Converting Petrol / Diesel G wagons to an electric / hybrid or hydrogen?

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G-Barry
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With all the talk about CO2 emitting engines, hopefully there will be companies offering conversions from diesel / petrol to a greener alternative such a hybrid / electric or hydrogen. I think there is already a company in Ireland doing this, but willing participants are thin on the ground so far. I know my road tax is now £600 for 295 G/km. In today’s Times Newspaper, there is a front page article about the U.K. Government going to start socking it to diesel and petrol users. Any thoughts? Barry

Jdring
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Location: South of Oxford, UK. 87' 230GE SWB Manual, 89' 230GE SWB Auto, 2012 G350Bluetec LWB
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Re: Converting Petrol / Diesel G wagons to an electric / ...

Converting sounds incredibly hard to me.  You might be better off to start with a donor electric vehicle and bolt on the G cabin and wheels.

To convert a G, I am thinking the weight of the batteries needed should be distributed away from the engine bay.  Maybe along the transmission tunnel and where the fuel tank goes.  Then where would the 4 wheel motors fit?  Perhaps a lift required.  Someone other than Arnie must have done it.

prwales
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Re: Converting Petrol / Diesel G wagons to an electric / ...

I asked about this for my w124 and was quoted £25-30k

G-Barry
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Re: Converting Petrol / Diesel G wagons to an electric / ...

I think the price will come down.  But for some reason, Green Technology is not cheap.  I think whenever the word Green comes up, they just add noughts to the price. 

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/used-cars/how-put-electric-car-your-d...

G-Barry
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Re: Converting Petrol / Diesel G wagons to an electric / ...
prwales
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Re: Converting Petrol / Diesel G wagons to an electric / ...

Nor is it particularly green, the minerals needed for battery production Coltan and Lithium are scarce, many are in conflict zones and in the case of Coltan some producers are in serious decline, production having fallen by over 50% since the early noughties. 

Then you have to install a charging infrastructure and generate electric, the last one impossibly difficult in some countries