Freelander 1 Freelander EV

Maybe mounting the heater before everything else wasn't the best move. But look on the plus side, at least you've got time to tinker, now you've finished building it.

So now I finally got the thing out I've been trying the new one every which way and it doesn't fit.
Thankfully some of the guys in Openinverter were able to advise I can mount it vertically so I'll go out again tomorrow and see if I can mount it that way. The consensus is to make sure the outlet is pointing up to prevent trapped air.
I had hoped to have this done by the weekend but that is not likely now.

In the photo below you can see the round silver top of the vac pump and the heater has to fit to the right of it.

So we have good news, bad news and worse news!
The good news is the plumbing is complete with the heater and pump mounted.
The bad news is there is a leak.
The worse news is the leak is behind the battery box where the pipes connect to the heater matrix and so the battery box along with HV and LV junction box all have to come out to get at it.
Any which way I look at it the car will be off the road for a couple of weeks as I will be busy with work all next week.

The only positive spin I can put on it is with the LV junction box disconnected I now have the opportunity to install the fuse holders I bought and so will tidy up the LV box.
I have two of these so should have enough connections. https://ebay.us/lTg5aj

Alibro said:

So we have good news, bad news and worse news!
The good news is the plumbing is complete with the heater and pump mounted.
The bad news is there is a leak.
The worse news is the leak is behind the battery box where the pipes connect to the heater matrix and so the battery box along with HV and LV junction box all have to come out to get at it.
Any which way I look at it the car will be off the road for a couple of weeks as I will be busy with work all next week.

The only positive spin I can put on it is with the LV junction box disconnected I now have the opportunity to install the fuse holders I bought and so will tidy up the LV box.
I have two of these so should have enough connections. https://ebay.us/lTg5aj

Click to expand...

Sorry to hear your latest issue Ali. That's the trouble with a development vehicle, but once the troubles are out the way, you'll be able to enjoy the fruits of your labour.

I was mighty peeved when I saw the issue but have got over it and am now getting on with sorting the problem. I've started to strip down the LV junction box and at the same time am documenting everything to make it a bit easier to figure out when I go to install the fuse holders.



I'm taking the opportunity to tidy things up a bit which will make future fault finding or additions much easier.
TBH I was sorely tempted to put it all back together and live without a heater but I figured now was as good a time as any to sort it and the LV box at the same time.

I'm looking on ebay for hoses that will fit and reducers as I've kinda run out of suitable hose to cut down. I need a pre made right angle or it will only kink. I think the issue may have been caused by forcing on a hose that was not suitable but can't be sure until I get in there.

The project that keeps on giving

Which isn't such a bad thing.

Thinking back to when I did Airfix kits and the like. They were a lot of fun putting together, but once finished, all the interest was lost.

So as long as you can enjoy it between 'episodes', I recon that's a win-win

This afternoon we're off to have a look at this...




If we get it, it will never be 'electrified', however, its first road trip may be to Dunedin to pick up another car that may be

After another look I think I might be OK for hoses but have ordered a couple of reducers and right angle couplers to try and make it easier to plumb everything. The problem is I have three different size connections to work around, 16mm at the heater matrix, 18mm at the heater and 10mm or 12mm (not sure) at the IRD but hopefully I don't need to go near the IRD again.

The project that keeps on giving

Which isn't such a bad thing.

Thinking back to when I did Airfix kits and the like. They were a lot of fun putting together, but once finished, all the interest was lost.

So as long as you can enjoy it between 'episodes', I recon that's a win-win

This afternoon we're off to have a look at this...


View attachment 311739

If we get it, it will never be 'electrified', however, its first road trip may be to Dunedin to pick up another car that may be

I was concerned I might not like the car when it was complete but I needn't have worried as I really love driving it even when I freezing my legs off. (the butt is fine as I have heated seats ).

Looks like a nice car mate.

GrumpyGel said:

The project that keeps on giving

Which isn't such a bad thing.

Thinking back to when I did Airfix kits and the like. They were a lot of fun putting together, but once finished, all the interest was lost.

So as long as you can enjoy it between 'episodes', I recon that's a win-win

This afternoon we're off to have a look at this...

Trade Me

www.trademe.co.nz

View attachment 311739

If we get it, it will never be 'electrified', however, its first road trip may be to Dunedin to pick up another car that may be

Click to expand...

They're expensive over in NZ.
No point in trying to make one electric. I'd love to have a go, but the electronics make such things all but impossible.
I'll be buying an EV once the girls have finished university.

Nodge68 said:

They're expensive over in NZ.
No point in trying to make one electric. I'd love to have a go, but the electronics make such things all but impossible.
I'll be buying an EV once the girls have finished university.

Click to expand...

Used EV's have dropped in price by a lot in the last year so there are bargains out there. I would love to buy a Tesla but I need a hatchback or estate with minimum 225 mile range for work (preferably 250 mile) and Model Y's are too new. I was looking at a MG5 estate that would suit but they are still more than I want to spend. An eNiro would be suitable too.
Ironically I could have bought a decent EV for the money I've spent on my project but I have no regrets.
My work is so intermittent I might sell the Merc when the current contract is finished and use my Freelander EV for most local driving then borrow SWMBO's car for any journeys further than 80 miles. Until I sort out fast charging I can't travel much more than 40 miles from home.

Alibro said:

Used EV's have dropped in price by a lot in the last year so there are bargains out there. I would love to buy a Tesla but I need a hatchback or estate with minimum 225 mile range for work (preferably 250 mile) and Model Y's are too new. I was looking at a MG5 estate that would suit but they are still more than I want to spend. An eNiro would be suitable too.
Ironically I could have bought a decent EV for the money I've spent on my project but I have no regrets.
My work is so intermittent I might sell the Merc when the current contract is finished and use my Freelander EV for most local driving then borrow SWMBO's car for any journeys further than 80 miles. Until I sort out fast charging I can't travel much more than 40 miles from home.

Click to expand...

Dunno what 2nd hand battery packs are like in the UK in terms of price and condition, but would it be possible to add extra capacity to the Freelander?

Maybe as a detachable "expansion pack" that you load into the boot when needed? You'd need some form of bespoke lift to put it in and store it on when not in use. Might need some meatier springs on the back! Probably pushing the limit on the brakes to.

Maybe not such a clever idea!

GrumpyGel said:

Dunno what 2nd hand battery packs are like in the UK in terms of price and condition, but would it be possible to add extra capacity to the Freelander?

Maybe as a detachable "expansion pack" that you load into the boot when needed? You'd need some form of bespoke lift to put it in and store it on when not in use. Might need some meatier springs on the back! Probably pushing the limit on the brakes to.

Maybe not such a clever idea!

Click to expand...

Honestly I had considered that but I've already increased the weight of the car by a couple of hundred kilos so don't really have much spare capacity. Also the load space is very useful and practical at the moment so I don't want to fill it with more batteries The current range would be acceptable if I had fast charging so that is on the 'To do' list after sorting the heater and automating the charging.

Alibro said:

Used EV's have dropped in price by a lot in the last year so there are bargains out there. I would love to buy a Tesla but I need a hatchback or estate with minimum 225 mile range for work (preferably 250 mile) and Model Y's are too new. I was looking at a MG5 estate that would suit but they are still more than I want to spend. An eNiro would be suitable too.
Ironically I could have bought a decent EV for the money I've spent on my project but I have no regrets.
My work is so intermittent I might sell the Merc when the current contract is finished and use my Freelander EV for most local driving then borrow SWMBO's car for any journeys further than 80 miles. Until I sort out fast charging I can't travel much more than 40 miles from home.

Click to expand...

Interestingly Tesla models have dropped alarmingly over the last 12 months. I suspect this it due to the RRP of them being cut by many thousands of £.
MG on the other hand haven't dropped anything like as much on the second hand market. I'd happily have an MG4, but the prices of those are holding up well on the second hand market.

If I want to stick with something similar to my FL2, then at the moment a Model Y looks like the bast option, although I'm not keen on the lack of dashboard or HUD. Otherwise it would fit in every other way, and it's aluminium too, so doesn't suffer corrosion like steel body vehicles.

I'm sure you'll get your FLEV fast charging sorted Ali.

It's official, I AM A PLONKER! Not that it was ever in doubt.
Today I managed to complete the disconnection of the LV junction box. This gave me access to the battery box that was in the way and I was able to remove the bolts holding the it in place, thankfully without having to disconnect anything and was then able to pull it forward just enough to get at theH leaking hose. It looks like I was using an 18mm hose on a 15mm fitting and secured it with a spring clip. Had I used a hose clamp it probably would have been OK. Since I had it off anyway I just replaced it with an original Freelander hose I managed to find.



I had to cut away some insulation to get enough room but it is back in place and the two hoses now have decent quality stainless steel hose clamps. I'll keep an eye on them but I think this issue is now sorted.
The other thing I realised I cocked up was the orientation of the pump which I somehow managed to fit a$rse about face so it was pushing the coolant back into the header tank instead of pulling it. This is now sorted but I need the reducers I ordered yesterday and they will be a few days coming.

Nodge68 said:

Interestingly Tesla models have dropped alarmingly over the last 12 months. I suspect this it due to the RRP of them being cut by many thousands of £.
MG on the other hand haven't dropped anything like as much on the second hand market. I'd happily have an MG4, but the prices of those are holding up well on the second hand market.

If I want to stick with something similar to my FL2, then at the moment a Model Y looks like the bast option, although I'm not keen on the lack of dashboard or HUD. Otherwise it would fit in every other way, and it's aluminium too, so doesn't suffer corrosion like steel body vehicles.

I'm sure you'll get your FLEV fast charging sorted Ali.

Click to expand...

Have a look at the BMW iX3…. Similar money to the model Y. Like you, I have no interest in driving an iPad around, and wanted something that still looks like a ‘car’. The iX3 is the ICE car but with EV instead. Very easy to drive, and enjoyable.
Real world range (in winter) is safely around 220m, depending on speed etc.

Well done for sticking at it Ali.
When you say ‘fast charger’, i’m assuming you mean a 7kw charger?

Alibro said:

I was mighty peeved when I saw the issue but have got over it and am now getting on with sorting the problem. I've started to strip down the LV junction box and at the same time am documenting everything to make it a bit easier to figure out when I go to install the fuse holders.

View attachment 311737

I'm taking the opportunity to tidy things up a bit which will make future fault finding or additions much easier.
TBH I was sorely tempted to put it all back together and live without a heater but I figured now was as good a time as any to sort it and the LV box at the same time.

I'm looking on ebay for hoses that will fit and reducers as I've kinda run out of suitable hose to cut down. I need a pre made right angle or it will only kink. I think the issue may have been caused by forcing on a hose that was not suitable but can't be sure until I get in there.

Click to expand...

Where are the "strobe lights" & "helmet air" going ??

Freddie17 said:

Have a look at the BMW iX3…. Similar money to the model Y. Like you, I have no interest in driving an iPad around, and wanted something that still looks like a ‘car’. The iX3 is the ICE car but with EV instead. Very easy to drive, and enjoyable.
Real world range (in winter) is safely around 220m, depending on speed etc.

Click to expand...

I'm not a fan of the look of the BMW, the front has a look that only a mother could love.

I actually quite like the look of the Fisker Ocean, which might well be a contender. I'm looking at 3 years time, so there'll be more vehicles on the second hand market by then.

Nodge68 said:

I'm not a fan of the look of the BMW, the front has a look that only a mother could love.

I actually quite like the look of the Fisker Ocean, which might well be a contender. I'm looking at 3 years time, so there'll be more vehicles on the second hand market by then.

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Yes, the Fisker is nice - but I can’t help being reminded of a RR Evoque-ish shape when looking side-on at them.
Certainly a lot more EVs coming out now at more sensible numbers.

Freddie17 said:

Yes, the Fisker is nice - but I can’t help being reminded of a RR Evoque-ish shape when looking side-on at them.
Certainly a lot more EVs coming out now at more sensible numbers.

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They are built by the same crowd that built the Jag I-Pace and the likes of these...

Now that DOES look like a weekend toy to play with!