Battery installation
Discussion
Theresa May has declared the UK with be petrol and diesel free by 2050
Now I was talking down the pub and this to came up
I thinks it’s a tall order with the amount of ICE cars on the road
Is it possible to convert a classic car (or a favourite car) to battery power
I know cars have been converted to LPG over the years, but I haven’t seen many garages selling it
There are various videos on YouTube about converting to battery power, but none tell you about cost, suppliers, pitfalls (charging, range)
I have seen 2 Rolls Royce’s that have been converted, even a Morris Minor, but again no costs, range, charging, type of batteries used have been mentioned
I could see conversions being a big thing because the cost of a new electric car isn’t cheap, they all look pretty boring, there is no chance of customising them (look at the Prius, how boring is that car ?)
There are some clever people here, I don’t know if anyone has done a conversion to battery power
If they have, could you tell us the type of car, cost, range, if it was a successful conversion, would you do it again?
I am thinking of getting it done to my car (okay it’s a PT Cruiser, it may not be ideal, but it’s a car I like and a lot of people will slag it off, some will even say they like it
Okay it’s not the fastest car on the blocks, but they are highly customisable, and there are some great paint jobs out there
Just asking, after all, is it practical?
Is it even possible ?
Now I was talking down the pub and this to came up
I thinks it’s a tall order with the amount of ICE cars on the road
Is it possible to convert a classic car (or a favourite car) to battery power
I know cars have been converted to LPG over the years, but I haven’t seen many garages selling it
There are various videos on YouTube about converting to battery power, but none tell you about cost, suppliers, pitfalls (charging, range)
I have seen 2 Rolls Royce’s that have been converted, even a Morris Minor, but again no costs, range, charging, type of batteries used have been mentioned
I could see conversions being a big thing because the cost of a new electric car isn’t cheap, they all look pretty boring, there is no chance of customising them (look at the Prius, how boring is that car ?)
There are some clever people here, I don’t know if anyone has done a conversion to battery power
If they have, could you tell us the type of car, cost, range, if it was a successful conversion, would you do it again?
I am thinking of getting it done to my car (okay it’s a PT Cruiser, it may not be ideal, but it’s a car I like and a lot of people will slag it off, some will even say they like it
Okay it’s not the fastest car on the blocks, but they are highly customisable, and there are some great paint jobs out there
Just asking, after all, is it practical?
Is it even possible ?
littleredrooster said:
Wow! Drives a PT Cruiser, yet calls a Prius 'boring'. Ultimate irony from someone who mustn't have ever driven a Prius, which goes, stops and handles in a completely different league to a PT...
Honestly I really dont like PT cruisers but at least they have a distinct style. They are a marmite car, I'm not a fan but they are definitely instantly recognisable.
I wouldn't call them boring.
So back on Topic.
The simple answer is, yes, it can be done, the Maserati on Wheeler Dealers was one conversion and they mentioned a few others on the same programme.
The big downside from what I could see is that on the conversion, the electric motor is connected to the existing gearbox and drive train, this has significant losses to the power required to drive the vehicle, which obviously results in lower range etc.
There is a company that has converted an old Range Rover among other vehicles, probably a good place to start:
https://www.electricclassiccars.co.uk
And the Range Rover (has about 175 mile range) link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGjOY4JBmy4
The simple answer is, yes, it can be done, the Maserati on Wheeler Dealers was one conversion and they mentioned a few others on the same programme.
The big downside from what I could see is that on the conversion, the electric motor is connected to the existing gearbox and drive train, this has significant losses to the power required to drive the vehicle, which obviously results in lower range etc.
There is a company that has converted an old Range Rover among other vehicles, probably a good place to start:
https://www.electricclassiccars.co.uk
And the Range Rover (has about 175 mile range) link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGjOY4JBmy4
Edited by Olivergt on Saturday 29th June 22:02
At the moment parts are rare ish and expensive then you have a solid bit of work by a skilled builder.
Financially it's more expensive than just buying an ev. And you still have an old ice car platform wfich won't be as well integrated safe or as efficient.
There are sone drop in kits for certain model ranges like vw etc coming.
It's worth it for some nice classics but not mass transport / white goods cars
Financially it's more expensive than just buying an ev. And you still have an old ice car platform wfich won't be as well integrated safe or as efficient.
There are sone drop in kits for certain model ranges like vw etc coming.
It's worth it for some nice classics but not mass transport / white goods cars
One example.
https://youtu.be/Tto6bglCevA
In an earlier episode, Rich talks about this very topic and points out it is far from a cheap path to take.
https://youtu.be/Tto6bglCevA
In an earlier episode, Rich talks about this very topic and points out it is far from a cheap path to take.
Insurance could be interesting.
"Hello, I would like to insure my car please"
"Yes Sir, what make and model"
"Oh its a Chrysler PT Cruiser,...er the electric model"
"But they don't make an electric model Sir"
"Well I'm a plumber and I made it myself and it's worth £35000"
"M'mmm, a plumber, electrics, PT Cruiser £35k made it yourself......mmm"
Click.
"Hello, I would like to insure my car please"
"Yes Sir, what make and model"
"Oh its a Chrysler PT Cruiser,...er the electric model"
"But they don't make an electric model Sir"
"Well I'm a plumber and I made it myself and it's worth £35000"
"M'mmm, a plumber, electrics, PT Cruiser £35k made it yourself......mmm"
Click.
Well thanks for all the slagging off of my Cruiser, but its nothing I haven't heard before
But I thought there was some clever people here, seems not, but some daft comments about a Cruiser
I know they are not everyone's car, but I like it
(And I have never slagged of anyone's else's choice of car, its their choice what they can afford and drive)
All I asked was it possible ?
How much would it cost ?
I haven't said I was going to do it
when it all becomes law I wont be around then anyway
Yes I have contacted an insurance company about it, they have said they have no idea of the cost because its never been done before, but they do insure LPG conversions (which isn't much more than a petrol or diesel)
..................................................................................................................................................
Well here is something else you can take the piss out of, my first car was a MG Magnette, it cost me 35 quid back in 65, it was another car that wasn't popular either, but it took me all over the country, all around Europe when I joined the forces, I had it for 6 years, then bought my first NEW car (thanks to the NAAFI and tax and duty free for the forces)
EDIT
I was at a retro festival, there was a VW camper, they had taken out the engine and installed batteries, it was just on show, I couldn't find the owner to find out how it was done or the cost of it or what its range was, but it got a medal and a certificate for being the most innovative vehicle at the show oh, plus a check for £1000
But I thought there was some clever people here, seems not, but some daft comments about a Cruiser
I know they are not everyone's car, but I like it
(And I have never slagged of anyone's else's choice of car, its their choice what they can afford and drive)
All I asked was it possible ?
How much would it cost ?
I haven't said I was going to do it
when it all becomes law I wont be around then anyway
Yes I have contacted an insurance company about it, they have said they have no idea of the cost because its never been done before, but they do insure LPG conversions (which isn't much more than a petrol or diesel)
..................................................................................................................................................
Well here is something else you can take the piss out of, my first car was a MG Magnette, it cost me 35 quid back in 65, it was another car that wasn't popular either, but it took me all over the country, all around Europe when I joined the forces, I had it for 6 years, then bought my first NEW car (thanks to the NAAFI and tax and duty free for the forces)
EDIT
I was at a retro festival, there was a VW camper, they had taken out the engine and installed batteries, it was just on show, I couldn't find the owner to find out how it was done or the cost of it or what its range was, but it got a medal and a certificate for being the most innovative vehicle at the show oh, plus a check for £1000
Edited by Imaplumber on Sunday 30th June 12:31
Imaplumber said:
I was at a retro festival, there was a VW camper, they had taken out the engine and installed batteries, it was just on show, I couldn't find the owner to find out how it was done or the cost of it or what its range was, but it got a medal and a certificate for being the most innovative vehicle at the show oh, plus a check for £1000
The ev vw/Porsche scene is pretty large in the conversion world, check out ev west they do kits etc. Edited by Imaplumber on Sunday 30th June 12:31
Well thanks for these replies
Is there anyone in here that has ever attempted a battery conversion ?
Is there any companies out there that are even contemplating doing battery conversions ?
I have been contacted by a bloke that has a LPG conversion on his Cruiser, he never converted it, it’s how he bought it, it’s his second one, he is getting about 200-250 km from 37 Ltrs if gas
The tank is where the spare wheel used to be (it must be a flat, circular tank)
He said he is looking for a battery conversion as well
Is there anyone in here that has ever attempted a battery conversion ?
Is there any companies out there that are even contemplating doing battery conversions ?
I have been contacted by a bloke that has a LPG conversion on his Cruiser, he never converted it, it’s how he bought it, it’s his second one, he is getting about 200-250 km from 37 Ltrs if gas
The tank is where the spare wheel used to be (it must be a flat, circular tank)
He said he is looking for a battery conversion as well
Really, what’s the point?
If you take a classic and replace the engine with a completely different technology, then it isn’t a classic anymore. It’s a botched up mess. Honestly, if we get to the point where you’re not allowed to drive un-mutilated classics, then stick the rest in a museum, where people can coo over them. I’ll be hailing a Johnny Cab or similar...
If you take a classic and replace the engine with a completely different technology, then it isn’t a classic anymore. It’s a botched up mess. Honestly, if we get to the point where you’re not allowed to drive un-mutilated classics, then stick the rest in a museum, where people can coo over them. I’ll be hailing a Johnny Cab or similar...
RobDickinson said:
EV west systems are fully reversible, and the point is you can drive your 1960s classic and have reliable maintenance free clean power with 300kw+ if you want.
Go watch some of the videos on it.
Of course it is all possible. But if I take a 1960s combi van and remove the air cooled engine, what is it? If it gets to that point, I’d just rather buy a modern combi van.Go watch some of the videos on it.
Yes it's possible. Yes there's companies doing this already. No, it makes absolutely no financial sense to do it compared to buying an already-electric car.
For an idea of costs, a conversion of a classic Fiat 500 is around £25k (on top of the donor car) - that's for a 48bhp/70lbft motor so it can drive the original gearbox, 3 Tesla modules good for about 60-70 miles tops. No rapid charging, those will take a good few hours to charge up. That does include some works to uprate suspension, convert to front discs, etc. In purely practical terms, an early Leaf or Zoe is better - at least you can charge quickly when you need to.
Like most of these classic car conversion though, they're incredibly simple cars in the first place which simplifies conversion. No A/C, power steering, CANBUS wiring, etc. For more modern cars, take the engine away and you need new solutions to make modern conveniences like that work which means even more £££ in conversion costs.
For an idea of costs, a conversion of a classic Fiat 500 is around £25k (on top of the donor car) - that's for a 48bhp/70lbft motor so it can drive the original gearbox, 3 Tesla modules good for about 60-70 miles tops. No rapid charging, those will take a good few hours to charge up. That does include some works to uprate suspension, convert to front discs, etc. In purely practical terms, an early Leaf or Zoe is better - at least you can charge quickly when you need to.
Like most of these classic car conversion though, they're incredibly simple cars in the first place which simplifies conversion. No A/C, power steering, CANBUS wiring, etc. For more modern cars, take the engine away and you need new solutions to make modern conveniences like that work which means even more £££ in conversion costs.
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