donderdag 14 januari 2016
Change of vehicle and start of electrification.
It started with a new insight: Somewhere I saw that the VW T3 type was similar to the T2 in the sense that it also has the motor compartment in the rear under the deck. That means that is has a short cabin and a long loading floor. And so it also was suitable to carry a camper part as I had planned. Furthermore the T3 is slightly larger and much stronger.
So I sold my T2, for a good price, and bought a T3, for a very decent price. (Because the T3 was a lot younger it is not a oldtimer for the Dutch tax regime - oldtimer are free of road-tax), and so has a much lower price). So, now I have to pay road-taxes, but as soon as it is an electrical vehicle, it will be on the road for free too! And during the transformation it will be off the road and thus also tax-free.
The difference in prices gave me, together with a recovering of the economy and a subsequent growth of my coaching-business, the financial room to start with the electrification of the vehicle.
First thing was to buy the necessary equipment. I found a good vendor of these, He-cars of Vincent Heijnsdijk. I bought a controlbox and other stuff, the most pricy part of it all and via Vincent I bought a second hand motor, a N50d3 30kW. This should move my bus with a sufficiënt 60 to 70 MpH...
I found a guy, Andries, that can help me with the rebuild, he is an expert in high tension electric systems and he has a garage, so all is ready now.
We will keep you updated with the process!
Greets, Frits
PS: pictures will come!
maandag 4 februari 2013
Wake up, dear follower:
At last, the first step is taken!
Economy is very low, so is my purse and so is my bank account.
But with a little luck I managed to save some euro's, that could by me an old T2.
And there was more luck: I contacted the technician of Rebbl (the company that turns old T2's over to electricity), the guy that had a T2 pick-up version that I had seen and taken its measures in order to draw my plans for the camper.
Ik asked him if he would like to help me with buying a T2 pick-up, as I have very little knowledge of the ins and outs and risks. Then he tells me he is willing to sell his pick-up, as he wants to buy a passenger bus version of the T1 (the oldest model). Wow!
As I trust this guy and had seen the bus, I was quite interested.
After seeing the bus - which he had well restored and sprayed orange and black - and hearing his price: a very moderate 5500 euro's, the deal was set.
He still did some necessary work on the motor (in fact renewing the cylinders and pistons....) he told me it was all ready. So today I went over and sold the old beast. GREAT!!!
I rented a garagebox for it, as in the Dutch climate (to much sun and draught, as you'll understand) it seems wise to put it away from brutal external forces.
It took me a few minutes, but it turned out to fit in the box, with a bare 10cm to spare at the top and a few centimeters on the sides.
So first thing to do now is sell the pick-up body, as I won't need that, it will save me a 30 cm's in width, a lot of weight and as Emiel (the vendor) says: it might bring me a 500 euro's back. Great fun!
Then I will have to wait a while again, for economy to better, or some other kind of luck.
For the next step will need some more cash: turning this tuned barrel into a smooth electric (hybrid) ecoliner. As told before I opt for in-wheel motors, in the front wheels to start with.
THat in it self is affordable, but: Batteries, still so expensive, plus a controller, to bring these electrons in a well mannered way to the engines...
Hence my advice to you: enjoy the pictures and go back to sleep. I'll wake you up again after a couple of month (wishful thinking) or years (I'm afraid).
At last, the first step is taken!
Economy is very low, so is my purse and so is my bank account.
But with a little luck I managed to save some euro's, that could by me an old T2.
And there was more luck: I contacted the technician of Rebbl (the company that turns old T2's over to electricity), the guy that had a T2 pick-up version that I had seen and taken its measures in order to draw my plans for the camper.
Ik asked him if he would like to help me with buying a T2 pick-up, as I have very little knowledge of the ins and outs and risks. Then he tells me he is willing to sell his pick-up, as he wants to buy a passenger bus version of the T1 (the oldest model). Wow!
As I trust this guy and had seen the bus, I was quite interested.
After seeing the bus - which he had well restored and sprayed orange and black - and hearing his price: a very moderate 5500 euro's, the deal was set.
He still did some necessary work on the motor (in fact renewing the cylinders and pistons....) he told me it was all ready. So today I went over and sold the old beast. GREAT!!!
I rented a garagebox for it, as in the Dutch climate (to much sun and draught, as you'll understand) it seems wise to put it away from brutal external forces.
It took me a few minutes, but it turned out to fit in the box, with a bare 10cm to spare at the top and a few centimeters on the sides.
So first thing to do now is sell the pick-up body, as I won't need that, it will save me a 30 cm's in width, a lot of weight and as Emiel (the vendor) says: it might bring me a 500 euro's back. Great fun!
Then I will have to wait a while again, for economy to better, or some other kind of luck.
For the next step will need some more cash: turning this tuned barrel into a smooth electric (hybrid) ecoliner. As told before I opt for in-wheel motors, in the front wheels to start with.
THat in it self is affordable, but: Batteries, still so expensive, plus a controller, to bring these electrons in a well mannered way to the engines...
Hence my advice to you: enjoy the pictures and go back to sleep. I'll wake you up again after a couple of month (wishful thinking) or years (I'm afraid).
donderdag 2 augustus 2012
Slow slow
The plans for the eco-camper are more and more clear.
Developments in the industry are positive: there are spectecular outlooks toward batteries that can take a car a 500mile, te be on the market by the end of next year.In general the market fot electric vehicles is developing fast.
There is one big drawback: the economy. The recession also hits the coaching business and for the near future I foresee not having enough money for a start, that is: buying me a decent T2 pickup.
We will have to wait a while...
woensdag 26 oktober 2011
A lot of news..
Much has happened since I started this blog.
We visited the camper trade fair in Düsseldorf, early september.
Lots of campers, a few interesting (mostly buses), and more special for us: Fiat Ducato and Ford Transit are available in a Chassis version: just a cabin and behind there a bare chassis. Still, I find them big (2m. high, 2m. wide), heavy and they only come complete with a fual motor. And that is not what we want!
Near Groningen was in oktober an event of the Dutch camper-club. Saw a lot of big and small campers, and did a testdrive in a Volkswagen California camper. Very smart and compact bus, we might opt for it to span the 5 year plan of the worldwonder...
More important: I visited chamaildesign in Stadskanaal, near Groningen, he builds campers from the chassis up, exactly what I want! Had a good tough talk with him about all the (im)possibilities, I am enthousiastic! I think he can make the camper-part for me.
Really exiting: Rebbl (www.rebbl.nl) turns traditional cars into electric ones. They did the job on a VW T2, the old type of VW bus. I had a testride in it, very funny, driving electrically in an oldtimer!
It works, has its limits in mileage etc. but certainly an option.
The great thing about the T2's is that they have the motor in the back and thus the cabin is very short, leaving enough room in the back for a camperunit. And they are available as pick-up, with a flat floor!
There are others doing the same trick, but mostly with new cars, but also Jan van Brecht van www.zonderbenzine.com remakes used cars and is very flexible, even willing to look at "electric wheels (inline-motors), what would give us a 4w-drive at once. Not so much that we want to drive on terrain, but slicky dirtroads could be handled that way. That would really make it a worldwonderonwheels, as I envision it!
So: many good new developments.
Apart for the money, it could become a one-year project!
I will keep you informed, you are welcome to react! Frits
PS: the basics of the idea are on: http://debomenenhetbos.nl/fjvisser/camperEnglish.htm
We visited the camper trade fair in Düsseldorf, early september.
Lots of campers, a few interesting (mostly buses), and more special for us: Fiat Ducato and Ford Transit are available in a Chassis version: just a cabin and behind there a bare chassis. Still, I find them big (2m. high, 2m. wide), heavy and they only come complete with a fual motor. And that is not what we want!
Near Groningen was in oktober an event of the Dutch camper-club. Saw a lot of big and small campers, and did a testdrive in a Volkswagen California camper. Very smart and compact bus, we might opt for it to span the 5 year plan of the worldwonder...
More important: I visited chamaildesign in Stadskanaal, near Groningen, he builds campers from the chassis up, exactly what I want! Had a good tough talk with him about all the (im)possibilities, I am enthousiastic! I think he can make the camper-part for me.
Really exiting: Rebbl (www.rebbl.nl) turns traditional cars into electric ones. They did the job on a VW T2, the old type of VW bus. I had a testride in it, very funny, driving electrically in an oldtimer!
It works, has its limits in mileage etc. but certainly an option.
The great thing about the T2's is that they have the motor in the back and thus the cabin is very short, leaving enough room in the back for a camperunit. And they are available as pick-up, with a flat floor!
There are others doing the same trick, but mostly with new cars, but also Jan van Brecht van www.zonderbenzine.com remakes used cars and is very flexible, even willing to look at "electric wheels (inline-motors), what would give us a 4w-drive at once. Not so much that we want to drive on terrain, but slicky dirtroads could be handled that way. That would really make it a worldwonderonwheels, as I envision it!
So: many good new developments.
Apart for the money, it could become a one-year project!
I will keep you informed, you are welcome to react! Frits
PS: the basics of the idea are on: http://debomenenhetbos.nl/fjvisser/camperEnglish.htm
maandag 10 oktober 2011
The worldwonder on wheels
Wait and see:
A five year plan, started spring 2011, leading towards a perfect, maximal ecologic campervan.
For a basic description please look at:
http://www.debomenenhetbos.nl/fjvisser/camperEnglish.htm
This blog is for news on the project and comments of visitors, you are welcome!
Want to follow my proceedings?
Subscribe to this blog (see below, "abonneren op berichten") or follow via "volgen" in the navigationline on the top.
You're welcome to give feedback, comments, tips!
Frits Visser
Groningen
Nederland/Netherlands
Voor Nederlandse versie zie: http://wereldwonderopwielen.blogspot.com/
A five year plan, started spring 2011, leading towards a perfect, maximal ecologic campervan.
For a basic description please look at:
http://www.debomenenhetbos.nl/fjvisser/camperEnglish.htm
This blog is for news on the project and comments of visitors, you are welcome!
Want to follow my proceedings?
Subscribe to this blog (see below, "abonneren op berichten") or follow via "volgen" in the navigationline on the top.
You're welcome to give feedback, comments, tips!
Frits Visser
Groningen
Nederland/Netherlands
Voor Nederlandse versie zie: http://wereldwonderopwielen.blogspot.com/
Abonneren op:
Posts (Atom)