
... Is that some kind of foil shield wrapped around the inverter ??

DrJeff

Discussion Starter · #32 · Apr 20, 2016

The foil sheild looks like noise reduction layering - a gummy rubber like layer and then a layer of foil. I've used sheets like that on the DeLorean sold by Eastwood, for noise and heat shielding.

Karter2

· #33 · Apr 21, 2016

??? Maybe some kind of "RF containment" /sheild to isolate the inverter from any other electronic gear located in the rear of the Tesla ?

DrJeff

Discussion Starter · #34 · Apr 21, 2016

Karter2 said:
??? Maybe some kind of "RF containment" /sheild to isolate the inverter from any other electronic gear located in the rear of the Tesla ?

I don't show it in these photos of the drive unit, but the motor also had a thick matting and heavy rubber 'sock' around it (removed for photos).

I wonder if Tesla went the extra length to guard against any noise from the drive unit - perhaps with all the attention on the grinding noise, they didn't want to be replacing units that are making a quite normal level and types of noises - i.e. leading to expensive misdiagnoses.

There's also now high expectations of how quiet the Tesla should be, and of course noise volumes are relative (a small noise can be perceived as louder if there is no background noise).

Karter2

· #35 · Apr 21, 2016

Anything is possible, but i cannot imagine much mechanical noise coming from the inverter. And i understood the "grinding noise" issue was identified as coming from the transmission area ?
By shere coincidence, a pal of mine was waiting for a cab in the city yesterday, when a Mod S litterally came to a "grinding halt" right beside him.
His comment was that it sounded horrible, like a set of brakes with no pads fitted ! The driver had to park it, and looked very worried !

DrJeff

Discussion Starter · #36 · Apr 21, 2016

jetpax said:
Nice project!

I'm planning on using the Tesla 70D drivetrain also, so I plugged the DeLorean into my EVcalc Google spreadsheet, using a Chevy Volt pack, and it looks like a range of [email protected] cruise, max speed 144mph, 0-60 ~4s

...QUOTE]

Hi jetpax,

I think I keep screwing up your calculator copy on Google Sheets. I'm new to Sheets (but Excel guru) and I may have updated some of your data.

I was looking at the wheel size information. The rear delorean wheels are 235/60R15, giving an outer size of 663mm. I noticed the sheet didn't have a formula in the cell that looks like it should be calculating wheel size in mm (which the inch conversion cell refers to).

Jeff

jetpax

· #37 · Apr 21, 2016 (Edited)

No worries, fixed now.

DrJeff

Discussion Starter · #38 · May 13, 2016

Website for the project / blog went live today...

www.TesLorean.com

JRP3

· #39 · Jul 16, 2016

If you haven't seen it yet Jason Hughes, (wk057), has accomplished full Tesla drivetrain control, among other Tesla hacks.

DrJeff

Discussion Starter · #40 · Jul 17, 2016

No worries, I'm closely following WK057. Control of the Tesla drive unit is very promising. I wish I could fit the large drive into the Delorean ( and still look like a Delorean ), but it's the AWD rear drive unit for me.

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