Curious if anyone has attempted an EV conversion on an MR-2 yet?

[A7DUO]

As a small light car with a good bed of space out-back for motor and batteries - I am wondering how long it will be until someone has a go at an EV conversion.  There is a lot of talk in the Lotus and Caterham community preparing for drive in drive out coversions on Elise and Seven power-trains in future if things get really bad fuel-wise (in fact Lotus/Caterham/Morgan are all talking about a common platform EV running gear for their production cars after 2026 - so things are happening in that arena with lightweigh sports cars).  Apart from Tesla Roadster there is nothing out there EV and sporty (yet), although Alpine 110 production is due to stop soon, until the same car comes back as an EV - and its lightweight credentials could make an MR2 a high performance EV in the same way.

Time will tell and it could be one way of keeping our brilliant little cars going for another 10 years when the time comes.

[rusty0273]

Once people get the idea that you don't actually need a huge battery and range, it's becomes more realistic from a cost, price and weight perspective. Still too pricey though for an MR2 Roadster with a max converted value of what - £10k?
It still makes more sense for cars with a greater inherent value i.e. Classics. Love electric cars though so quite looking forward to the days when it becomes viable to stick 300bhp drive units in all these old roadsters.

[1979scotte]

100% seen it on a mk1

[A7DUO]

Yes of course - mk.1's are now such valueable classics I can imagine a high cost EV kit in it. 

Conversions will be cheaper in future, and our mk.3's will become more sought after over time.... so one to watch

But for now - keep enjoying the jungle juice (while its available)

[ucb]

I don't see battery powered EV and lightweight sports car in the same sentence. It would take an enormous leap in battery technology.
I think the term for the Lotus/Caterham et al sportscar will be lighter weight!!

And let's not be too hasty about abandoning petrol. Synthetic fuels could be a viable way of using older vehicles with ICEs

[SuperArt]

https://youtu.be/ZIAV18WOBgs

[Carolyn]

Time to start work on hydrogen in a 1ZZ.  That'll give me something to do.

[Ardent]

Time to start work on hydrogen in a 1ZZ.  That'll give me something to do.

And best qualified to do so.

[Call the midlife!]

Unless it has a 300 mile plus range with the same performance as the petrol engine you can keep your batteries 🤓

[Alex Knight]

I don't see battery powered EV and lightweight sports car in the same sentence. It would take an enormous leap in battery technology.
I think the term for the Lotus/Caterham et al sportscar will be lighter weight!!

And let's not be too hasty about abandoning petrol. Synthetic fuels could be a viable way of using older vehicles with ICEs

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster_(first_generation)

[Zxrob]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster_(first_generation)

Dont know if things have improved/changed but was at Oulton park last year, guy in a tesla on track, as soon as he seriously put his toe down the car cut the power

Not much fun in that

Rob

[105e]

Unless it has a 300 mile plus range with the same performance as the petrol engine you can keep your batteries 🤓

And they need to charge in 5 minutes.

[Mickemo]

And best qualified to do so.

I'm not convinced that Electric is the viable longer term solution...could be good fun in a 2 though.

Electric for me is a sticky plaster fix whilst the clever people develop better long term solutions.

I believe JCB have adopted Hydrogen powered vehicles now, Toyota are developing their own Hydrogen engine too.

[MrT]

I have all the kit from a donor car to do this, just haven't made time to focus and get it done. Too may projects I never finish.

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[Microgerry]

I would love one of these.
But have you seen the date of the you tube video? Fourteen years ago!
I wonder how many others there are around. There's a place in North Wales that does ev conversions to any car

[105e]

The tv programme vintage voltage ?? about £50,000 i believe..

[1979scotte]

Just watched a YouTube video with a classic 60s mini converted to EV with a 300 bhp tesla motor.
Nuts.

[Mr2highpeak]

I've been a ev owner for 5 years and while they are ridiculously cheap to run, in winter weather the range sinks faster than a Russian war ship. The charging network is unreliable and confusing and battery prices are currently rising instead of dropping due to the current climate. Personally I think either some massive leap in battery technology or hydrogen is what's needed to make them viable.

[SV-3]

Just watched a YouTube video with a classic 60s mini converted to EV with a 300 bhp tesla motor.
Nuts.

The same company has recently converted a classic Alfa Romeo Spider:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZTO1N59Z-k

[Joesson]

I've been a ev owner for 5 years and while they are ridiculously cheap to run, in winter weather the range sinks faster than a Russian war ship. The charging network is unreliable and confusing and battery prices are currently rising instead of dropping due to the current climate. Personally I think either some massive leap in battery technology or hydrogen is what's needed to make them viable.

I'd not considered the effect of cold winter weather on battery life. My understanding is that low temperatures slow down the chemical reaction that is a battery, and of course heating of the cabin and it's occupants must use power that would otherwise be used for propulsion.
So to recap, an EV is best used when the weather is:
A-not too cold as to need the cabin heating.
B-conversely not too hot as to require cabin cooling/ air con.
C-not raining, as the screen wipers would add to the battery drain.
D-combinations of the above that could require eg heating/ air con and wipers.
I suppose a straight road, with no overtaking avoiding the use of indicators and daylight driving only thus not requiring headlights is to be preferred also. But those restrictions would be silly to take into account when spending £n,000's on a means of transport wouldn't they?

[fawtytoo]

Getting back to the EV conversion for an MR2, where do the batteries go? Our cars don't have any luggage space, so is there enough room in the engine bay, or would you lose the spare wheel too just to get enough batteries for a decent range?

EDIT: ... and where ever the batteries end up, does that change the weight distribution in any significant way?

[Joesson]

@fawtytoo

A possible location for the batteries would be where ones golf clubs are usually placed.

[MrT]

Getting back to the EV conversion for an MR2, where do the batteries go? Our cars don't have any luggage space, so is there enough room in the engine bay, or would you lose the spare wheel too just to get enough batteries for a decent range?

EDIT: ... and where ever the batteries end up, does that change the weight distribution in any significant way?

Well this is something I considered and for my planned conversion I'd only expect a modest battery size though improvements in recent years probably mean I could double that at the expense of weight and distribution.

But my plan was to mount the modestly sized motor & transfer case right back against the sub frame or even on a custom tubular sub frame and have an L shaped box in front of the motor against the bulkhead and wrapping down into the tank area. All weight would be forward of. The rear axle and more central than standard. Please I was planning to house the electric AC/heat pump up front behind a smaller radiator or even mount 2 small radiators behind the side scoops as the electric motor doesn't require massive cooling.

Granted this was only for a modest planned 80-100ml range but my donor also has fast charging and a 20min coffee break would net me an 80% charge again. No petrol/hydrogen refuel or battery swap but for a fun weekend vehicle or commuter it would be plenty.

Of course there is a reasonable amount of space in the storage bins but CofG is getting rather high then, though offset by majority of battery weight still being lower than the engine CofG. And you could put a small amount of batteries up front and distribute more weight. But who needs that much charge in a daily fun car?

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