Series 3 Electric Conversion Kit

Hi all,

I've owned a Series 3 with a 200TDI conversion for just over a year now. The chassis is a little rotten, the electrics don't work and the radiator doesn't cool. If i'm completely honest, i bought a bit of a pig on a whim in lockdown from Pennine 4x4. Ive had to change the alternator, clutch, been towed twice on the back of an AA lorry, and once whilst towing a boat.

I'm thinking about converting it to electric but don't want to pay the prices that Twisted and other companies seem to charge. I have found a supplier who is able to develop a kit that you can install yourselves. The catch is, they need a commitment of 10 to warrant the development.

Are there any other Series 3 owners who are considering an electric conversion?

Looking forward to hearing from you all.

D

Why not go the DIY route. There's loads of information about the Internet, so helpful, some not so.
In the Freelander section, there's an owner doing his own EV conversion, which is coming on nicely, and for a sensible budget too.

Burn it.

Everyone to their own but of all the vehicles to convert to EV a Series Landy would be at the bottom of that list, IMO.
Surely this takes away all the character?
Plus from the description you gave surely the vehicle needs some serious care and attention before you would think on spending any money adding EV?

dale_ev said:

Hi all,

I've owned a Series 3 with a 200TDI conversion for just over a year now. The chassis is a little rotten, the electrics don't work and the radiator doesn't cool. If i'm completely honest, i bought a bit of a pig on a whim in lockdown from Pennine 4x4. Ive had to change the alternator, clutch, been towed twice on the back of an AA lorry, and once whilst towing a boat.

I'm thinking about converting it to electric but don't want to pay the prices that Twisted and other companies seem to charge. I have found a supplier who is able to develop a kit that you can install yourselves. The catch is, they need a commitment of 10 to warrant the development.

Are there any other Series 3 owners who are considering an electric conversion?

Looking forward to hearing from you all.

D

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Personally I'm not sure why electric appeals. Unless you are planning on building a daily driver for 10,000 miles a year every year. You'll never recoup and costs. Doing such a conversion do to 500-1000 miles a year just seems wasteful.

As for developing a kit. What kind of kit? Do you have any details at all? How many motors, what type of drive, power, range, controller, etc. I can't see anyone committing without knowing something about what it is or even what sort of price.

Nodge68 said:

Freelander section, there's an owner doing his own EV conversion, which is coming on nicely, and for a sensible budget too.

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I haven't seen that thread, but I'm willing to bet the 'real' cost will far exceed the value of the vehicle, probably many times over. Not sure I'd call that sensible. I also suspect that there is a very good chance the vehicle will require an IVA and end up on a Q plate to remain road legal in the UK.

300bhp/ton said:

I haven't seen that thread, but I'm willing to bet the 'real' cost will far exceed the value of the vehicle, probably many times over. Not sure I'd call that sensible. I also suspect that there is a very good chance the vehicle will require an IVA and end up on a Q plate to remain road legal in the UK.

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He's not doing it for the value of it, as the battery pack alone cost more than the vehicle is worth. He's doing it because he wants to prove the concept, with the view to doing the conversion to a later more expensive LR in the future.

It's a personal choice on how someone spends their money. I know people that have dropped £8k on a custom paint job on a £3k car, which doesn't add anything to the vehicle at all.

A properly converted EV vehicle will be worth more than the ICE equivalent, to the right person.

There's no firm reason for it to get a Q plate or require an IVA, as all the original vehicle structures will be retained, only the engine has been removed, and replaced with an 80kW electric motor.

Batteries will be located where the fuel tank was, and where the rear exhaust box once was, with a few extra in the front above the motor.

Each to their own but for me, I'll stick with petrol/diesel whilst it's readily available.
When the time comes - if I'm still around I'll then have an electric vehicle.

Nodge68 said:

He's not doing it for the value of it, as the battery pack alone cost more than the vehicle is worth. He's doing it because he wants to prove the concept, with the view to doing the conversion to a later more expensive LR in the future.

It's a personal choice on how someone spends their money. I know people that have dropped £8k on a custom paint job on a £3k car, which doesn't add anything to the vehicle at all.

A properly converted EV vehicle will be worth more than the ICE equivalent, to the right person.

There's no firm reason for it to get a Q plate or require an IVA, as all the original vehicle structures will be retained, only the engine has been removed, and replaced with an 80kW electric motor.

Batteries will be located where the fuel tank was, and where the rear exhaust box once was, with a few extra in the front above the motor.

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Depends how its done, if the gearbox and engine are removed then both axles, the original suspension and the original steering system would need to be all retained along with a chassis exactly the same as before.
It really depends on just how awkward they want to be.

BruceB said:

Depends how its done, if the gearbox and engine are removed then both axles, the original suspension and the original steering system would need to be all retained along with a chassis exactly the same as before.
It really depends on just how awkward they want to be.

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The Freelander in question has the original gearbox, IRD (the FL1 transfer box), diffs, suspension, brakes, steering, everything except the engine and its associated fuel and exhaust system.
So there's no real reason why it shouldn't be considered just a change in fuel type from heavy oil to electric.

Wait until the battery prices drop, there are some new technologies in the pipeline. Also what ever vehicle you convert it will need a decent chassis and running gear for the extra weight so there's no point starting with a vehicle that has corrosion problems.

rob1miles said:

Wait until the battery prices drop, there are some new technologies in the pipeline.

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Those are a way off yet, but as more EVs his the roads, there will me more low use second hand batteries available, which will reduce the cost of them.

rob1miles said:

Also what ever vehicle you convert it will need a decent chassis and running gear for the extra weight so there's no point starting with a vehicle that has corrosion problems.

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Absolutely agree.
There's no point in converting a rusted vehicle, as it will be structurally compromised, and won't last long enough to make the conversion worthwhile.
IMO, any ICE vehicle which is being converted to EV would need to last at least 10 years after conversion, or it simply isn't worth the cost or effort.

Nodge68 said:

Those are a way off yet, but as more EVs his the roads, there will me more low use second hand batteries available, which will reduce the cost of them.

Absolutely agree.
There's no point in converting a rusted vehicle, as it will be structurally compromised, and won't last long enough to make the conversion worthwhile.
IMO, any ICE vehicle which is being converted to EV would need to last at least 10 years after conversion, or it simply isn't worth the cost or effort.

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Here is a link to a EV Lightweight and other interesting stuff re Defender and Iveco Daily 4x4 http://www.goingbush.com/ptev.html

I started off quite positive about classic cars and EV conversions, but the more I watch Vintage Voltage the less I like it. I keep looking at some of the cars they have in the background, one was a BMW Batmobile, there are Ferraris and some very rare cars. I'm now thinking, well why not just buy Teslas and make replica bodies of classic cars? It will look special which seems to be all the owners want and will work way better than a conversion.

Since the whole point of having and using classic vehicles, to me at least, is the technology of the time and the quircks and period charm I cannot see the point of EV conversions on classic vehicles.
Each to their own and there is no law against it I suppose but if you want a modern vehicle why just not buy one. Each one converted is one less left and they are an always diminishing number of old vehicles left