E-Crate motors... A new source of power for us builders?

[David Hodgkins]

Admittedly, this initial offering is a bit anemic:

https://www.thedrive.com/news/37354/the-chevrolet-performance-ecrate-is-here-to-make-electric-drivetrain-swaps-easier-than-ever

I have a new Tesla and I can tell you that electric propulsion is quite exhilarating! My base model Y would give my Roadster a run for its money to 100 mph. I dare say it feels like it's quicker already.

Going forward I think it's safe to assume that more companies will jump on this new bandwagon. When do you think viable "crate" options will become commonplace? Would you consider putting one in your build?

Lets start a discussion.

:)

[Al_C]

I like the idea of electric cars and would get one when it's time to retire my current DD. I don't like the dearth of charging stations or the amount of time it takes to charge.

The concept of an E-cobra is intriguing! I'm sure there are electric builds out there, and it would be fun to build one. I'm not getting rid of my coyote-powered roadster, though! After reading this month's Car and Driver and their article on fuel cell EVs, that almost seems like a better option than batteries, at least from a refueling perspective. But, alas, there aren't any hydrogen stations around here, either.

[Dave 53]

My daily driver is an electric BMW i3. I'm building an 818S because I want the polar opposite of that car. I have a headache and need a nap after a good drive in my 818 (probably even more so in a Cobra) and that's why I love it. It's loud, it smells like a car should, it shakes and spits and sputters, every now and then there's an explosion out of the tail pipe and I smile, it's hard to talk to a passenger. Icing on the cake is setting off a car alarm. It will wear your left leg out in traffic and every now and then I miss a gear, I still haven't perfected my heel & toe down shifts and I love that challenge. It has no heater or A/C, no stereo, no power steering or brakes. It's analog. I wish there was a way to make it even harder and more challenging to drive. The kids in my neighborhood regularly come over to my garage to check on my build progress and I've taught them all to make engine noises with proper up and down shifts when they sit in the driver's seat, not even close to being able to reach the peddles. There's a reason we put playing cards in the spokes of our bikes when we were kids.

Having said that, I can't wait to see an electric Factory 5 car. Building and innovating out side the box is awesome! Thinking about what I'd think about fake side pipes...

https://youtu.be/cnS0CbyhBQA

[toadster]

AWD dual motor roadster would be terrifyingly fast :)

[David Hodgkins]

AWD dual motor roadster would be terrifyingly fast :)

Agreed! I wonder if you would need to use the Tesla running gear? Especially if you wanted to run Dual motors? Would that require a whole new front suspension?

:)

[GoDadGo]

E-Crate Motors Sound Interesting; However, I'll Stick To C-Crate Engines Instead!

https://www.chevrolet.com/performance-parts/crate-engines

All Kidding Aside, Electrics Are Here To Stay!

[Glen Davis]

Electric F9?

[dlud]

Agreed! I wonder if you would need to use the Tesla running gear? Especially if you wanted to run Dual motors? Would that require a whole new front suspension?

:)

There's a guy building a SL-C with Tesla motors. The build thread is on the gt40s.com forum. He has gone to considerable lengths to build appropriate mounts for the considerable torque he is expecting. https://www.gt40s.com/threads/bobs-ev-slc-build-log.54305/page-3#post-561746

[j33ptj]

One of the 33 trucks will be with a electric drive train (see truck forum) and there was an electric 33 HR a few years back:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpqvpqklyk0

But building the electric version would cost at least as much as a V8, if not more!!!

[PhilO]

While diy conversions will start happening as more electric vehicles get totaled and components can be had for a reasonable price, e crate won’t take off until they can offer them for less than the 40-70k they want for them now and that doesn’t include batteries!