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Sat Oct 31, 2020 5:18 am

I haven't seen this mentioned here before but if it has been, please forgive me and post a link.

Chevrolet will soon be offering a crate engine kit for older GM product upgrades.

https://www.core77.com/posts/102594/Chevrolets-eCr...ng-Vehicle

Yes, it is designed for GM products but I wonder what the adaptability will be of putting this into the Vanagon chassis?

There is a Canadian Van with a Bolt drive train but the modifications required were immense!

Anyway, something to ponder..........

Dave

Sat Oct 31, 2020 5:39 am

that Blazer they made is gorgeous and they've done suspension upgrades too. it would be interesting to test drive it.

how would regenerative braking work with rear wheel drive? all the FWD electrics can return the 75-90% of front braking energy back thru the electric drive train but a RWD is is only going to have 15-25% of the momentum for regen before the rear tires lock up. on a vehicle as heavy as a Vanagon, that would really be a hit on travel distance. a FWD Eurovan might be the better partner for that aspect alone.

anyway, very cool GM is offering these. a good sign and harkens back to the 'performance division' each marque had back in the day for the DIY'ers.

Sat Oct 31, 2020 5:49 am

Didn’t Kennedy have an adapter from the vw bell housing to a Chevy v8?

Sat Oct 31, 2020 7:25 am

DanHoug wrote: how would regenerative braking work with rear wheel drive? all the FWD electrics can return the 75-90% of front braking energy back thru the electric drive train but a RWD is is only going to have 15-25% of the momentum for regen before the rear tires lock up.

Wouldn't most of the regen occur during normal braking?
I wouldn't bemoan the loss of regen during full panic stops. :shock:

Sat Oct 31, 2020 11:16 am

Sodo wrote: DanHoug wrote: how would regenerative braking work with rear wheel drive? all the FWD electrics can return the 75-90% of front braking energy back thru the electric drive train but a RWD is is only going to have 15-25% of the momentum for regen before the rear tires lock up.

Wouldn't most of the regen occur during normal braking?
I wouldn't bemoan the loss of regen during full panic stops. :shock:

A large part of the appeal to EV driving in my eyes has always been the one pedal driving. Being able to control the speed completely with the throttle is awesome. You hardly even use the normal brakes except for the very last couple mph in non panic stops.
We had a leased Spark EV and almost always drove it in "low" mode where it had max regen, for that one pedal feel.
But yeah without a good tie in to some traction control or individual wheel speed sensors, it'd be tough to fully utilize that in a drop in application like this crate setup.

I'm really intrigued by this as I think it's a cool strategy by gm to get more gearheads thinking about ev potential.
I'm also really curious to see the install details, where we can get answers to questions like the regen capability... if they even release them (since commissioning this is a bit more dangerous than firing up a small block ha) one of the articles mentioned this having to go through approved/trained install shops

Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:42 pm

The article mentions that the engine and transmission are removed and replaced but that the rest of the drive train remains.

77 was rear wheel drive (maybe 4x4) but I understand it as the vehicle was and continues to be rear wheel drive.

Is the regen capability built into the transmission?

I don't kniw exactly how my Prius regens but it isn't at the wheels.

Dave

Sat Oct 31, 2020 1:12 pm

VW offers a electric conversion.
http://newsroom.vw.com/vehicles/classic-volkswagens-modern-ev-power-the-future-of-hot-rodding/

https://electrek.co/2019/09/05/vw-electric-conversion-classic-beetles-first-prototype/

Sat Oct 31, 2020 1:48 pm

djkeev wrote: I don't kniw exactly how my Prius regens but it isn't at the wheels.

Dave

right. it is within the traction motor. on decceleration, the computer tells the electric motor to become a generator instead and so applies 'braking' force to the front wheels (only) as electricity is generated at the expense of forward momentum. the rears are just conventional drum brakes with no regenerative ability.

got a crashed 2005 Prius in the shed with an intact drivetrain... oh for the time for such silly projects.

Sat Oct 31, 2020 2:07 pm

djkeev wrote:
I don't kniw exactly how my Prius regens but it isn't at the wheels.

The wheels are still the only way that road force finds it way back into the system :)
It needs to know to modulate that braking action in limited traction environments.
Our spark could lock the wheels up "braking" in low mode on wet and snowy roads especially once the tires were a bit worn in. It would limit braking once it knew you were sliding.

Anyway, random ramblings...I'm sure they've thought of this! Easiest way would be to cap the max braking action and avoid possible lock up that way, with a slight hit to range. I think this will be cool to keep an eye on as they make their way out into the world!

Sat Oct 31, 2020 2:10 pm

Glenn wrote: VW offers a electric conversion.
http://newsroom.vw.com/vehicles/classic-volkswagens-modern-ev-power-the-future-of-hot-rodding/

https://electrek.co/2019/09/05/vw-electric-conversion-classic-beetles-first-prototype/

That's good for your Beetle Glenn, but the height is probably a real issue to slip one into a Vanagon.

Dave

Sat Oct 31, 2020 3:10 pm

djkeev wrote: Glenn wrote: VW offers a electric conversion.
http://newsroom.vw.com/vehicles/classic-volkswagens-modern-ev-power-the-future-of-hot-rodding/

https://electrek.co/2019/09/05/vw-electric-conversion-classic-beetles-first-prototype/

That's good for your Beetle Glenn, but the height is probably a real issue to slip one into a Vanagon.

Dave

It seems the upper portion, above the "black plate thing", may be modular and could be remounted lower and away from the engine with some ingenuity.

-Rob

Sun Nov 01, 2020 6:25 am

djkeev wrote: That's good for your Beetle Glenn, but the height is probably a real issue to slip one into a Vanagon.

Dave
Dave,

The first link is from VWoA and states:
"Volkswagen of America joined in last year, commissioning California-based electric vehicle conversion specialist EV West to build a one-off concept vehicle by merging a 1972 Type 2 Microbus with the modern electric powertrain of a 2017 e-Golf."

So if it could be made it fit a Bay Window it could be made to fit a Vanagon.

It would b nice to keep a VW.. all VW ;)

Just saying....