330ci EV conversion (USA)

[Gizmo]

I have been following a thread on E46Fanatics of a guy who has converted his 2001 330i coupe into a full electric car using a 2007 Lexus GS450H hybrid gearbox. It contains two electric motors and gear reduction. The output shaft is the same configuration as that used on the BMW. Total power around 200kw and instant torque.
Inverter is the original lexus unit which was reverse engineered by making new pc board to give full power from both internal motors on tap all the time. Batteries were sourced from 2 chevy volts (2 cars worth), placed in the engine bay where the engine used to be and where the fuel tank/back seat used to be.

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[KPM3_30]

This is a pretty interesting conversion and that take off looks quick!

 

[Gizmo]

Full thread here: http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1125667

 

[tmatthews94]

That's pretty cool. Quite the project

 

[Coisman]

What is the cost you think of this conversion???

...and do you think here in SA it can be done??? not that I would do it to my 325i...

 

[ecKARd]

What a great looking Miata :clapper:

 

[NtandoN]

:dropjaw: wow!

 

[msm]

What is the cost you think of this conversion???

...and do you think here in SA it can be done??? not that I would do it to my 325i...

Lexus is one of the best selling brands in the US - I'm sure used/scrap GS450h parts are readily available there. In SA, it would be impossible to find, as the GS did not sell well here.

 

[Coisman]

What is the cost you think of this conversion???

...and do you think here in SA it can be done??? not that I would do it to my 325i...

Lexus is one of the best selling brands in the US - I'm sure used/scrap GS450h parts are readily available there. In SA, it would be impossible to find, as the GS did not sell well here.

In that case, I roll of twin flex wire and a few Eveready batteries will have to do :roflol:

 

[msm]

What is the cost you think of this conversion???

...and do you think here in SA it can be done??? not that I would do it to my 325i...

Lexus is one of the best selling brands in the US - I'm sure used/scrap GS450h parts are readily available there. In SA, it would be impossible to find, as the GS did not sell well here.

In that case, I roll of twin flex wire and a few Eveready batteries will have to do :roflol:

Or ask your mother-in-law to push the car when you run out petrol... Africa's solution to the hybrid, given the way our economy is going.

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In any case, can see why the guy went this route. The 450h has amazing tractability - whilst slightly slow off the line, in gear acceleration is in M5 territory.

 

[Gizmo]

He was getting the stuff from a scrapyard as he lives in silicon valley (San José) California where hybrid and EV cars are popular. They end up in scrapyards due to accidents and you can pick up some bargains too if you know what to look for.
Sadly here in SA we don't have enough EV charge points for pure EV cars so trips are rather short and well planned. Petrol/diesel hybrid is better for SA market as filling stations are always around.
BMWSA dealers who sold i3 or i8 models had to fit EV charge points for their customers so those are available. Im sure there must be more say around Sandton or some of the high end car dealerships?

 

[moranor@axis]

from the pics it looks like the gearbox could have been adapted to bolt onto the engine I would have probably gone this route for 370kw :rollsmile:

 

[Coisman]

He was getting the stuff from a scrapyard as he lives in silicon valley (San José) California where hybrid and EV cars are popular. They end up in scrapyards due to accidents and you can pick up some bargains too if you know what to look for.
Sadly here in SA we don't have enough EV charge points for pure EV cars so trips are rather short and well planned. Petrol/diesel hybrid is better for SA market as filling stations are always around.
BMWSA dealers who sold i3 or i8 models had to fit EV charge points for their customers so those are available. Im sure there must be more say around Sandton or some of the high end car dealerships?

Look, If I worked it out correctly, then I stay 7.2kms from work, that means I need 360 20meter extension cords to charge my car at work from home.
That means at a cost of R100 each, that will set me back R36,000 just on that...never mind converting my car to electric...

I would rather, like Mo suggested, get my Mother in Law involved, and have her fly me everywhere on her broom. :mmm:

 

[cOlDFuSiOn]

This is cool raise:

On the EV Charge points, the newer building going up in Sandton should have dedicated bays which have ports.

Indeed on the i Range you need to install the correct EV port @your home for the vehicle.

 

[Gizmo]

Here's a video of it before he fitted the limited slip diff. You can see how easy it spins with that much instant torque on tap.
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[Gordvisr]

Interesting conversion, done quite good as well.