Possible to get cheap Chinese cars?

Chalo said:
Alternately, an '80s Ford Ranger weighs about 2600 lbs empty and has a 6 or 7 foot bed. And it's likely to have a dead engine and/or tranny. Put a cap on it, and you have a camper.
Click to expand...
Really? I hadn't considered old pickups for my pipe dream of my own electric conversion, because I just assumed they were all too heavy. But 2600 is totally doable, and you could reserve a chunk of that bed for battery storage while still having pickup space. Cool.
 
harrisonpatm said:
Really? I hadn't considered old pickups for my pipe dream of my own electric conversion, because I just assumed they were all too heavy. But 2600 is totally doable, and you could reserve a chunk of that bed for battery storage while still having pickup space. Cool.
Click to expand...
There is a lot of space for batteries underneath the load bed, once you delete the fuel and exhaust systems. Putting as much weight of battery as you can in place of the gas tank gets you better weight distribution and better drive wheel traction.
 
Hillhater said:
Wasnt there a Ranger Hybrid Wagon in the 90’s ? (NY cabs ?)
junk the ice components and upsize the battery pack ?
Click to expand...
There was, but I think that not very many were made, it's very unlikely to be able to find one
 
This video gives a great view of all the space you can use for battery once the gas tank and exhaust are removed:

 
Hummina Shadeeba said:
Must go full speed till hit detour. I have no money for anything at this point and feeling around for what’s possible. bet I have a bus/van done this summer though.
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Conversions require a fairly well equipped shop space, lots of hand tools, jacks, jack stands etc etc.

Have you ever seen a Mitsubishi i-MiEV ?
A small electric van with limited range compared to modern EV's

 
I like that Mitsubishi on Craigslist that you linked, PaPaSteve. Though it's too far from me.
What I'd really like to find is a small ev cargo van. I don't need all that much range, 70 to 100 miles. Lumber store, dump runs. Maybe an air mattress in the back for local campouts. That kind of thing. Haven't found that here in the USA.
 
PaPaSteve said:
Conversions require a fairly well equipped shop space, lots of hand tools, jacks, jack stands etc etc.

Have you ever seen a Mitsubishi i-MiEV ?
A small electric van with limited range compared to modern EV's

Click to expand...
Looks nice but it’s too small and can’t sleep two. Lately I’ve had my mind set on an ups style truck. A decent size

I don’t have a shop or even a garage but figured once I jack it up n get the hub motors on I could do almost all the rest from inside. There’s a couple old cars in my neighborhood that people are constantly moving around to avoid tickets and that’s my plan. I’ll get it towed to the top of the hill. A plan fraught with risks.
 
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UPS has or had electric delivery vans. Another option is the ford transit electric models they come up on the salvage auctions from time to time.
Later floyd
 
floydr said:
UPS has or had electric delivery vans.
Click to expand...

UPS goes out of their way to totally destroy retired or surplused delivery vans, to prevent imposter use. I reckon FedEx probably does the same. Not sure about Amazon, but their electric fleet is pretty fresh and probably has some years to go before the vans are disposed of.
 
M
Chalo said:
UPS goes out of their way to totally destroy retired or surplused delivery vans, to prevent imposter use.
Click to expand...
good point Chalo.
Most of the ford E transits I have seen on auction sites have been DHL yellow. or smaller delivery carriers white.
There are some smaller electric school buses 9 passenger I think. A few months ago maybe a year ago Elk Grove,CA was getting rid of a couple larger electric school bues think they were 36 passenger Buses.
Nissan makes the Nissan e-NV200 may be in salvage auctions since it has been made since 2014.
Later floyd
p.s. might be better to ask in https://www.diyelectriccar.com/
 
Hummina Shadeeba said:
One requirement is ability for two people to lay flat to sleep. I have no plans for destination or distance and figure I could bring a long extension cord and charge often if need to.


I’ll be looking for a short school bus or van once I raise the bucks.
Click to expand...

How many miles a year will you be driving?

I have ford transit high top (9'2" high) 3.5 ecoboost, get dismal mpg above 68 mph, 19 mpg if you keep it around 65 ish.
Buy a used mid height and high top long and convert it.
Look up Orton, my brother from a diff mother online, for build ideas.

If you going to do a lot of miles, then go for sienna minivan, newer hybrid engines get 35 mph on hwy,
 
Chalo said:
UPS goes out of their way to totally destroy retired or surplused delivery vans, to prevent imposter use. I reckon FedEx probably does the same. Not sure about Amazon, but their electric fleet is pretty fresh and probably has some years to go before the vans are disposed of.
Click to expand...
that makes sense and my plan was to sandblast an assumed over-painting and be an imposter. I obviously haven’t researched much but I have found u can buy the old usps delivery things, which I like. The new amazon delivery vans are available and nice but cost too much and really I’m looking for something broken.
gobi said:
How many miles a year will you be driving?
Click to expand...
No idea. Really it’s my retirement plan to park something like a google bus on some lot I’ll buy somewhere rural, one day. the plan for now is something smaller I can convert (for fun and hopefully low cost) and travel up n down the coast during summers.
 
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Is there even an industrial sized hub motor ?
8,000 watts is 10HP . . . it would take more then 4 to move a truck.
A 2011 Leaf is 107HP. It moves OK but not a racer.
2023 Bolt is 200HP and is quick up to the limiter at 90MPH
Bolt battery weight is 950 lbs for a 250 mile range.
 
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PaPaSteve said:
Is there even an industrial sized hub motor ?
8,000 watts is 10HP . . . it would take more then 4 to move a truck.
A 2011 Leaf is 107HP. It moves OK but not a racer.
2023 Bolt is 200HP and is quick up to the limiter at 90MPH
Bolt battery weight is 950 lbs for a 250 mile range.
Click to expand...
Walker Electric Trucks used a 3.5 HP electric motor and were several times faster than horse drawn delivery wagons. 66V to 80V x 40A. 50 miles range. I'm guessing the battery pack weighed more than the Bolt's.

www.newsweek.com

A Brief History of Electric Trucks in America

A century before Rivian brought a truck to market, commercial electric trucks were a common sight in urban areas.
www.newsweek.com www.newsweek.com
 
Chalo said:
Walker Electric Trucks used a 3.5 HP electric motor and were several times faster than horse drawn delivery wagons. 66V to 80V x 40A. 50 miles range. I'm guessing the battery pack weighed more than the Bolt's.

www.newsweek.com

A Brief History of Electric Trucks in America

A century before Rivian brought a truck to market, commercial electric trucks were a common sight in urban areas.
www.newsweek.com www.newsweek.com
Click to expand...
We also know that power requirements increase dramatically with speed. So if you dropped your top speed requirements and don't have a lead foot, you might be able to get away with a less powerful motor, at least compared to modern EV car and trucks.
 
Quinc said:
Check out the "Gems" you can find them on marketplace for 300-2k needing new batteries. They are street legal.
View attachment 363204
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We had 3 Gems
Bought the first one new for $3500 in 2003
2 were given to us, one was a parts car that was never put back in service.
They use GE industrial controllers that could be reprogrammed to make the car run 50MPH.
50 was too fast for the suspension and brakes so we had to back off the speed to 40.
Technically, they are NEVs (neighborhood electric vehicles) which are suppose to be restricted to 25MPH.
Also owned a Dynasty IT Car NEV . . . much better car overall.
 
Hummina Shadeeba said:
I assume that rating is a continuous output rating and could do much more for bursts.

www.qsmotor.com

Car Motor from QS Motor for electric car convertion, scooter, motorcycle

Car Motor from QS Motor for electric car convertion, scooter, motorcycle. Motor power range from 2000W to 19KW.
www.qsmotor.com www.qsmotor.com
Click to expand...
Still not enough HP for freeway use pushing a heavy vehicle.
No water cooling.
Won't simply bolt to existing brakes or axles.

All modern road going electric cars have liquid cooled motors and controller.
Most (99% ?) have temperature controlled batteries.

How much driving will this DIY creation be expected to do ?
 
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Chalo said:
Walker Electric Trucks used a 3.5 HP electric motor and were several times faster than horse drawn delivery wagons. 66V to 80V x 40A. 50 miles range. I'm guessing the battery pack weighed more than the Bolt's.

www.newsweek.com

A Brief History of Electric Trucks in America

A century before Rivian brought a truck to market, commercial electric trucks were a common sight in urban areas.
www.newsweek.com www.newsweek.com
Click to expand...
Liked that link Chalo.
I am now in the early stages of building a battery electric truck. It'll be two 1500w single-side direct drive wheels (bought and delivered, thanks Leaf). I already have two of those 48v Sarco Robotics batteries, and two cheap, seemingly capable, motor controllers. Combine that with a flux core wire feed welder and an old weight bench I think I can build the motorized cargo platform. How to build a usable "truck" out of it will be the experiment. More like a super cargo ebike, but with more power than those 100 year-old milk trucks.
 
PaPaSteve said:
Is there even an industrial sized hub motor ?
Click to expand...
Yes, but I don't think it's suitable for normal road use.

endless-sphere.com

THE WORLD BIGGEST HUB MOTOR

Incredibly... it is THIS mining truck that use the hub motor!!! 4 of those are using the power of a 3240hp generator 2.5 MW of ELECTRIC power!!.. making around 800kW each!!! :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: Doc
endless-sphere.com endless-sphere.com
 
gromike said:
Liked that link Chalo.
I am now in the early stages of building a battery electric truck. It'll be two 1500w single-side direct drive wheels (bought and delivered, thanks Leaf). I already have two of those 48v Sarco Robotics batteries, and two cheap, seemingly capable, motor controllers. Combine that with a flux core wire feed welder and an old weight bench I think I can build the motorized cargo platform. How to build a usable "truck" out of it will be the experiment. More like a super cargo ebike, but with more power than those 100 year-old milk trucks.
Click to expand...
U must be kidding. Have any pics.

1500watt bike hub motors, and you’re calling it a truck. Made out of what?
 
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