Electric Conversion

[Johnreme]

Hi everyone, I have been looking to go electric, but the ET6.1 does not have the range I am looking for, Can the ET6.1 be updated or has anyone had VW6.1 LWB converted from diesel to electric? untouchably the Buzz does not have the size and the T7 is a long way off at the moment, I am a bit lost with my options but wish to keep with VW thanks John

 

[dubber36]

Surely the cost of the conversion will pay for more diesel than you'll ever need. Diesel must be giving you the range you need too, so why do it?

 

[DXX]

I’m wondering how a third party could convert a diesel to electric and get more range that VW from the design stage.
The obvious method being to put more batteries in the van, but then you no longer have a viable van and the power is being drawn to haul hundreds of Kgs of extra batteries around.
Fire & Rescue nightmare in an accident situation.
I would imagine that the current regulations on custom vehicles is going to need some significant change when people start messing about with EVs.

 

[Johnreme]

Surely the cost of the conversion will pay for more diesel than you'll ever need. Diesel must be giving you the range you need too, so why do it?

yes but if we are going to lose diesel engines by 2035 so what's going to happen then, as I can see at the moment the T7 hybrid will only petrol in America, so long term? I am just looking at my options, but I do appreciate your views on this as it's a situation that we dont understand, even the government ? 2035 its not going to happen

 

[DXX]

yes but if we are going to lose diesel engines by 2035 so what's going to happen then, as I can see at the moment the T7 hybrid will only petrol in America, so long term? I am just looking at my options, but I do appreciate your views on this as it's a situation that we dont understand, even the government ? 2035 its not going to happen

Ah Government…….if we wait for them to stop slagging each other off and find investors to build some clean power stations we’ll be cutting holes in our vans floor and doing a Barny Rubble.
My opinion is EV is the new Betamax, I worked in the oil industry long enough to know that they will divert money legally or otherwise to stay in business.

 

[Jimmmmy]

It`s only new diesel engines that are stopping production in 2030, you can keep your old one running forever if you like.

 

[Johnreme]

Ah Government…….if we wait for them to stop slagging each other off and find investors to build some clean power stations we’ll be cutting holes in our vans floor and doing a Barny Rubble.
My opinion is EV is the new Betamax, I worked in the oil industry long enough to know that they will divert money legally or otherwise to stay in business.

Sorry, I don't do Politics, only looking at what Vw to invest in, and how to convert to electric if I am going that path

 

[roadtripper]

From what I've seen VW are being openish about the investment they are putting into the ID Buzz line - I can't really see a third party putting much investment into trying to do better than VW given it's a fast moving market, and there are current non-VW alternatives and the ET6.1 has (in my opinion) been a good example of why you don't try and convert a platform designed for ICE to EV, it doesn't work very well at all.

My money is keeping an eye on what happens with the Californias - they're a small but lucrative market and (almost) a distinct brand - but they are also selling to folks more likely to want an EV.

If you're buying now I'd buy for today. If you want an EV then the longer cargo version of the ID Buzz must be quite near given the launch of the car version - more space and potentially more batteries. If you just need to move stuff then a today diesel is going to remain marketable for those folks that don't want an EV.

 

[Salty Spuds]

…..My opinion is EV is the new Betamax….

Exactly, I can remember Raymond Baxter on Tomorrow’s World showing us a CD & telling us it was the future. So everyone ran out & bought CD players, then it was Philips & the Video Disc, so everyone ran out & bought Video Disc players, then it was DVD - Blueray- yada yada!! now it’s Netflix.
History repeats itself, Sailing ships got replaced by steam ships got replaced by steam turbines got replaced by nuclear turbines. Fortunes were spent developing the canals, only to be replaced by the trains, even before the canal network was completed.
All this EV hype is just that, marketing & political bollix…. I’ll get me coat.

 

[CAB]

Not going to happen.

You will have to wait for the new Transit sorry, I meant the T7.

 

[DXX]

Sorry, I don't do Politics, only looking at what Vw to invest in, and how to convert to electric if I am going that path

Fair enough, Im not thinking about 2035 much, I’ll be 73 wondering where I left my cup of tea and other world problems.

 

[Johnreme]

Fair enough, Im not thinking about 2035 much, I’ll be 73 wondering where I left my cup of tea and other world problems.

by that time I will a lot older, it's looking to the future rather than the hear and now

 

[oldiebut goodie]

Anyone seen my cup of tea?

 

[russ_e]

The main issue is that the clean air zones start to included Euro6 engines.

 

[Salty Spuds]

The main issue is that the clean air zones start to included Euro6 engines.

Of course they will, because that will increase the revenue. Clean air zones are as much about clean air, as speed cameras are about “safety”. It’s all revenue raising. If ULEZ was about human health, then all IC powered vehicles would be banned from the zone, not just the ones who couldn’t pay. But then the revenue stream would dry up. Similarly, if speed cameras were about safety, there wouldn’t be a fine (I.e tax) involved, it would be an automatic ban as for drunk driving, but then the cash cow would be taken off the road.
I’m waiting for the day when someone sues a council that operates a ULEZ, for knowingly allowing their health to be compromised in exchange for money. I.e. By operating a ULEZ they (the council) are acknowledging that vehicle fumes are detrimental to health, but they allow the vehicles in as long as they pay.

 

[DaveD]

This company converted an old VW split screen to become an EV;

Electric Camper Conversion | Retroelectric

www.retroelectrics.co.uk

I'm sure it's possible to convert a T6 although I can't see how it would stack up financially.
A lot can happen before 2030.

 

[Bav]

My opinion is EV is the new Betamax

Poor choice of analogy - Betamax failed despite being technically superior to VHS.

 

[roadtripper]

Poor choice of analogy - Betamax failed despite being technically superior to VHS.

Well, yes and no. People often compare the professional format the tape and transport evolved into (Betacam which was/is better) but if you compare the signal bandwidth available for the same runtime of the decks home users were buying VHS has the edge.

Running the tape faster will always improve signal bandwidth, but Sony very quickly dropped the original tape speed as not commercially viable and that lost the edge. At the original speed no tape available would record more than about an hour and a half, when VHS could record 3.

VHS was more suited to most customers needs - timeshifting TV shows - and a lot cheaper. Geeks that cared bought Laserdisc for films instead.

You may draw parallels between runtime at reasonable quality and EV range at reasonable load, but I'll leave that to others

 

[DXX]

Anoraks

 

[roadtripper]

Anoraks

Guilty as charged