Electric Range Rover Classic

ABFoz

ABFoz

Forum Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2018
Messages
955
Location
Auckland, New Zealand
Car Year
2005
Car Model
Forester XS
Transmission
4EAT
I just saw this on my recommendations.

Converting classic gas guzzlers is a thing. This Range Rover is a proper off-roader that runs on a Model S P85 motor and battery except that this is 50kg lighter. It has a range of ~175 miles or 281.63km. One good thing about converting ICE cars to electric is that the user will not be limited to one battery technology.

Imagine if you use the P85 3-phase motor on a relatively lighter Subaru Forester. It will have a longer range than the Range Rover. The motor is overkill for the Subaru. There are more conservative motors than the one in the P85.
 
Looks like my old RR, 2 door, same colour, under the bonnet is a bit different though - where's the carbys :)
 
I saw this video some time ago and thought wow its cool. You still have all old capabilitys but now with more umph more torque.
 
Yes, we have more well-made parts now than 15 years ago when I did my proper research. Also, the parts are either made in Japan, Germany and the US and they are more readily available than ever, including regenerative braking technology.

Conversions are good and after converting an ICE vehicle, we can do away with all the tech stuff that break all the time.
 
ABFoz said:
Conversions are good and after converting an ICE vehicle, we can do away with all the tech stuff that break all the time.
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Blinking expensive thing to do though. Last time I had a passing look at it, spending less than about AU$40k is unlikely once you get it actually on the road and passing all certification. I guess second hand motors would be starting to hit the market now and batteries with a bit of life in them still - although I've also read second hand batteries are in demand for solar storage too.

I've got a mate that wants to convert a Subaru to electric. And I just happen to have a spare Subaru. Hmmm... :)
 
Here, at the moment, some parts are NZD 5,000 down because of the increased supply of parts after electric vehicles from manufacturers went into production. I used a VW before as a platform on my research. 15 years ago, it would cost NZD 15,000, parts only, to convert. Now it may cost around 10 to 12,000 NZD, parts only but with a range of 100km only. A used JDM 2013 Nissan Leaf costs NZD 13,000, for reference. Certification is around NZD 5,000 but it could be less, according to one certifier. It helps if the donor car is cheap.

Things will definitely get more expensive when extending the range, especially with COVID-19 supply shortages.

Hmmm, what do you think about doing it on your spare Forester? I have seen running electric Imprezas but not Foresters yet. Foresters would be nice to take off-road as you won't worry about having a decent low-range anymore.
 
Ben Up North said:
Blinking expensive thing to do though. Last time I had a passing look at it, spending less than about AU$40k is unlikely once you get it actually on the road and passing all certification. I guess second hand motors would be starting to hit the market now and batteries with a bit of life in them still - although I've also read second hand batteries are in demand for solar storage too.

I've got a mate that wants to convert a Subaru to electric. And I just happen to have a spare Subaru. Hmmm... :)
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A good friend of mine is a Solar Sales Consultant, and has an PHEV Outlander. We were pricing up a replacement battery pack for it as it's now got over 200k km and the battery pack is wearing down - 14K for a new one from the dealer! And that's just the part
 
and that range is allways counted on normal road driving in like eco mode, on off road and serious one that range would drop a lot and in the end you couldnt even return from bush on electricity. I like what some doing with PHEV now like new range rovers with just small 2.0 engine and powerfull electric one, so you can have still heavy car but having small engine with electric one to have enough torque on off road. so depends how you build electric car , do you like just put electric engine instead petrol one and thats it , leaving all else there, or you building it from scratch then no need any gearboxes or transfer cases .
it looks cheaper to just buy new electric car AWD and maybe make some more off roady version of it , then do conversion from old car to electric.

long time ago when i saw this i was amazed then, like wow . its perfect silent off roader. And they sound like RC cars too haha
all those old cars on frame must be easiest way to modify them to anything you need, you do all work on frame , and just then you put body on it, much more simple then modify car like forester i think.
 
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I agree with everyone. Our biggest Achilles heel will be the battery technology. Lithium is still pretty much hoarded by the host countries, driving the prices up, up, up! If we get good and available battery tech, then it's probably the best time to think of doing a conversion.
 
imagine perfect situation you build your house make it solar roof and battery packs at home for charging your 4x4 at night and you dirve it for free. wouldnt that be like perfect life for us ? . i would move even to like alaska or some totally isolated place for this kinda life. just wow.
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just change house to what you need and change car to lifted 4x4 some electric wrangler , and living area close to outbacks and its perfect. easy to do allready today who have money though.
remember on top gear when they wehre racing electric moto cross bikes in forest that they brought with trailer. so you in bush with trailer that have bikes inside that are charging from trailer solar batterys on roof so its like unlimited fun . damn wish i was rich
 
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