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Electric k5

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pnel128

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Hey guys love the site. Thought I would add to the knowledge base here a little bit and maybe get some help .

First the sharing: a guy in California has built an ELECTRIC 85 Jimmy for the SEMA show. Since I can't post links Google SEMA Electric Blazer. There is also a video somewhere of him driving it too.

I've talked to Jim about his ride and he tells me that he gets 20 mile electric only range and running a diesel generator he gets "50 mpg". However his generator is underpowered in its current form thus making his statement closer to a sound byte than reality. Also, it is capable of offroading, but in its current form would not be suited to much more than a country driveway.

Now for the help: His Jimmy weighs in around 7000lbs. Obviously, long term this would make the truck dangerous since the GVWR is 6100 (at least on my 87). Now I want to improve on Jim's truck and make it a capable DD that can handle moderate Offroad. I think I can cut my weight down to about 5500lbs using lighter batteries but I'm coming close to the limit. (b/c of the Chalet I know the Blazer can push the GVWR limit and be ok)

As far as weight distribution I'm hoping that it should not be much different than it currently is but there will be more. I know I can beef up the axles/suspension but I am worried about the frame being able to handle the extra weight. Is this a valid concern and has anyone else dealt with a similar issue? ( And yes I have looked at the diet thread- reading it again right now actually)

So thoughts, ideas, comments?
 
wow i really wanna see this truck. sounds awesome...you could always box the frame. that would help strengthen it
 
I was there.(sema that is) I got pics. IT WAS SICK!!! The first two pics are of the flyer they were handing out, and the rest is proof i was there!

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I think we've pretty well established the 1/2 and 3/4 ton frames are the same in strength. So that might give you some ideas as to where you can go weight-wise.

I'd not worry about the axles until you decide they are needed, as that's just more weight to move.

IMO 7000lbs is absolutely ridiculous without some SERIOUS axles, tires, winch, tools, portable garage, etc. in the thing. Resolve that problem first, then see how it does. That's about 1500lbs too heavy if it's not equipped for serious wheeling.
 
really this whole Hybrid farce really cracks me up!! I mean it's like sticking your cawk in a meat ginder just to see what comes out the other side!!:rolleyes:

it's all fun and games but can you really be serious??:doah: what's the point to all this??
 
Seriously, are you seriously asking that question. If you are running a diesel, you are probably getting around 20 MPG, so would 50 MPG save you money? If this tech can be brought to the masses for a decent price(think near the cost of a good crate engine), I could easily stand $5 or even $6 a gallon, and still drive my Blazer whenever I wanted.

While this isn't a true hybrid, it is an electric Blazer with a generator for extended range. If it could be made effective off road, it would far exceed using anything we have in our trucks today. Just an FYI, electric motors produce more torque efficiently than any other engine on the market.
 
If I was do do anything as far as an electric vehicle... I wouldnt start with a Blazer. Just too big and too heavy to get your money's worth. Start with a much lighter vehicle to make it worth it.

It will be way under powered and the range will suck.

Its a great idea and I love outside the box thinking... but this just isnt worth it.


And also... 7,000lbs isnt THAT heavy. I bet my Blazer on 44s and 1 tons will be nearing 7k lbs with ease. And, I would not be shocked if my old Suburban on 33s was close to 7,000lbs.
 
four_by_ken said:
If I was do do anything as far as an electric vehicle... I wouldnt start with a Blazer. Just too big and too heavy to get your money's worth. Start with a much lighter vehicle to make it worth it.

It will be way under powered and the range will suck.

Its a great idea and I love outside the box thinking... but this just isnt worth it.


And also... 7,000lbs isnt THAT heavy. I bet my Blazer on 44s and 1 tons will be nearing 7k lbs with ease. And, I would not be shocked if my old Suburban on 33s was close to 7,000lbs.
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My stock Blazer with 1/2tons is right at 6000 lbs. It will be much heavier once the cage, new axles, and all the other stuff is in it.

I don't think it would be underpowered, think about the power that an electric motor produces. Instant torque, and the torque remains throughout the curve.

As far as range, with a small generator, even if it only got 30 MPG equivalent, it would still far exceed the range of any of our current vehicles. The biggest trick would be controlling the motor on slow speed stuff like rocks. The power for mud would be pretty impressive I think.
 
Ok, if the frame is roughly the same as a 3/4 then I think the extra weight shouldn't be a big deal. With the set up I'm planing it would only be an extra 1000-1500 (at most I hope) on the frame. I'm not worried about the overall weight at this point unless I'm going to exceed axle ratings.

This truck will not be cheap. I'm expecting it to cost as much as buying a new Tahoe. Which is fine since I plan on having it and only it for a long time. And realistically with a properly sized generator (custom built for efficiency) I'm expecting 25-30 "true" gas mpg while sustaining speed at 70 mph (and the acceleration to reach speed)

@ four by ken: Though I agree with you, I don't really want an electric car. I have always loved the blazer and I plan to drive it till the day I die. To make that possible I think I need to up the mileage. Hence I want to improve drive train efficiency by switching to electric.
 


I just noticed #8 ....Battery charging shocks :eek1:..that is some neat stuff:bow:
 
jt512 said:


I just noticed #8 ....Battery charging shocks :eek1:..that is some neat stuff:bow:
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that is pretty cool. kind of the opposite of the corvettes electronically dampened shocks. and if you think about it, shocks would always be generating when the vehicle is moving, unlike regenerative brakes, which only generate when you're stopping.
 
four_by_ken said:
And also... 7,000lbs isnt THAT heavy. I bet my Blazer on 44s and 1 tons will be nearing 7k lbs with ease. And, I would not be shocked if my old Suburban on 33s was close to 7,000lbs.
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7000 is ridiculous when talking "stock".

I know we aren't talking stock here, but something that is admittedly underpowered now, is only working harder with an additional 1500 pounds on it.

Economy and power will both go up if you reduce overall weight. While aerodynamics on these rigs is terrible, weight seems to be about an equal part of the MPG equation. Otherwise, low speed cruising would see tremendous gains in economy, which doesn't happen.
 
The original poster stated that vehicle weight was hoped to be reduced by changing the types of batteries.

I guess what I mean is that a stock-performing vehicle, regardless of propulsion, should weigh at most as much as it's gasoline powered breathren.

Increased complexity to resolve weight issues (underpowered, broken components) isn't something that should need to be dealt with. I suppose as a test bed it's fine, but I would certainly focus on reducing weight in the first place, instead of compensating for increased weight.

I like the shocks that generate electricity, that's a very clever idea. :)
 
The amount of electricity that shocks like this would generate in 1 hour would be used to propel a 6,000lb Blazer 100ft.... down hill.
 
four_by_ken said:
The amount of electricity that shocks like this would generate in 1 hour would be used to propel a 6,000lb Blazer 100ft.... down hill.
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hahahaha four by ken, you are so negative.

@dyeager yes weight is a factor, but mostly in the power needed to accelerate. At higher speeds the air drag is the killer. In the EV and hypermile worlds more care is taken to avoid drag than weight, though extra weight is to be avoided as well. And yes if the electric motor has the same continuous rating as the ICE they shuold have basically the same perfomance in the same car (note though that the ICE has higher peaks so this is not exactly correct).
 
Not meaning to be negative, just realistic. Working in the auto industry and writing my thesis on alternative energy sources for vehicles... I just know what it takes to make any kind of vehicle run on electric... its not easy. Well, propelling it is easy, but making it drivable and with any kind of range is the hard part.
 
lectric80 said:
Seriously, are you seriously asking that question. If you are running a diesel, you are probably getting around 20 MPG, so would 50 MPG save you money? If this tech can be brought to the masses for a decent price(think near the cost of a good crate engine), I could easily stand $5 or even $6 a gallon, and still drive my Blazer whenever I wanted.

While this isn't a true hybrid, it is an electric Blazer with a generator for extended range. If it could be made effective off road, it would far exceed using anything we have in our trucks today. Just an FYI, electric motors produce more torque efficiently than any other engine on the market.
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seriously, seriously, I am seriously seriously asking that question. seriously!! you are seriously up playing the milage of that set up, and seriously down playing the milage of diesel. I'd throw a diesel in it and make some bio diesel and viola, all the torque you could need!! seriously!!

I get bio diesel from my neighbor for a $1.00 a gallon, hows that for standing $5-6 gasoline?? and I didn't even need to use a 1000 pounds of batteries.. seriously!!:rolleyes:
 
It seems like a cool concept but, if you are building a rig that you plan to have for a very long time, I think all the added maintenance (electrical systems, batteries, and other added maintenance (like axle maintenance, they aren't going to like being run above maximum GVWR all the time.)) might make it not worth it in the long term. You are retrofitting a new system into an (at youngest) 20 year old vehicle that has all the aerodynamic qualities of a flying brick! I definitely think it's a cool concept, and a neat show piece, but, I don't think it's a practical vehicle to drive. Remember, if you ever intend to four wheel this vehicle that all the dust, water, and vibration is going to reek havoc on the electrical stuff and the weight issue is going to be heck to pay on the axles, frame, etc.:eek1:
 
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