Thread: The "New" Defender, ...Your Thoughts?

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I agree it is the future - but I think you are an optimist. For urban use, they may become generally feasible within a decade, although I think even that is optimistic. And likely to be more decades before most users can afford to replace their existing cars.

For the rest of the country? I'm afraid it is likely to be several decades, or more. Not only do we have the problems of range and recharge times, but transferring the energy consumption as liquid fuel onto the grid, even allowing for increased efficiency, will reveal that the existing infrastructure is far from able to sustain this sort of increase in intermittent high current demand, as will be needed for fast recharging.

I have wanted an electric car for probably sixty years, and although I think they are closer to practicality, I fear it will be too late for me.

(Range and recharge are not the only factors - load carrying, towing ability, ground clearance, all come into it)

John

My guess is that a new Defender will go to market with a diesel and diesel-electric hybrid choice that will over the life of the platform move to replacing the diesel option with a full electric. The platform will have to be designed now to deal with that evolution.

I just hope the new one does not have play in the drive train like the current one does as that is one thing that I hate about mine.
Chris

Thats exactly what I was going to mention. Ive seen a brilliant example somewhere of a replacable battery system. The vehicle has a receiver that can take a certain number of cells (roughly 4-6), all of a standardised form. You can fill up with as many or as few as you like.

The servo just has a 'swap & go' type battery charging rack. No new infrastructure needed.

This way you can carry spares like jerry cans.

Im sure it'd be easy enough to build in an extra battery receiver as a 'long range tank'.

The cordless powertool industry doesnt expect you to plug in your drill and sit around waiting for it to charge.

I was trying to quote ramblingboy from post #44 there

Problem with us all having electric cars is there is not enough Lithium available for us all to have electric cars we really need a new battery technology. Also how are we going to charge all these batteries? if it is by coal or oil fire power stations we as well carry on buring fossil fuels in our cars as it will be more efficient than using fossil fuels to make electricity and use that as every time you convert energy from one type to another ie coal to electricity something is lost.

Chris

Originally Posted by cafe latte

I just hope the new one does not have play in the drive train like the current one does as that is one thing that I hate about mine.
Chris

Me too Chris. It's really the one thing that bothers me.

Originally Posted by wally

Me too Chris. It's really the one thing that bothers me.

A 'pancake' brushless DC motor at each wheel would get rid of that.

A drive system involving a motor at each wheel, be it fully battery powered or diesel-electric would be phenominal in its flexibility for use as a 4wd. Imagine being able to drive each wheel independantly.

Dynamic braking would be a great substitute for an engine/exhaust brake for those long downhill runs. Charging any batteries as you roll.

Goodbye 'traditional' ETC. Also, goodbye gearbox problems, transfer case problems, centre diff, propshaft, uni joint, front&rear diff, axle shaft and drive flange problems.

The weight saving from getting rid of those components would be good for payload and towing capacity. Unless of course replacing them with batteries.