Has anyone ever looked into converting a Puma to electric?

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kevinh

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I imagine this might stir up some very contrasting views, but I've vaguely been thinking about whether I might one day look to convert my Millennium to battery/motor, once I feel like taking on a project.
As I work in smart energy strategy, EVs have long been of interest, and I've consulted to a few EV (mainly charging) companies as part of my work, so I have a bias towards them. I was actually thinking my next car might be a second-hand EV, when I unexpectedly inherited the Puma. I had no intention of running a petrol vehicle again, but I've grown to like the Puma so think I may well want to hang onto it.
I'm in no hurry to do anything and would certainly not rush into this any time soon. I know a few people who have done conversions, and one that runs a business doing it for fleets, so I may reach out to them one day.
But meanwhile, I was wondering whether anybody else in the forum had ever actually looked into the practicalities specifically for a Puma and had any thoughts to share.

Anyone?
 
Can't recall anyone doing it or looking into it, but keep us updated if you do.

My thoughts if I was going to do it, would be to only put in a relatively small battery pack so as not to upset the inherant good handling the car already has. Would make it a comparitively short range vehicle but that wouldn't bother me. Batteries in the fuel tank location & maybe some in the front to keep it as it was balance wise if required. Either way I know I'd make the effort to keep the balance the same & reduce overall weight if that was possible too (y)
 
There is a company near me that specialises in converting classic cars to electric power,
https://www.electrogenic.co.uk/kits/conversion-kits/
As a classic car enthusiast, my own opinion is that its sacrilege to do such a thing to something like an E type, as it devalues the car, especially as synthetic fuels will be available in the future.

I'm old and will never own an EV, so that's why I have my opinion, but I can see the attraction for you. Apart from Puma's, I also own a Quantum 2+2 kit car and one owner has converted his to electric power, but obviously he can't travel very far, but as a local runabout I suppose it would be OK.
 
yippeekiay said:
Can't recall anyone doing it or looking into it, but keep us updated if you do.

My thoughts if I was going to do it, would be to only put in a relatively small battery pack so as not to upset the inherant good handling the car already has. Would make it a comparitively short range vehicle but that wouldn't bother me. Batteries in the fuel tank location & maybe some in the front to keep it as it was balance wise if required. Either way I know I'd make the effort to keep the balance the same & reduce overall weight if that was possible too (y)
Click to expand...
I agree that maintaining the handling is important - not much point doing it if it ruins what's best about the car.
I'm not about to jump into this any time soon, if ever. I don't have the mechanical experience or the set-up to do it myself. But my own expectation is that we'll see the capacity/weight characteristics of batteries improve substantially over the next few years, as well of course as charging availability pretty much everywhere. In which case, range will not be much of an issue and performance will be the key consideration.
Petrol availability will eventually become an issue - there won't be many filling stations when the only customers are 'classics' - though I know that's some years/decades away yet.
I think we'll see a lot of vehicle conversions in future, but mostly for the larger volume and longer life vehicles, i.e. white vans rather than most private cars, which will remain niche. Not sure what the new model Pumas are really like, but given their popularity they may become candidates in a few years time...
 
yippeekiay said:
Can't recall anyone doing it or looking into it, but keep us updated if you do.

My thoughts if I was going to do it, would be to only put in a relatively small battery pack so as not to upset the inherant good handling the car already has. Would make it a comparitively short range vehicle but that wouldn't bother me. Batteries in the fuel tank location & maybe some in the front to keep it as it was balance wise if required. Either way I know I'd make the effort to keep the balance the same & reduce overall weight if that was possible too (y)
Click to expand...
I guess it depends on the desired range but I would think the fuel tank volume plus a bit of underbonnet wouldn't be enough for a usable range.

Given that the rear seats are pretty small I'd have thought it would be sensible to lose them altogether in favour of batteries. Likewise the spare wheel.

I think with that volume added together you might get 150+ miles range but it's easier said than done to string four separate packs together. Then there's the additional stuff needed eg charger, inverter, battery controller, heater, AC compressor if required...

I wonder if another donor EV could be used to provide parts, eg a crashed Leaf or similar?

It would be an interesting project.
 
grogee said:
I guess it depends on the desired range but I would think the fuel tank volume plus a bit of underbonnet wouldn't be enough for a usable range.

Given that the rear seats are pretty small I'd have thought it would be sensible to lose them altogether in favour of batteries. Likewise the spare wheel.

I think with that volume added together you might get 150+ miles range but it's easier said than done to string four separate packs together. Then there's the additional stuff needed eg charger, inverter, battery controller, heater, AC compressor if required...

I wonder if another donor EV could be used to provide parts, eg a crashed Leaf or similar?

It would be an interesting project.
Click to expand...
That's pretty much what I was thinking, including about seats and spare.
And old Leafs are getting pretty cheap already, though I've not really explored the specs - batteries at least are a bit limited on the older ones. Or perhaps a future conversion kit for another more common model might not be too far off the mark.
By the time I get around to thinking seriously about this, I think options might be more available, better and certainly cheaper. I'm only thinking in the 'long term' as my car certainly isn't going to win any prizes for maintaining its original condition so unlike some others, I don't feel concerned about that aspect :)
 
interersting subject... saw this article the other day... we know its hugely expensive but as the pressure/ dogma mounts on many things these days guess its going to happen more... just have to hope our reasonable cost of fun wont be taken away... looking at £20k just for the Tesla kit for starters

as others are saying battery room isnt great but they seem to be improving range
 

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gingerdave said:
Don’t drive Pumas very often but I thought one of the nicest features of the car is the noise from the engine.So I think the idea is just silly.
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It certainly seems I'm in a minority by even considering electrification as potentially desirable. I'm not really surprised by that though. I might feel differently about an FRP though.
Can't say that engine noise (or any noise) has ever been a positive for me personally, but I'm clearly an outlier in this group :)
 
kevinh said:
It certainly seems I'm in a minority by even considering electrification as potentially desirable. I'm not really surprised by that though. I might feel differently about an FRP though.
Can't say that engine noise (or any noise) has ever been a positive for me personally, but I'm clearly an outlier in this group :)
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if we are going to drive a 16v then may as well rev it up :) most of the time drive mine carefully thou

not against EVs just the way like many things its being pushed like there should be no alternative.
 
Been thinking of converting daily driver Mini One to electric as the electric minis are bigger all round than mine and I dont like it. My Mini One has a shorter wheelbase than the Puma and the new Minis and corners on rails! Not so keen on the 1400 Peugeot engine in it though!
If its cheaper than the £25,000 for a new Electric Mini to convert it then I recon I would be quids in!
Would need to arrange for more solar panels as well though so saving up right now!
I have to say the gearbox note of a pulling away Puma is dead exciting so I would have a hard time parting with that and the engine characteristics in general. However, if it was the choice of electric or losing my Puma forever the electric would win as the other half of the appeal of the Puma is I think it looks ace!
 
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