Converting to electric

[Scout1067]

I am sure this will be a requirement at some point. Has anyone done any research into what it would take to convert a CJ to electric?

I have done a little but most of what I have found points to using forklift motors and deep cycle marine batteries and I am sure there has to be a better solution out there that can do a conversion without screwing up the balancing of the frame when you yank the engine and fuel system out.

I am doing some slow motion research on this because I can foresee a time when internal combustion engines are banned outright

 

[Patrick]

Back to this topic. I am now scratching my head and might have to eat my words. Fuel prices will soar.

 

[WHATROAD]

The current thought explored by chevy, is to build a generic evo chassis that can except multiple body applications. It will enable battery replacement (engine upgrade or change out). The concept challenge is going to be lithium reserves. A future stock commodity? If it comes down to a chassis swap it should enable our older rides to keep going. As far as off roading goes, a powerplant is a powerplant. The rest is the same old story. Even Hummers are coming back full electric. When does the cost of a thing produce a negative? That's what will be the decider. I'm in the older age group of wheelers. I think we have some time and a generation or two to hand these things down to. I'm hoping. When farm equipment goes electric, we will know our jeeps are done for as we know them

 

[TSB8C]

Crate EV Kit

Who knows what the future holds for our beloved CJ's? But I do know death is not in the cards. ICE gets banned or gas becomes $8/gallon, maybe more of us will look into an option like this to keep our toys on the road.

 

[elwood blues]

https://jalopnik.com/nasa-s-1977-paper-on-the-state-of-the-art-electric-po-1819140959

http://classiccardb.com/jeep/318197...and-drive-electric-jeep-postal-jeep-dj5e.html

So, here's some did you know... AMC built and all electric mail jeep back in the '70s. It was designated as the DJ-5E. The Jalopnik link has some good technical info. We are talking '70s technology here, so basically 9 car batteries under the hood, a rectifier system, a charging system, and a giant forklift electric motor, BUT, what you can see is that it was not only possible, it was feasible, the only downfall back then was the weight.

I know that Mini is offering electric conversions for their classic models. https://www.autoweek.com/news/green-cars/a38885502/mini-ev-conversion-oxford-factory/

There's also this place that markets to classic 4WDs https://erevon.com/electric-ev-conversion-kit-for-jeep-cj/

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Then there's this guy from the UK https://retro-electric.uk/2020/07/17/quick-spin-jeep-cj7-ev/


I've kicked around this idea too, but honestly, I don't think I've got the wallet to support an EV conversion. Currently it's not cheap to convert any vehicle to electric, the technology is out there, but the DIY kits, and universal kits are still very much so in their infancy, the companies that are selling them are start-ups that need large amounts of profit to keep them going. And then you need to think about relearning an entire new way of troubleshooting your Jeep, in it's basic form, internal combustion is air, fuel and spark, if one of those 3 aren't there, it doesn't run. Electric cars, not so much.

And even though I've been an electronics technician in the Navy for almost 24 years, that doesn't mean that I want to troubleshoot and install electronics on my car that I only have because it's fun, I like that it has an internal combustion engine, with a carburetor, and it smells funny and is temperamental when it's cold... BUT, the future is coming, weather we like it or not. I don't know.

 

[Petescj]

Heres a Scrambler thats being converted

https://www.cj-8.com/threads/giving-it-a-jolt.51195/

 

[TSB8C]

While the stock CJ with its 13 gallon tank has a Limited range, these electrified versions seem to be 30-40 miles on a charge is all. I get about 15 mpg on the highway with my fuel injected SBC in a CJ7 . And since my tank has no baffles, my in-tank pump will suck air if I drop below about 2-3 gallons left. So I run about AMC 150 miles between gas stops. Can't imagine plugging in for a few hours ever 40 miles. Technology will improve over time for sure. Until then, I'll keep watching in the future to see how it goes and what develops.

 

[elwood blues]

Heres a Scrambler thats being converted

https://www.cj-8.com/threads/giving-it-a-jolt.51195/

That's an interesting build. I had not thought about keeping the stock Transmission and Transfer Case . He literally just replaced the internal combustion engine with an electric motor... that's thought provoking.

That really got me thinking, I bet a TF999 automatic with QuadraTrac would be an even simpler swap, it's AWD and auto...

 

[Patrick]

An idling electric motor (revving at low rpm), wouldn’t that be counterproductive?

 

[TSB8C]

An idling electric motor (revving at low rpm), wouldn’t that be counterproductive?

I wouldn't think the motor controller would do that. No throttle press, no motor turning. And agreed. If you could do it, you're just wasting electric charge while not moving. And for what? As long as the vehicle is not moving, even an auto Transmission needs no fluid circulation. Of course you do need electric driven AC compressor if you have AC, electric power steering, and an electric vacuum pump for power brakes.

 

[Patrick]

You got to have ALL corners covered for a successful electric conversion. No doubt about it.

 

[Petescj]

That's an interesting build. I had not thought about keeping the stock trans and transfer case. He literally just replaced the internal combustion engine with an electric motor... that's thought provoking.

That really got me thinking, I bet a TF999 automatic with quadratrac would be an even simpler swap, it's AWD and auto...

It would have to be the GM Turbo 400 with a QuadraTrac . I dont know of any adapter available for the TF999 to QuadraTrac .

 

[CJ]

A new RSS thread that is interesting. -->> https://jeep-cj.com/community/threa...owertrain-for-heavy-duty-pickup-trucks.68961/