Electric A2 ??

Britt said:
Hydrogen is the way forward I believe. A man in a shed beavering away will sort any problems out. Then sit back and watch the fat oil companies sweat.:)
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These people are working on it

http://www.itm-power.com/html/applied.php

But petrol and diesel are still cheaper.

Would sticking a photo-voltaic panel on the roof to supply the electricity to an electrolysis device, create worthwhile amounts of hydrogen? Just a thought for all those in sheds to ponder...

John.
 
Poor_John said:
These people are working on it

http://www.itm-power.com/html/applied.php

But petrol and diesel are still cheaper.

Would sticking a photo-voltaic panel on the roof to supply the electricity to an electrolysis device, create worthwhile amounts of hydrogen? Just a thought for all those in sheds to ponder...

John.
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John I was thinking the exact SAME thing, surely the Solar panels are now better quality with higher output, and should be able to supply the power for the Hydrogen process (during daylight anyway), or wind turbines for the recharging of the batteries.

SARGE
 
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The most efficient commericalised tech so far I've heard is the Honda home power station. It uses electricity to split natural gas into hydrogen (I know what you're thinking) to power the fuel cell. The fuel cell can then also supply the house's electricity.

Whoever invents the most efficient way to harvest hydrogen would be the future billionare. Lots of research into PV splitting water. But for places like UK, a little electricity will always be required because we don't get that much sun anyway. It is looking promising and I think water splitting into hydrogen by renewable source is the way forward. And I think all of them use platinum in one way or another, I might suggest buying platinum as investment or buy the futures contracts before the oil companies start doing so! :-D Wedding rings will become more expensive!

P.S. I'm sure the gov will find another way to tax us even if we're not driving with fossil fuel
 
Well I emailed these people and got the following reply...


Hi Sarge

The A2 although a good donor, is still very heavy, even without the engine, and the bodging required to fit in the battery pack, the motors and all the electronics, would result in a sub-optimal power pack - low power and low range

It will be better and probably cheaper for you to trade in the A2 and buy one of our vehicles.

Peter Stevens
Stevens Vehicles Ltd
ECM², Margam, Port Talbot, SA13 2EZ
Registered in England & Wales, No: 5739862
VAT Registration Number 888 5584 46
www.stevensvehicles.co.uk
 
Excellant find Cosmic, well interested, been looking at a salvage damaged A2 to see if I can experiment with all the gubbins before taking apart a running A2.


;)

SARGE
 
Interesting idea - Audi did an H2 powered A2 back in 2004.

Only issue is how to make H2 - at present it is not viable - the energy input is excessive and Solar only viable in Oz or South Left Coast of USA.

If Euro exchange rate were better then I still think the 1.2 TDI would be more efficient financially and most likely have a lower CO2 footprint than a refurbished EV in the UK. Especially if run on WVO or SVO.

Best
 
The only A2 EVs I'm aware of are

the Lekker Mobil German one which was involved in a suspicious warehouse fire shortly after completing a well-publicised 372 mile journey http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/27/dbm-energys-electric-audi-a2-completes-record-setting-372-mile/
The Italian-based one on YouTube by Audia2ev which actually chronicled the whole conversion process across at least 10 videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKwYMIIJP5E
the Bulgarian one on YouTube by A1 Limited which gives very little info https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfGAeF_aeXE

Of course not to mention the axed Mk2 A2 Concept which was unveiled at Frankfurt in 2011 but killed shortly after, which is a shame
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MDs-OCqP18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwCTU0RjLqY
 
dan_b said:
The only A2 EVs I'm aware of are

the Lekker Mobil German one which was involved in a suspicious warehouse fire shortly after completing a well-publicised 372 mile journey http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/27/dbm-energys-electric-audi-a2-completes-record-setting-372-mile/
The Italian-based one on YouTube by Audia2ev which actually chronicled the whole conversion process across at least 10 videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKwYMIIJP5E
the Bulgarian one on YouTube by A1 Limited which gives very little info https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfGAeF_aeXE

Of course not to mention the axed Mk2 A2 Concept which was unveiled at Frankfurt in 2011 but killed shortly after, which is a shame
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MDs-OCqP18
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwCTU0RjLqY
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Cheers Dan, I'm aware of the above, bar the Bulgarian effort. In particular the Italian-based A2 was compelling viewing a while back when I stumbled upon it on YouTube.

I'm still quite tempted by the DIY approach. Having said that, the work and cost involved doesn't really 'stack up', given the Nissan Leaf and others suggest EV running costs of 2p per mile. Yes, my average of 60mpg (my real world most consistent average) equates to 10p per mile or 5 times the cost. But, to achieve the savings involved with an EV I'd have to invest in one/make one myself, and then I'd have possible reliability issues and the inherent issues with range, heating, cooling etc...
 
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I don't think there's any genuine financial argument for a wholesale conversion of what starts off life as a very fuel-efficient car to an EV, but I can see if you're that way inclined it would be an immensely satisfying engineering project to achieve. Do it because you want to have a unique electric A2!

Maybe the way to do it would be to connect up with the chap in Italy who has done it already and learn from his experience in terms of what works, what didn't, and what components to use/source.
 
I do wonder also what happened to the engineering concept example that was shown at Frankfurt back in 2011? They built something for that show and it drove around under its own power...
 
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