Comments on: EV Jeep Cherokee

By: Jeep Reviews

Jeep Reviews — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 00:14:43 +0000

Wow, I wish my pig of a TJ would get that type of mileage.

By: Binxalot

Binxalot — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 23:28:32 +0000

If he wanted to he could place a small gas generator into his engine compartment and start it up when he’s running low on battery power. Then he could power the car with a gas generator when he’s out of juice, also he could attach a solar panel to the roof of the car to charge the batteries while parked / at work etc.. I plan to do this to my Wrangler when the engine on it finally kicks the bucket.

By: Gigawatts

Gigawatts — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 08:32:20 +0000

I can't wait to come down Christmas Break and see it for myself :D

Great Job on making it to HackaDay, Nick!

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 20:09:35 +0000

Dude, that kid lives across from me in the dorms! He’s fscking awesome!

By: strider_mt2k

strider_mt2k — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 15:34:02 +0000

Let's see thing thing doing some off-roading if you preserved the 4WD.

I thought so.

By: Sheldon

Sheldon — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 10:03:48 +0000

It’s a nicely written up project but I have to say that it was hardly an ideal candidate to make an optimal EV car from (large, heavy, aerodynamically challenged, lots of ‘power’ accessories e.g. power steering).
With a lighter, more basic donor I’d expect a better range from the batteries (and probably better performance if there is less momentum)

By: newperfection

newperfection — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 09:44:48 +0000

All-electric really is a viable option. Zytek currently has a prototype car, an all electric car based on the Lotus Elise platform. 120 mile range, and only 1 hour to 95% charge. Not only that, but 0-90 times of about 10 seconds.
It really is feasible, the oil companies don't like it though.

That's a pretty cool project, something I'd have a lot of fun with. If only batteries weren't so expensive.

By: moddy

moddy — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 07:50:57 +0000

Well done. I am an electric vehicle enthusiast. I will build my own one day. I compliment your effort, you are an inspiration in alternative energy.

By: Timmy

Timmy — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 03:19:37 +0000

We actually did this exact same thing at the place I work. Except we used a motor intended for rock querys that was water proof, and liquid cooled for obvious application concerns on vehicles intended for use.

We even had a system based off of 42 0.55V solar cells that actually provided power for the motor, and deep cycle recharge via a controller array.

I've seen 300HP electric motor's for $500 US on the Net. If you could make a practical means of protecting the unit from projectiles, and the element's you'd have something good.

BTW...What's with all the ad's on this site now day's? It's kind of starting to look like free ipod site's which is kinda demeaning to the community.

By: pkm

pkm — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 02:19:31 +0000

@8: I make it about 140,000 miles to recoup the estimated $10,000 cost of the conversion :( I think he mentions the off-roading potential, the problem is running electric motors at low speeds can cause overheating problems unless they are properly cooled, which his wasn't to keep cost down.

@7: THere's a page of specs on the site, I think the torque was 250lb/ft, if that means anything to you.

I want one.. gas in Britain was Â£1.00 a litre (something like $7.20 a gallon) a couple of months ago but electricity costs about the same, now that'd save me some money :)

By: wolf

wolf — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 02:14:54 +0000

I’m suprised these vehicles don’t need more substantial methods of heat disipation, like those baffles on heatsinks or somthing of that nature. You’d think motors like that would generate some serious heat, not that theres alot of really sensitive stuff under the hood.

By: ...

... — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 01:21:38 +0000

holy shit, that guy is only paying less than 1/3 what I do ~>:-(

In any case, you are going to have to drive an awful lot to pay for all of the gear/time spent on the jeep...

I wonder if it any better for off roading with the motor that gives full torque even at low rpm's...

By: Donovan

Donovan — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 01:04:28 +0000

that would be very cool, I wonder how much torque it has?

By: Phugedaboudet

Phugedaboudet — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 00:32:14 +0000

I wish the prices for batteries and controllers wasn't so high. Ive attended a few seminars and local EV group meetings, and it pretty much boils down to: you have to have a two car garage for long enough to do the work (which means home ownership or renting a house) gobs of money for the controller, batteries, and motor-assuming you have the hardware to fabricate your own mounts and battery boxes-or even more cash to get these made. Not counting the original car, you're looking at thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of time, which pays for lots of gasoline(or easily buys a motorcycle that gets 40-50mpg)

If you really want to get serious building an electric car and have the resources, check out a company called ac propulsion. They make an integrated ac motor control solution that includes regenerative braking and charging, and some efficient motors of 200-300 horespower equivalent. of course that'll cost ya quite a premium too.

By: SnowBlind

SnowBlind — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 00:11:32 +0000

Regarding comment No 2:

The difference is that even if Coal is used to generate the electricity, the coal plant runs at an efficiency that you're gasoline engine can only dream off.

Additionally, the power on the grid can be converted to alternative sources. (California generates about 10% from renewable sources, plus another 15 from Hydro electric, and they are hoping to hit 20% renewable by 2010 and 33% by 2020).

Lastly, he pays 4 cent per mile now, versus 13 cent per mile before. So I fail to see how its "stupid in every way".