ECrate- Looks like it's here

[group911@aol.co]

I'd seriously consider this for my vintage stuff. Way easier to just plug it in than worrying about rotten gas and a dead battery.
https://electrek.co/2020/10/29/gm-1977-k5-blazer-e-converted-electric-power-ecrate-conversion-kit/

[masraum]

that's pretty cool and forward thinking. Folks out there are converting cars to electric, this seems like a good move on their part.

[Eric Hahl]

Tesla too...

https://chargedevs.com/newswire/ev-west-unveils-tesla-crate-motor-for-ev-conversion-projects/

[1990C4S]

I'm 'shocked' this got past GM's lawyers. Good for them.

[GH85Carrera]

I can see it for vehicles that drive only a couple hundred miles per day at most. Lots of those out there.

Just last weekend our local PCA region had a fun drive to Krebs, OK to a great Italian food place and a great lunch. Then we went down to Robber's cave State park and looked around, and then back home. It was a bit over 400 miles round trip for me. Most drivers had to get some gas, but with the 21 gallon tank in the 911 I had plenty of range.

There simply is no electric car on the planet that could have made the trip. The restaurant in Krebs, OK sure did not have a electric car charging spot, and I doubt they would be OK with someone hooking into the 220 for an hour.

And I got to go through Horntown, and several little towns with some funny names in that area.

[flipper35]

Would be great in a lightweight weekend toy like a Bugeye or XK120. They need to at least double the HP for sports cars and muscle cars.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I can see it for vehicles that drive only a couple hundred miles per day at most. Lots of those out there.

Just last weekend our local PCA region had a fun drive to Krebs, OK to a great Italian food place and a great lunch. Then we went down to Robber's cave State park and looked around, and then back home. It was a bit over 400 miles round trip for me. Most drivers had to get some gas, but with the 21 gallon tank in the 911 I had plenty of range.

There simply is no electric car on the planet that could have made the trip. The restaurant in Krebs, OK sure did not have a electric car charging spot, and I doubt they would be OK with someone hooking into the 220 for an hour.

And I got to go through Horntown, and several little towns with some funny names in that area.

I do miss the giant tank that was in my old '88. I think the Boxster is only 16.something gallons. I think my old 88 was 22.something.

[group911@aol.co]

And to think that just 15 years beforeyours was built, you probably would have had to stop twice for fuel. Evolution fortunately happened.

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I can see it for vehicles that drive only a couple hundred miles per day at most. Lots of those out there.

Just last weekend our local PCA region had a fun drive to Krebs, OK to a great Italian food place and a great lunch. Then we went down to Robber's cave State park and looked around, and then back home. It was a bit over 400 miles round trip for me. Most drivers had to get some gas, but with the 21 gallon tank in the 911 I had plenty of range.

There simply is no electric car on the planet that could have made the trip. The restaurant in Krebs, OK sure did not have a electric car charging spot, and I doubt they would be OK with someone hooking into the 220 for an hour.

And I got to go through Horntown, and several little towns with some funny names in that area.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by group911@aol.co

I'd seriously consider this for my vintage stuff. Way easier to just plug it in than worrying about rotten gas and a dead battery.
https://electrek.co/2020/10/29/gm-1977-k5-blazer-e-converted-electric-power-ecrate-conversion-kit/

I think you've just exponentiated your "dead battery" woes

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by masraum

I do miss the giant tank that was in my old '88. I think the Boxster is only 16.something gallons. I think my old 88 was 22.something.

On my many cross country road trips I wait until the GPS say it is 480 to 500 miles from home and I fill up with whatever alcohol laden gas is likely to be available. When I get home I can fill up with 100% gasoline.

I have traveled 500 miles on a tank of gas many times with real gas and corn gas.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by flipper35

Would be great in a lightweight weekend toy like a Bugeye or XK120. They need to at least double the HP for sports cars and muscle cars.

The problem is that there's no space for the batteries in those cars. This "kit" is both the "motor" and the batteries.



I'm thinking you might want to add some sort of "firewall/explosionwall" between the back of your head and the battery pack.

[flipper35]

Looks like the need a more modular battery pack then. Kind of like when you stack UPS in the rack.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by masraum

Really hope that is not the best GM can do as it's a seriously amateur attempt

Just looking at the quality of the installation of the visible parts makes me glad I can't see what's going on inside the battery box

[pmax]

Foam blocks ?

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by pmax

Foam blocks ?

I really hope it's just a mock up for publicity photos

Wasn't thinking of the foam blocks but.....

All the over length lid mounting bolts that caught my eye first, then spotted no heat shrink on the low voltage connector leaving exposed individual wires

Also the self adhesive ty-wrap mountings and ty-wraps on the t-joint on the yellow tubing don't look a secure enough solution

While I'm on a roll what's going on with the crooked right hand high voltage connector, uneven seal gap between the lid and lower battery housing and the cooling hose clamps look like they could easily rub/damage the neighboring hose

It's all just nasty, real nasty With the right level of attention to detail none of these issues should have ever made it through the design/build process

[onewhippedpuppy]

So for a bunch of money I can fill my trunk with batteries to get a powerplant that provides about half the power of a garden variety SBC crate motor? Lol. Sorry but this makes no sense at all, and I suspect finds very few takers.

[RWebb]

the concept will be good for vintage cult cars, where the cult aspect is not the engine (e.g. VW Bus)

my guess is that's a prototype

[onewhippedpuppy]

I think packaging will be a challenge in a classic. Will the battery pack be modular? Because otherwise that’s going to be a challenge for use in retrofits.

[RWebb]

yes, that's why I said "concept"

modular should be a big help

[onewhippedpuppy]

If the battery pack could be reconfigured into multiple form factors I think that would be key. But that might be a challenge for cooling, most of the factory EVs have active air or liquid cooling for the battery packs because of the heat generated. The changing form factor will require a different cooling scheme.