Posted: Feb 07, 2019 1:36 am
I'm mulling the idea of electrifying my work van instead of the 6.5L diesel engine. I don't need a lot of range. 80 kilometers will do, but 150 would be better. I do not need speeds above 90 km/h.
I get some serious weight savings by removing the engine, transmission, and driveshaft, along with all of the support hardware (fuel system, cooling system, etc). I'm estimating 750 kg.
I don't think I can put together an electric drive system with the energy density of a huge tank full of diesel oil. But, I don't need the range that full fuel tank affords without refueling, either.
I'm considering using 18650 lithium cells to build my battery. I'm pretty sure this is actually what the Tesla cars use, also. Lots to learn about those cells and how to build a safe battery with them.
For the drive segment, I'd like to explore front wheel drive, perhaps using a drive motor on each wheel. Maybe. It would be a lot easier to put the motor where the existing automatic transmission is, and use the engine bay for batteries and suport hardware. The space formerly taken by the fuel tank would also be available for batteries, as well as some additional space outboard of the main chassis frame rails.
Replacements for the existing diesel driven power brakes and steering might be big problems, also.
The body of my van is already entirely aluminum, so that is as good as it is likely to get.
Many, many problems to overcome.
I get some serious weight savings by removing the engine, transmission, and driveshaft, along with all of the support hardware (fuel system, cooling system, etc). I'm estimating 750 kg.
I don't think I can put together an electric drive system with the energy density of a huge tank full of diesel oil. But, I don't need the range that full fuel tank affords without refueling, either.
I'm considering using 18650 lithium cells to build my battery. I'm pretty sure this is actually what the Tesla cars use, also. Lots to learn about those cells and how to build a safe battery with them.
For the drive segment, I'd like to explore front wheel drive, perhaps using a drive motor on each wheel. Maybe. It would be a lot easier to put the motor where the existing automatic transmission is, and use the engine bay for batteries and suport hardware. The space formerly taken by the fuel tank would also be available for batteries, as well as some additional space outboard of the main chassis frame rails.
Replacements for the existing diesel driven power brakes and steering might be big problems, also.
The body of my van is already entirely aluminum, so that is as good as it is likely to get.
Many, many problems to overcome.