[RavenTBK]

Being that my day job is dealing with solar products, electric cars, and other gizmos... what do you all think of an electric Bronco?

Based on my calculations, I can get comparable HP and twice the torque out of one of our high voltage DC motors, while keeping the overall vehicle weight comparable to one with a traditional powerplant.

Only downside would be the range... [email protected]

Me and my bossman were discussing another companies' failed Ford Escort conversion and the idea popped into my head about a fullsize EV.

It wouldnt be that huge of a deal.. I can get a mount fabbed to match the boltpattern of the 302 to an AOD... then all gasoline parts can be removed, making space for batteries. From the inside, based on my initial figures, you'd never be able to tell it was 8 cylinders short..and the only dead giveaway on the outside would be the lack of a tailpipe.. but then again, Horsesh!t lacks a tailpipe.. heh, whatever.

Any thoughts?

 

[blueoval78]

i think iw ould be cool, but in the same sence,

they have been playing with alternate forms of a motor ever since they first develpoed it, i do believe that nothing will ever replace the gas/deisel motor ever, it will be refined to a piont where there will be almost zero emsions, but thats about it

give it a shot, why not.

i would personally try to do something really different, like swap in a new 5.4 or new v10, that will throw someone off when they open the hood come inspection time

 

[Blaze]

It would be pretty interesting, and just think..if it caught on and the automotive industry took off with it, soccer moms would have an SUV alternitive that might take away alot of the greenies thunder!!!:thumbup You may be on to something...:beer

 

[Chad N.]

I was just thinking the other day of how cool an electric Bronco conversion would be. You get tons of torque ALL the time, and would probably be able to just leave the tranny in 3rd gear.

Unfortunately it wouldn't be even remotely practical with today's crappy battery technology. You would probably have to fill the entire back end with batterys....and that would add too much weight. The Bronco is just too heavy of a vehicle for a conversion. There is a reason electric conversions are done on compacts only.

Its a shame battery technology is still in the dark ages. That's the only thing holding electric cars back right now. Get that problem fixed and electric motors WILL replace internal combustion engines.

 

[RavenTBK]

Actually, we (at work) have got the Electric Porsche Spyder, "Spyder Juice," that beat the crap out of the big 3's EV products at Daytona when they were being shown off.. well, I should say big 2.. GM and Ford were in on it.

Anyways, our Spyder weighs only 2700#, which is comparable to its gasoline cousin. And based on the batteries I have on hand, like I said above, you'd never be able to tell, from the inside cab area, that it was electric. The batteries can be placed in the area where the gas tank used to be, which is actually a rather large space, and possibly four more in the area surrounding where the engine used to be.

It would be close to a 55/45 weight distribution based on the data I have.

But yeah, the batteries would be what limit it. Like I said, [email protected] That'd be a trip and a half to work for me. Possibly something that gets trailered to trail rides, and cut loose...

Something fun to play with I guess...

 

[david]

i wouldnt suggest going through any water holes with it... might have a little shock.

 

[Broncobob]

Raven what degree do you have ee or me or similar?

 

[jerry 1 a b]

I used to think about this kind of stuff when i was like 14 or so. I wonder if you can rig a sort of generator to the rearend to sort of recycle some of the power. (use the generator to recharge the batteries) It would have to be very efficient. Would it even be worth it, or would it be a waste (I mean would it be to much of a drain to run a generator)? And what about solar power for daytime driving? I'm sure this stuff has been thought through by the professionals.