I'd be all over this if you offered a kit. As was mentioned earlier, it would be great if it was easy to swap the gas engine with and electric motor on any Mini/ Pickup/ Van/ Clubman/ etc. I'd need to do a calculation depending on weight after batteries are added but there is a motor offered at the following site: http://www.evcomponents.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MT5615

Nope.. It is a Boobie trapped 998 lol

 

 

There's a pick up in the picture ? lol

No tony, this is a "Flip Front" , BTW, that is your green 848cc powered pick up  in the pic-

BIG AL

Holy carp Al... It looks like a back to the future space ship...

Toneau (sp?) cover will do the job.

 

Don, You're the man on this one.  Since you could eventually "add a product line" by doing the Electric Motor / EV conversion, that would seem like the most economically viable/long term benefit to your business.

But, IMHO, and apparently others; you should be certain that the body shell, which will be beautiful, btw, should be left as standard as possible to ensure returning it to stock is a simple process.

One final comment.  In a pickup, you can't easily "hide" all of the EV gear and batteries.  You should buy my Aussie Clubman Van with it's massive under-the-load-floor spacing for use in an EV "test mule" mode. Once again, of course, allowing for it's rareness to be retained for eventual return to it's stock state.

Best of luck in your venture.  I think EV and Minis / LBC's just go really well together.

Best regards,

MSH

bluebox-

 

This is next, a fully functioning steel flip front-

Just to let the folks see the "A" Series 1380cc power-

BIG AL

Al's upgrading will be complete when he fits a Clubman front. Long live PACE.

Hey AL- Whats with the funny wheels and the hood scoop. Whats next?

The gearbox is a four speed. STD. box

Ok, just thought of something. If the kit bolts onto the tranny, is the tranny modified to just have a forward and reverse gear?

A four speed manual EV sounds weird.

I would go electric.  Both the VTEC and the 1380 have been done before, but an electric Mini Truck is new and exciting.  Also you’re in the position of influencing the hobby in a plethora of directions.  By fully documenting an electric conversion, you would be able to provide the necessary advice to those of us who might like to try the electric Mini route. 

 

tony/notabmw-

Does that mean when we go to the annual ST PAUL STREET car show in July, that l have to keep my mouth shut and fake it-"Yes" - "It is a 848cc A Series original engine"

OTOH, l have here a 1380cc mini pick up-People will never know, if they don't look in the box- "No"- " Just taking these junker batteries to the re-cycle yard"

Will it ever stop ?

BIG AL-

Chill Big Guy.... don't make me convert yours on you lol....

Hey I am 100% with keeping it all mini. and I am doing may darndest to keep it that way.. the only thing that will change is the power plant.   It will be more mini than the cleanest Honda conversion bar none!!!

And, if I don't like it after it is all said and done, I can revert back to original because I am keeping the original engine & box in tact.  (I purchased a used gearbox for the conversion process)

Wait and see it before you kill me over it Al.... I bet you will like it too... you know the kind of work I do, it won't be a hack job.. I promise.

Heck if you don't like it when I am done I will give you the tilt cover...  Nudge, nudge... wink wink... (that part I am kidding about)

 

Electric would be very cool but I am with Big Al on this one. Keep it A series. When I bought my truck I had the intention to drop an R1 engine into it. After some consideration I want to leave it A series. I'm sure others will agree with me that Vtec engines are meant for "run of the mill" minis for lack of a better term. Trucks are had to come by and should be kept original. Not saying you can't go all out on the 1380 

As l own a 1380 cc mini pick up truck, my vote is to keep it "A" Series powered-

notabmw/tony is well aware of my feelings on his pending conversion to electric on his pristine 848cc mini pick up-

If you want electric, buy a Pirius, if you want a vtech, buy a honda-If you want pride of ownership, keep it "A" Series-

BIG AL

Electric is the only way to go. I'm very interested in this conversion and know others are as well. You'll gain significant publicity and will probably attract a whole new group of folks to the mini family. Especially since you can connect to standard gearbox.

50% for Electric... I'd say you have your answer Don.  

BTW I am having the aluminum bits made for the first prototype now.

Be different and go the electric way ! Not that it hasn't been done before, but I'm not sure if this electric pick-up has ever hit the road, and it could surely do with less batteries :-)

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/electric.mini/