You could probably buy an old junker with no engine, an EV crate engine kit, and pay someone to install it, and still come out under the cost of a new EV, or even recent used one.
With that kind of money, you could reasonably buy a secondhand EV, like a Leaf ($AU16 grand), and swap out the battery on top ($AU10 grand), and come out around the same kind of price. Might even come out on top, just by virtue of the EV having systems and gauges that were designed around it being an EV that could be reused.
At 26 grand, you’re approaching the 38 grand that a Dolphin costs. And that’ll get you a brand new vehicle, bigger battery, CCS2 and a manufacturer’s warranty.
I had the idea to start a company offering conversations for more common commercial vehicles. It’s just not feasible to make a drop in kit for any and every vehicle as that would require a lot of fabrication and effort to make it reliable and safe.
How are the gauges, abs, traction control, power steering , heat and a/c 12v system etc going to work? Weight distribution is going to be all messed up too unless you can put part of the battery under the hood. That could be dangerous in a crash too. You’ll also need a cooling system for the battery and motors. The whole idea is a can of worms if you don’t want a hack job.
You could probably buy an old junker with no engine, an EV crate engine kit, and pay someone to install it, and still come out under the cost of a new EV, or even recent used one.
Depends. Quick scan puts it at about $AU20 grand just for electrification, which is already a good ways towards the cost of a new one.
With that kind of money, you could reasonably buy a secondhand EV, like a Leaf ($AU16 grand), and swap out the battery on top ($AU10 grand), and come out around the same kind of price. Might even come out on top, just by virtue of the EV having systems and gauges that were designed around it being an EV that could be reused.
Yes, but then it wouldn’t be an electric Karmann Ghia, which is the prettiest thing on the planet.
Holy shit, you’re right.
Thanks for that name drop, I now a have my dream car.
At 26 grand, you’re approaching the 38 grand that a Dolphin costs. And that’ll get you a brand new vehicle, bigger battery, CCS2 and a manufacturer’s warranty.
I had the idea to start a company offering conversations for more common commercial vehicles. It’s just not feasible to make a drop in kit for any and every vehicle as that would require a lot of fabrication and effort to make it reliable and safe.
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How are the gauges, abs, traction control, power steering , heat and a/c 12v system etc going to work? Weight distribution is going to be all messed up too unless you can put part of the battery under the hood. That could be dangerous in a crash too. You’ll also need a cooling system for the battery and motors. The whole idea is a can of worms if you don’t want a hack job.