Does anyone know someone who's done this / done it themselves?

My '89 defender has just decided it doesn't need a big any more so I'm in need of a new engine, but rather than just plonking in a replacement, its got me thinking about converting it.
The truck only does about 20 miles a day round the farm and to town and back, so pretty ideal I think.

I've done some google'ing but not found anything landy specific

One of the comics featured a Series 1 , IIRC in Marthas Vinyard USA that had been converted - I'll see if I can dig it out, - alas most old milk floats have been weighed in by now!

The costs would be a bit mental, unless you have a ready supply of old milk float/forklift batteries. How about a lovely V8 with a gas conversion?

I converted a motor boat and a 10 kW motor, controls, made to measure mounting brackets, cabling and some specialist boat bits, Which replaced knackered a 35 hp diesel, cost about £7000 excluding batteries. Through luck by the batteries being available and knowing the right person I got a £3000 half used battery set for the scrap price of £250.
If you are going to buy new bits then the most likely place to get them is
http://www.everything-ev.com

I'd say go for it! It will certainly be an interesting finished vehicle. When Land Rover made a bunch of electric defenders as tech demonstrators, they did away with the gearbox and coupled the traction motor directly to the transfer box. This keeps the high and low-range and diff lock which will be useful for mixed usage. There's loads of space under the bonnet for batteries, and the fuel tank space can be used as well.

If you've got power steering you'll need a way to drive that electrically, as well as provide vacuum boost for the brakes. The latter can be solved by a suitable electric vacuum pump. The rest of the original 12v system can be powered through a DC/DC converter. Some form of battery gauge would be useful, ideally converting the existing fuel gauge.

A milk float as a donor vehicle would be a good start. Not sure what the power output of the electric motor would be though. Generally you can get away with a lower peak power compared to petrol/diesel as the power band of an electric motor is very wide.

Definitely do your research before you start!

Seen this?

There was an electric freelander about not long ago in their section, might be worth asking in there

philsefo said:

Seen this?

Click to expand...

As philsefo said the LR experiance guys have some up and and running no doubt they would happy to give you a few pointers. Seemed like really nice guys when visited a few years back.