Electric conversion!

LPG is possible - I'd like to see the duratec running on hydrogen which is as clean at point of use as electric.
It should be do-able.
 
If I had 30-40K USD Id do it. Its not hard. Ive even found adapters listed as mounting the electric motor directly to the duratec trans.

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I'm not an expert (obviously) so I'm just spitballing with this wall of text here...

To me, the biggest problem is that the chassis was designed to package a (tall) engine up front, people in the middle, and cargo in the rear. In other words, it's really not a friendly shape for batteries, especially if we want to keep the CoG low. Coupe or not, it's still the usual "3-box" layout.

So let's assume we're keeping this thing FWD, because the shape of the chassis and rear subframe make it unsuitable to fit motors back there, (and a full-length propshaft and diff are way too lossy for an EV).

1) Out comes the engine, gearbox, anciliaries, and the radiator. We still need the hydraulics (for the rear brakes at the very least, but probably the front as well, because this car isn't going to do regenerative braking very well), the ABS and the steering rack.

2) In go a pair of electric motors (mounted to the subframe) and short shafts, mated to the original hubs. Power is up to you, but you'll be trading off against range. I suggest something middle-of-the-road so that performance is recognisable.

2a) We need some way to power assist the steering, but we'll handwave that for now - it's a solved problem really; we just need to look under the bonnet of a Tesla.

3) So we add all the high-voltage control gear, heatsinks and some alternative to vaccum for the brake servo. Again, we'll ask Elon for advice, though we want regenerative braking on the front, as far as we are able. Now we can move, steer and stop.

4) Since we're missing the engine cooling system and aircon, we need to replace it with something. This is probably the approach to take.

5) And now we look for somewhere to put the batteries. There's probably still some space in that engine bay, but remember we're going to be constrained in terms of the packaging, and they're going to be kind of high up. I'm imagining a pack about the size of a 2.0 Zetec lump which is about 4 or 5 times the size of the pack in a Prius. That's only giving us around 8.5 -10.5kWh, and we need more like 60! Okay, now run some big cabling down the exhaust tunnel (hey, we're not using it for anything else!) to the rear of the car. Now we have the volume of the fuel tank to use, since we don't need that either. We need to armour that area of course. Let's use the spare wheel-well too, and maybe a few inches of the boot space. Let's say... up to the point where the backs of the rear seats are when laid flat.

What we end up with is multiple, awkwardly-shaped batteries connected by fused, heavy-gauge wires and all of which (except the fuel tank replacement) are way above the centreline of the wheels, and most of which are in the rear. Y'all ever hear of the Corvair...? But we do have around 55/60kWh, and a range of about 200-220 miles depending on other technologies used.

It's going to be heavy, extremely wallowy, and will handle like a gut-shot Texas boar. Count me out, I think!

TL;DR: Sure, I think you could do it, but... Ian Malcolm: "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."

Aaanyway, I had great fun thinking this through - certainly more fun than anyone had reading it - but it's an interesting mental exercise, even for someone who doesn't know the full implications of building a viable EV.
 
Mako said:
I'm not an expert (obviously) so I'm just spitballing with this wall of text here...

To me, the biggest problem is that the chassis was designed to package a (tall) engine up front, people in the middle, and cargo in the rear. In other words, it's really not a friendly shape for batteries, especially if we want to keep the CoG low. Coupe or not, it's still the usual "3-box" layout.

So let's assume we're keeping this thing FWD, because the shape of the chassis and rear subframe make it unsuitable to fit motors back there, (and a full-length propshaft and diff are way too lossy for an EV).

1) Out comes the engine, gearbox, anciliaries, and the radiator. We still need the hydraulics (for the rear brakes at the very least, but probably the front as well, because this car isn't going to do regenerative braking very well), the ABS and the steering rack.

2) In go a pair of electric motors (mounted to the subframe) and short shafts, mated to the original hubs. Power is up to you, but you'll be trading off against range. I suggest something middle-of-the-road so that performance is recognisable.

2a) We need some way to power assist the steering, but we'll handwave that for now - it's a solved problem really; we just need to look under the bonnet of a Tesla.

3) So we add all the high-voltage control gear, heatsinks and some alternative to vaccum for the brake servo. Again, we'll ask Elon for advice, though we want regenerative braking on the front, as far as we are able. Now we can move, steer and stop.

4) Since we're missing the engine cooling system and aircon, we need to replace it with something. This is probably the approach to take.

5) And now we look for somewhere to put the batteries. There's probably still some space in that engine bay, but remember we're going to be constrained in terms of the packaging, and they're going to be kind of high up. I'm imagining a pack about the size of a 2.0 Zetec lump which is about 4 or 5 times the size of the pack in a Prius. That's only giving us around 8.5 -10.5kWh, and we need more like 60! Okay, now run some big cabling down the exhaust tunnel (hey, we're not using it for anything else!) to the rear of the car. Now we have the volume of the fuel tank to use, since we don't need that either. We need to armour that area of course. Let's use the spare wheel-well too, and maybe a few inches of the boot space. Let's say... up to the point where the backs of the rear seats are when laid flat.

What we end up with is multiple, awkwardly-shaped batteries connected by fused, heavy-gauge wires and all of which (except the fuel tank replacement) are way above the centreline of the wheels, and most of which are in the rear. Y'all ever hear of the Corvair...? But we do have around 55/60kWh, and a range of about 200-220 miles depending on other technologies used.

It's going to be heavy, extremely wallowy, and will handle like a gut-shot Texas boar. Count me out, I think!

TL;DR: Sure, I think you could do it, but... Ian Malcolm: "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."

Aaanyway, I had great fun thinking this through - certainly more fun than anyone had reading it - but it's an interesting mental exercise, even for someone who doesn't know the full implications of building a viable EV.
Click to expand...
well I for one think its almost always interesting to read what you came up with.

But. and theres always a but. houston we have a problem.

For the biggest problem issue. The electric motor is smaller then our engine. The Batteries, everyone thinks like car batteries. thats old stuff. Think Lithium Ion batteries. basically like large AA batteries. very large AA batteries. The last electric car build I saw was operating at 144V you just have to have something that cam handle the AMPS thats going to be drawn and wire them together to get that high of voltage. No one said they have to be car batteries wired together. you can use riding mower batteries if you want.

Problem 2.

Think Prius
Electric power assisted steering. An electric assembly goes into the steering shaft from wheel to Rack and pinion somewhere. just run a line between the hoses and poof electric converted rack.


Braking. Already solved. a vaccuum pump with a resevior to hold vaccuum strictly for brakes. American muscle cars have used them since time began.

Regen braking is built into some motors. The whole purpose for those who are unfamiliar with that term. it recharges the batteries when the brakes are applied something similar to our alternators.

Some motors are also cooled so lets not completely kill the engine cooling system just yet. If you absolutely NEED heat and AC in the car. what you really need is a nice talk glass of Man the F@## up! :D Although Im sure we can look at othe EVs to find a solution.

I do however like the Idea of using the spare tire well since roadside assistance exists. Although 1 spot you missed that would be opened up. build a tray where the fuel tank is in our car and make an access door under the backseat. or use that space and buy a battery from the scrappers from say a Prius and mount it there. A battery out of a scrapped EV car may be the best route anyway.


Ok so now that I've solved all your problems lol. I gotta get back to work

Cheers
Dan

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
Mako said:
I'm not an expert (obviously) so I'm just spitballing with this wall of text here...

To me, the biggest problem is that the chassis was designed to package a (tall) engine up front, people in the middle, and cargo in the rear. In other words, it's really not a friendly shape for batteries, especially if we want to keep the CoG low. Coupe or not, it's still the usual "3-box" layout.

So let's assume we're keeping this thing FWD, because the shape of the chassis and rear subframe make it unsuitable to fit motors back there, (and a full-length propshaft and diff are way too lossy for an EV).

1) Out comes the engine, gearbox, anciliaries, and the radiator. We still need the hydraulics (for the rear brakes at the very least, but probably the front as well, because this car isn't going to do regenerative braking very well), the ABS and the steering rack.

2) In go a pair of electric motors (mounted to the subframe) and short shafts, mated to the original hubs. Power is up to you, but you'll be trading off against range. I suggest something middle-of-the-road so that performance is recognisable.

2a) We need some way to power assist the steering, but we'll handwave that for now - it's a solved problem really; we just need to look under the bonnet of a Tesla.

3) So we add all the high-voltage control gear, heatsinks and some alternative to vaccum for the brake servo. Again, we'll ask Elon for advice, though we want regenerative braking on the front, as far as we are able. Now we can move, steer and stop.

4) Since we're missing the engine cooling system and aircon, we need to replace it with something. This is probably the approach to take.

5) And now we look for somewhere to put the batteries. There's probably still some space in that engine bay, but remember we're going to be constrained in terms of the packaging, and they're going to be kind of high up. I'm imagining a pack about the size of a 2.0 Zetec lump which is about 4 or 5 times the size of the pack in a Prius. That's only giving us around 8.5 -10.5kWh, and we need more like 60! Okay, now run some big cabling down the exhaust tunnel (hey, we're not using it for anything else!) to the rear of the car. Now we have the volume of the fuel tank to use, since we don't need that either. We need to armour that area of course. Let's use the spare wheel-well too, and maybe a few inches of the boot space. Let's say... up to the point where the backs of the rear seats are when laid flat.

What we end up with is multiple, awkwardly-shaped batteries connected by fused, heavy-gauge wires and all of which (except the fuel tank replacement) are way above the centreline of the wheels, and most of which are in the rear. Y'all ever hear of the Corvair...? But we do have around 55/60kWh, and a range of about 200-220 miles depending on other technologies used.

It's going to be heavy, extremely wallowy, and will handle like a gut-shot Texas boar. Count me out, I think!

TL;DR: Sure, I think you could do it, but... Ian Malcolm: "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."

Aaanyway, I had great fun thinking this through - certainly more fun than anyone had reading it - but it's an interesting mental exercise, even for someone who doesn't know the full implications of building a viable EV.
Click to expand...

I've got two mobility scooters and a powerchair in the back of the van. It's a start(y)
 
The only reason to put a powerful electric motor under the bonnet of a Cougar is-




to pump loads of cold air into the V6
 
I drive an electric fork lift for a living, so the idea of an electric car as well makes me feel like slitting my wrists...lol, there just transport, they have no soul, there is nothing endearing about them at all, they just do not feel alive like an internal combustion engine.
 
FlamencoAssassin said:
Chris, you forgot to put a sound system under the bonnet to remind you what a real engine sounds like, playing back a roaring V6 of course!
Click to expand...
:LOL:

- - - Updated - - -

dakota1112001 said:
I drive an electric fork lift for a living, so the idea of an electric car as well makes me feel like slitting my wrists...lol, there just transport, they have no soul, there is nothing endearing about them at all, they just do not feel alive like an internal combustion engine.
Click to expand...
Like electric trains vs steam . .
 
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