Electric Drive Motor Retrofit

buickanddeere · Mar 5, 2019

Convert using an ordinary 25HP three phase AC motor driven from a VFD Most 1800RPM motors can take 3600RPM. . Just have high enough DC voltage to feed into the VFD .

MossRoad · Mar 5, 2019

BobRip said:
S

You got me thinking. I wonder what fork lifts do.

For steering:
There's an electronic torque sensor on the steering box. When it senses that you are applying torque (turning) to the steering wheel, it kicks on the hydraulics that push the steering rack... or something like that.

For drive:
There's a resistor bank that the foot pedal moves the tap across for various speeds. At least, that's how ours worked.

ponytug · Mar 12, 2019

FWIW: The more modern ones use switching power supplies and IGBT or MOSFETs to save battery power. That's what is in the VFD.

All the best, Peter

JD-Beach · Mar 12, 2019

I continue to dig around the internet on this subject. It's amazing how many folks are doing similar projects. Reid Allaway has a nice project going on ... look him up on YouTube ... Hefty-G tractor electric conversion, part 1 - YouTube

Also there's a site with nice projects ... "evalbum tractors and mowers"

I found some electric 4X4's at "Huntve"

I also stumbled on a Cub Cadet electric zeroturn mower on the market now ... "RZT S-Zero Electric"

A guy out in California is making electric cultivating tractors at "Solectrac"

ptsg · Mar 12, 2019

A Swiss tractor company just released their first electric tractor. A 68 HP tractor with five electric motors. Each PTO (front and rear) and axle has its own dedicated motor. The fifth motor powers the hydraulic system.

Here is a couple more details:

Fully electric Swiss tractor is now a reality - Agriland.ie

MossRoad · Mar 12, 2019

JD-Beach said:
I continue to dig around the internet on this subject. It's amazing how many folks are doing similar projects. Reid Allaway has a nice project going on ... look him up on YouTube ... Hefty-G tractor electric conversion, part 1 - YouTube

Also there's a site with nice projects ... "evalbum tractors and mowers"

I found some electric 4X4's at "Huntve"

I also stumbled on a Cub Cadet electric zeroturn mower on the market now ... "RZT S-Zero Electric"

A guy out in California is making electric cultivating tractors at "Solectrac"

Lotta good stuff there! What you waiting for? :laughing:

buickanddeere · Mar 15, 2019

ptsg said:
A Swiss tractor company just released their first electric tractor. A 68 HP tractor with five electric motors. Each PTO (front and rear) and axle has its own dedicated motor. The fifth motor powers the hydraulic system.

Here is a couple more details:

Electric tractors look good , sound good but the batteries go dead after about an hour . Then it takes half a day to charge .

Fully electric Swiss tractor is now a reality - Agriland.ie

looks good, sounds good but the batteries are dead after an hour’s use . Then it takes 1/2 a day to recharge .

JD-Beach · Apr 16, 2019

I've been in touch with a few folks in the electric vehicle (EV) industry. One fella is in Russellville, TN, just 130 miles from Tazewell, Va. His recommendation is to go with a 6 or 7 inch diameter DC motor … (funny selecting a motor based on diameter, however, that seems to be the norm in the industry). He believes that a 48 volt system would do. Larger batteries will result in greater run time. Still trying to run through the math to get a good starting point of battery size. He has done quite a few conversions. I asked him to work up a cost proposal. This should be interesting.

JD-Beach · Apr 16, 2019

Another fella in the EV industry out in California insists that a 3-phase AC motor with hi-end controls is the only way to go. He does conversions in Porsches and other nice cars. No doubt his solution would be nice. His (material only) proposal is north of 7K. This is starting to get my wife's attention.