Electric Conversion - Would You?

[conaero]

I think the men of our age and the motoring history we have witnessed, an electric motor, no matter how fast, will not appeal.

V6/8/10/12’s will only be around for another decade by which time most of us will reach retirement.

I for one am happy to see that (and me) out

 

[zagatoes30]

Not for me but I know a guy who lives in London who wants a easy classic to run around in and has had a Merc SL Pagoda electrified, he loves the simplicity of just unplugging and jumping in and off he goes. It does look cool silently slipping between the busy traffic knowing he isn't paying any of the London congestion charges.

 

[mjheathcote]

Ripping the soul out of the car.
Ripping the engine out of a car with no soul to begin with, the equivalent new EV is much better anyway. No point.

 

[Zep]

But then I saw an EV Alfasud a while ago, which could do only 60 miles between charges, with all the weight in the nose. What was the point?

Did you get a crime number?

 

[safrane]

...silently slipping between the busy traffic .

Does it fly?... more likely sitting there in the same queue taking an hour to go 5 miles without even the sound of the burbling motor to keep you amused... may as well just sit in a show room and watch people gawp at you.

 

[zagatoes30]

Does it fly?... more likely sitting there in the same queue taking an hour to go 5 miles without even the sound of the burbling motor to keep you amused... may as well just sit in a show room and watch people gawp at you.

Fair point but you have it, he prefers to be seen to look cool without having to worry about noisy oily bits - just like a big dodgem. It also has the range for him to pop down to the coast for weekend, once again just to be seen. It is a lovely thing quick smooth but it won't tick the true petrolheads heart

 

[MaserMike]

I hear from a good friend who is a senior site operations manager, at a large oil and gas refinery nearby - they are spending a huge amount in preparation for the long term supply of Hydrogen and distribution network… strategically preparing for the reduction of automotive Petrol/Diesel. Obviously they need to plan ahead for future revenues and products….

The UK simply doesn’t have the infrastructure for full blown switch to electric cars and also the battery technology is just not there yet mainstream. I do think Tesla are ahead of the game though….

Maybe in 10years time when technology improves I might consider changing one of our daily drivers to elecy, have had various petrol hybrids but you can’t beat a modern diesel for MPG for large or family sized cars still… Probably also when ICE will be taxed heavily off the roads apart from classic cars.

 

[Nayf]

Not for me but I know a guy who lives in London who wants a easy classic to run around in and has had a Merc SL Pagoda electrified, he loves the simplicity of just unplugging and jumping in and off he goes. It does look cool silently slipping between the busy traffic knowing he isn't paying any of the London congestion charges.

I can see the point there. That car has always been about style and looks, and though the engines have character they are not the defining part.

Range is the problem. While Tesla/Audi can get useable range (I get 300 out of my 3.2 V6 Alfa, that’s my metric), these conversions - from what I have seen - struggle to get into three figures. Other than pottering around the local area, what’s the point?
I saw a camper with a range of 120 miles the other day… what a great holiday…

 

[GeoffCapes]

NO! Unless my kid was small enough for this, which she isn’t View attachment 95941

My son has the very same car.

Sadly the battery doesn't hold a charge any more, so will have to get a new one. Irony?

 

[Nayf]

Did you get a crime number?

He was on twitter. To be honest, I don't want to batter his decisions – his car, his money, and he seems happy with it. By extension, the suspension kit I've put on my GTA has ruined it in the eyes of those who see everything that came from the manufacturer as pure, even if the reality is that there's little purity in battling the beancounters, and the car was compromised as a result – so I can't be too harsh. Still, it was a lot of money to take out 95 per cent of the reasons you'd buy a Sud in the first place – the handling and the raspy engine note.

 

[Zep]

Still, it was a lot of money to take out 95 per cent of the reasons you'd buy a Sud in the first place – the handling and the raspy engine note.

Those were my thoughts. I fully support batteries fuels for mundane **** boxes. One of the few remaining ‘suds no longer having its USP seems counterproductive. But as you say, it’s his dollar.

 

[Zep]

I hear from a good friend who is a senior site operations manager, at a large oil and gas refinery nearby - they are spending a huge amount in preparation for the long term supply of Hydrogen and distribution network… strategically preparing for the reduction of automotive Petrol/Diesel. Obviously they need to plan ahead for future revenues and products….

The UK simply doesn’t have the infrastructure for full blown switch to electric cars and also the battery technology is just not there yet mainstream. I do think Tesla are ahead of the game though….

Maybe in 10years time when technology improves I might consider changing one of our daily drivers to elecy, have had various petrol hybrids but you can’t beat a modern diesel for MPG for large or family sized cars still… Probably also when ICE will be taxed heavily off the roads apart from classic cars.

I’m not surprised there is a lot of movement in Hydrogen and Micro Nuclear right now.

The U.K. hydrogen strategy document makes interesting reading (if you like that sort of thing). What is pretty abundant to me is that they are prioritising the gas network, heavy transport and industry in its applications.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1011283/UK-Hydrogen-Strategy_web.pdf

As for battery tech, a Tesla did 1000 miles on a charge recently with a Lithium Iron Phosphate battery. This doesn’t need the cobalt which is a good thing. I doubt you’ll have to wait 10 years for a viable solution.

 

[LDM 3200]

Not my thing but can appreciate the pover delivery these sorts of things provide.
In truth I think electric will be part of the answer going foward although i suspect battery development etc will go through some changes before it really becomes the solution that some clainm it to be. I also think we will see a few other technologies appear / fail / work over the coming years (maybe after my lifetime) before we possibly come to a time when "cars" are not something for the masses?

 

[del mar 2]

Surely it cant be beyond the realms of science to add some chemicals to water that could replicate the combustion characteristics of petrol ?

With the planned increase in fuel costs, does that have any meaningful effect on electric cars or are the costs still modest in comparison with petrol ?

 

[MaserMike]

A couple of days ago my wife’s 2019 Audi Q3 2.0ltr diesel went into the dealership for a few bits doing, it does circa 50mpg. We got a brand new Petrol & Plug-in Hybrid Q3 courtesy car for 2days and was quite novel for us.with a plug-in hybrid. We used the standard mains charger pack, took 6.5hours to charge…. Granted we don’t have a proper charging fast station at home…. Wait for it only displayed 26miles range for the full battery charge on the dash!

In reality the battery was completely flat after driving 16miles (heating and headlights on too), then the Petrol engine kicked in which had an abysmal MPG of just over 30mpg.

On that note, definitely sticking to our diesel for a while.

 

[general_piffle]

No.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Anyone put a V8 in a Tesla?

 

[safrane]

I genuinely believe that the move to electric and the issues that come with it are all part of the end game strategy to get us off owning our own car.

There will be few passion reasons for wanting one, our cars will be taxed to death and the 'young' don't care as they just want the newest thing in everything these days and live most of their lives 'virtually'

Will will all be herded into Google chariots if we want to or not.

 

[spkennyuk]

I’m not surprised there is a lot of movement in Hydrogen and Micro Nuclear right now.

The U.K. hydrogen strategy document makes interesting reading (if you like that sort of thing). What is pretty abundant to me is that they are prioritising the gas network, heavy transport and industry in its applications.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1011283/UK-Hydrogen-Strategy_web.pdf

As for battery tech, a Tesla did 1000 miles on a charge recently with a Lithium Iron Phosphate battery. This doesn’t need the cobalt which is a good thing. I doubt you’ll have to wait 10 years for a viable solution.

I am sure there are people on the forum with a greater knowledge of the subject than i have. The achillies heel of EVs at the moment is range and charging infracstructure.

Ive always thought that a drive in quick swap out battery facility would be a better option which would mean that you can pick up a pretty much instant full charge / refuel on your travels anywhere.

With the above in mind i really dont understand why aluminium air batteries have not been pushed as the way forwards. There are issues to resolve but the main benefits seem to be.

Smaller form factor for upto 8 times the range.

Mechanical recharging can be done.

Alluminium is cheaper to produce in comparison to other batteries used in EVs and also lighter.

Im sure a fairly simple drive in and swap out battery facility could be achieved as the form factor is much smaller for the same or higher capacity.

As always i dont think there will be a single solution but on the face of it aluminium air batteries could /should form part of the soltion.

 

[oaros]

Anyone put a V8 in a Tesla?

Rich Rebuilds is having a go at it…https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfV0_wbjG8KJADuZT2ct4SA