5 ms·

Where would the battery go? I have a soft spot for old trucks and would love to have an electrified one someday.

by viburnum 5y ago

throwaway0a5e 5y ago
There's a ton of space on an old truck or van, most body on frame vehicles for that matter. It's really a non-issue.
- nine_k 5y ago
  Room is a non-issue. Having a ready-made, mountable, right-sized battery pack(s) for retrofitting is an issue, and may be a lucrative niche.
  - AshleyGrant 5y ago
    And a niche that will definitely see players working to fill, if the last 100 years or so of aftermarket & tuner culture teaches us anything. The first things I did when I bought a BMW convertible about 10 years ago was order BMW specific aftermarket wheels from a company that only sells wheels for BMWs. I also ordered aftermarket electronics from two companies that only market to BMW enthusiasts. There will definitely be companies coming out with bolt-on battery packs for things like Jeep Wranglers and old trucks like this F-100. If bolt-on isn't possible, then it will be kits that the engineering has already been done and you just need to measure and weld on the mounts and then bolt on the battery pack and run the wiring.
whalesalad 5y ago
Between the frame rails underneath the cab. Trucks are different from cars (unibody design, like a shell) in that they are body-on-frame. It looks like a giant ladder and they are generally 6-8" tall or more for HD trucks. You would create your own "skateboard" if you will then lower the original cab back down on top.
- chrisdhoover 5y ago
  Yes trucks are ideal for a conversion
- blacksmith_tb 5y ago
  That does appear to be where Ford tucked the batteries for this one, this not-so-great video[1] does slide under and show them briefly. Not sure how it has two motors though, I thought the whole point of crate motors was as a drop in replacement for the existing engine (plus of course then they'd cost $7,800, before the batteries). 1: https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2021/11/03/ford-f100-electric-concept-truck-crate-motor-orig.cnn-business/video/playlists/business-drive-cars/ https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2021/11/03/ford-f100-ele...
  - jpindar 5y ago
    That video clearly shows one motor between the front wheels and one between the rear wheels.
    - blacksmith_tb 5y ago
      Sorry, I meant "seems like not such a great advertisement for DIY conversions if it completely changes the way the drivetrain works (and costs twice as much as the price of one crate motor, never mind the battery etc.)".
- asmos7 5y ago
  this is like moving a mountain - yea on paper it works but good luck actually doing it
  - whalesalad 5y ago
    With that attitude - yes! I grew up working on cars. It's really not that hard, especially with electric vehicles/retrofitting. The cab is attached to the frame with like 6 bolts. This is a very common practice in shops working on trucks - sometimes it is easiest to just lift the entire cab to work on the truck. Photo: https://www.dieselworldmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/01_TRANS.png https://www.dieselworldmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/01... Doing restomod work is a lot of fun if you are into that sort of thing. You get to play 'car designer' and rebuild a totally new vehicle/powertrain while trying to make it look original.
blitzar 5y ago
My first idea would be just to drop it in where the fuel tank is / was. Someone will probably make a fuel tank shaped battery at some point.
- onychomys 5y ago
  Problem with that is that a fuel tank is very small compared to the equivalent battery size.
  - blitzar 5y ago
    My maths has it at approx 10,000 cubic inches of battery weighing in at 450kg, which rought and dirty is a 43 gallon tank (I may be way out) which is around 120kg of petrol. Looks like standard is around 26 gallons (up to 36) so not miles away on volume, call it 1.5x. Wight and how you distribute it are going to be the real issue here at 3.75x the density.

Where would the battery go? I have a soft spot for old trucks and would love to have an electrified one someday.

throwaway0a5e 5y ago

There's a ton of space on an old truck or van, most body on frame vehicles for that matter. It's really a non-issue.

nine_k 5y ago
Room is a non-issue. Having a ready-made, mountable, right-sized battery pack(s) for retrofitting is an issue, and may be a lucrative niche.
- AshleyGrant 5y ago
  And a niche that will definitely see players working to fill, if the last 100 years or so of aftermarket & tuner culture teaches us anything. The first things I did when I bought a BMW convertible about 10 years ago was order BMW specific aftermarket wheels from a company that only sells wheels for BMWs. I also ordered aftermarket electronics from two companies that only market to BMW enthusiasts. There will definitely be companies coming out with bolt-on battery packs for things like Jeep Wranglers and old trucks like this F-100. If bolt-on isn't possible, then it will be kits that the engineering has already been done and you just need to measure and weld on the mounts and then bolt on the battery pack and run the wiring.

whalesalad 5y ago

Between the frame rails underneath the cab. Trucks are different from cars (unibody design, like a shell) in that they are body-on-frame. It looks like a giant ladder and they are generally 6-8" tall or more for HD trucks. You would create your own "skateboard" if you will then lower the original cab back down on top.

chrisdhoover 5y ago
Yes trucks are ideal for a conversion
blacksmith_tb 5y ago
That does appear to be where Ford tucked the batteries for this one, this not-so-great video[1] does slide under and show them briefly. Not sure how it has two motors though, I thought the whole point of crate motors was as a drop in replacement for the existing engine (plus of course then they'd cost $7,800, before the batteries). 1: https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2021/11/03/ford-f100-electric-concept-truck-crate-motor-orig.cnn-business/video/playlists/business-drive-cars/ https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2021/11/03/ford-f100-ele...
- jpindar 5y ago
  That video clearly shows one motor between the front wheels and one between the rear wheels.
  - blacksmith_tb 5y ago
    Sorry, I meant "seems like not such a great advertisement for DIY conversions if it completely changes the way the drivetrain works (and costs twice as much as the price of one crate motor, never mind the battery etc.)".
asmos7 5y ago
this is like moving a mountain - yea on paper it works but good luck actually doing it
- whalesalad 5y ago
  With that attitude - yes! I grew up working on cars. It's really not that hard, especially with electric vehicles/retrofitting. The cab is attached to the frame with like 6 bolts. This is a very common practice in shops working on trucks - sometimes it is easiest to just lift the entire cab to work on the truck. Photo: https://www.dieselworldmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/01_TRANS.png https://www.dieselworldmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/01... Doing restomod work is a lot of fun if you are into that sort of thing. You get to play 'car designer' and rebuild a totally new vehicle/powertrain while trying to make it look original.

blitzar 5y ago

My first idea would be just to drop it in where the fuel tank is / was. Someone will probably make a fuel tank shaped battery at some point.

onychomys 5y ago
Problem with that is that a fuel tank is very small compared to the equivalent battery size.
- blitzar 5y ago
  My maths has it at approx 10,000 cubic inches of battery weighing in at 450kg, which rought and dirty is a 43 gallon tank (I may be way out) which is around 120kg of petrol. Looks like standard is around 26 gallons (up to 36) so not miles away on volume, call it 1.5x. Wight and how you distribute it are going to be the real issue here at 3.75x the density.