The problem is not the motor (as much) as it is where to put the batteries. Replacing just the gas tank on my tiny Subaru with a battery is not going to give the range I need.
That’s not a commute. I don’t commute by car at all. I bike or take transit if I have to commute. A cars sole purpose for me is long trips with the family and going to the cottage, which is 320km away.
Not OP but a rural Canadian and farmer, I live 200km from the city. While I usually only go once every week or two, if I can’t make it there and back for any number of supplies that I might need in a hurry (parts, veterinary, hospital etc) then a vehicle is useless to me.
Even if the published range could barely squeeze it in, with winter temperatures dropping into the -30s any reduction in range would be a huge issue.
The thought of being badly injured while my car is sitting low on charge is terrifying. I always keep over 1/2 a tank in my car and also in my 4wd farm truck in case of bad weather.
Honestly the drop in kits are not for everyone. It’s really for people with a pure commuter car and a longer range vehicle that could be a hybrid, PHEV, All new electric or even ICE engine. Considering the average American family has over 2 cars, it’s quite possible.
I do own a little electric jeep with around 10 miles of range, it’s great for around the farm use. That’s where I like having the farmyard with plenty of room, I can keep special purpose vehicles.
It’s kind of a conversion-ish thing itself, Pinto transmission and rear end, heavy old 8hp series motor. 1970s electric tech.
The big killer here is insurance. I’m lucky to insure it as an antique for very little money, but if you have to insure a special purpose car it’s often not worth the fuel you save. I think they should have a special insurance program for short range cars, as you clearly can only drive one car at a time.
It’s also the same BS excuse every lazy ICE adherent makes. “Bwaaah I needs to drive over five hundy miles a day.” It’s nonsense and I’m quite comfortable calling it a lie. You might want to take a 500 mile road trip. But not every day you don’t ya lazy liars.
And yes: there exist occupational life choices that lead one to a life where you might travel that distance in a single day. But in your own personal vehicle?
I much rather take my old car and pay to have the ICE engine taken out and replaced with a crate EV motor.
The problem is not the motor (as much) as it is where to put the batteries. Replacing just the gas tank on my tiny Subaru with a battery is not going to give the range I need.
Ya, unfortunately that’s the problem. But the majority of people don’t need to drive over 100 miles a day and most kits these days are over 100 now.
That take only works for families with multiple cars. A car would be pointless for me with a less than a 450km (280m) range.
That is a crazy commute. What line of work are you in that requires that much driving a day?
That’s not a commute. I don’t commute by car at all. I bike or take transit if I have to commute. A cars sole purpose for me is long trips with the family and going to the cottage, which is 320km away.
Not OP but a rural Canadian and farmer, I live 200km from the city. While I usually only go once every week or two, if I can’t make it there and back for any number of supplies that I might need in a hurry (parts, veterinary, hospital etc) then a vehicle is useless to me.
Even if the published range could barely squeeze it in, with winter temperatures dropping into the -30s any reduction in range would be a huge issue.
The thought of being badly injured while my car is sitting low on charge is terrifying. I always keep over 1/2 a tank in my car and also in my 4wd farm truck in case of bad weather.
Honestly the drop in kits are not for everyone. It’s really for people with a pure commuter car and a longer range vehicle that could be a hybrid, PHEV, All new electric or even ICE engine. Considering the average American family has over 2 cars, it’s quite possible.
I do own a little electric jeep with around 10 miles of range, it’s great for around the farm use. That’s where I like having the farmyard with plenty of room, I can keep special purpose vehicles.
It’s kind of a conversion-ish thing itself, Pinto transmission and rear end, heavy old 8hp series motor. 1970s electric tech.
The big killer here is insurance. I’m lucky to insure it as an antique for very little money, but if you have to insure a special purpose car it’s often not worth the fuel you save. I think they should have a special insurance program for short range cars, as you clearly can only drive one car at a time.
It’s also the same BS excuse every lazy ICE adherent makes. “Bwaaah I needs to drive over five hundy miles a day.” It’s nonsense and I’m quite comfortable calling it a lie. You might want to take a 500 mile road trip. But not every day you don’t ya lazy liars.
And yes: there exist occupational life choices that lead one to a life where you might travel that distance in a single day. But in your own personal vehicle?
Lies.
That would probably be way more expensive
Well, I have an old Audi TT that’s completely paid off. There is a 13k drop in kit for the Mk3 and MK4 VW golf which is the same chassis.
It’s only a little over 100 miles so there is that and I’m going to lose the Quattro, so it’s something that needs to be considered.