Click on link; www.whichcar.com.au/news/ford-debuts-electric-1978-f-100-at-sema

This type of modification ( if approved by authorities) is a great concept for Joe Private to save some money long term with the operation of his vehicle.

For $5000 plus for the crate it only equates to $100 per week over a year. At the current price for electricity sourced from a domestic outlet a person would be well on the way to recovering his money.
From the article Ford seem to have distanced themselves from a suitable battery.
I wonder why they are doing that? Would it be a decision based on the longevity and reliability of the battery units?

I consider it a great hobby at the moment as it is cheap and a fairly unique vehicle modification.

My view with regard to home electricity supply in the long term is that governments aren't just going to stand by and permit Joe Public to charge his electric vehicle while not paying any taxes to cover present and future road and infrastructure costs.

At this present moment I believe you can buy an electric hybrid and charge it at home but my thoughts are that the respective governments aren't wanting to make waves as they closely observe the uptake of electric and part electric vehicles into the near future.

As has been quoted: There are only two sure things in life, Death and Taxes.

40 odd years ago I took some classes with a guy that was building his own electric car. Cant remember what make or model he picked but he was a Ford guy. He would tell us its the way of the future. We all had a laugh. A car full of batteries no back seat. Weighed a ton. Took forever to recharge. I got to wonder where and what he drives now. Think he's having a laugh now.

I have spent a bit of time looking into this and I subscribe to a couple of forums on the subject. I was at one stage considering converting one of our Morris Miners but the cost is prohibitive even doing all the work yourself. From what I have seen most people are happy to contain the weight of their conversions by being fairly conservative with their battery banks and settling for less range between charges. here' a photo of our 1955 series 2 Minor and our 1938 Morris eight tourer.

Derek Barnes wrote:

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Currently EV's use very light weight aluminium in their construction but still weight about 2 tonnes because of the heavy battery, etc. Does this mean that if you add the heavy steel chassis and other components of an old classic car to the heavy battery and other components of an EV, you will get an enormously heavy vehicle which may have handling or travelling distance problems?

I don't know how much these electric crate motors and battery and controller would weigh compared to a full EV.

Do you think a converted classic car would weigh much more as an EV?

-- Edited by Derek Barnes on Friday 12th of November 2021 06:04:55 PM

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 Derek as a life long member of the car repair industry nobody here mentions insurance costs to repair accident damaged EV's. There will be huge premium price jumps as this type of bonded aluminium construction puts the vehicle in an exotic supercar field when it comes to repair techniques.

Cupie wrote:

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landy wrote:

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I have spent a bit of time looking into this and I subscribe to a couple of forums on the subject. I was at one stage considering converting one of our Morris Miners but the cost is prohibitive even doing all the work yourself. From what I have seen most people are happy to contain the weight of their conversions by being fairly conservative with their battery banks and settling for less range between charges. here' a photo of our 1955 series 2 Minor and our 1938 Morris eight tourer.

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 That rag top Morris 8 looks very much like my second ever car.  But mine was a hard top.   I thought that I was great coming from an old Oakland.   Moved on to a series of Vanguards, Valliant's and holdens.

 

I too wonder about future Govts reaction to loss of fuel taxes et al revenue as Elec vehicles become the norm  .. as well as the impact on our pathetic & totally unsuitable electricity distribution grid.   Already we have restrictions on the size of roof top solar that we can install  .. how will we go when ever second or more house in your street plugs in their cars when they get home at evening peak hour?

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 I had an 1939? Austin 8 Convertible Utility (Ballarat vehicle)  when I was 16 .....I still have the Receipt for it  ..6 Pound 10 shillings....memories!

landy wrote:

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That's interesting KJB. this photo is taken in Ballerat. This car was imported to Australia as a motorized chassis in 1938 and the body was built in Melbourne on an Ash frame. I would love to see a photo of your old Austin 8 utility if you still have one or better still if you know where I can buy one for six and a half quid just send me a link.

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 A couple of pics for you. Not too clear but that is all I have ....I reconditioned the engine in it whilst I was still at school..! 

Incidently , currently there is a small pre WW2 vehicle ( English) being converted to electric in  Ballarat.  KB