EV with four wheel drive?

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JayADee

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#222568 18-Aug-2017 07:05

Can you get an EV with four wheel drive in NZ?
And how much does one of these cost to run compared to petrol?
What to watch out for when buying one?
We're going to need a new vehicle in the next couple years. I know zero about EVs.
Thanks.

MikeB4

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#1848302 18-Aug-2017 07:48

Do you use 4wd for extra grip on road or are you doing off road or towing. If off road and towing your options are very limited at this time. That will change.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

Batman

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#1848304 18-Aug-2017 07:51

Or he could be referring to a big box that carries things between school runs.

Coil

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#1848315 18-Aug-2017 08:20

P100D is "4WD" in the sense it has 2 motors. The outlander PHEV i think is 4WD too, In the higher end models AFAIK.

MikeB4

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#1848316 18-Aug-2017 08:23

Coil:
P100D is "4WD" in the sense it has 2 motors. The outlander PHEV i think is 4WD too, In the higher end models AFAIK.

I took an Outlander PHEV for a test drive, horrible build quality and just plain yuck. It rolled in corners like 90s SUV.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

davidcole

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#1848326 18-Aug-2017 08:44

Tesla X is a raised car, ie SUV. As others have said the Outlander (phev). Lexus do a hybrid SUV, but unsure if it's plugin or like a prius and the motor runs most of the time.

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GeekRay

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#1848378 18-Aug-2017 10:08

Not available in New Zealand but it's on my wishlist for some time ...

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Inphinity

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#1848513 18-Aug-2017 12:30

The Tesla X is all wheel drive, and as above the 'D' variations of the Telsa S are also.

If you're happy with a plug-in hybid, the Outlander as mentioned, also the BMW X5 xDrive40e or Merc GLE500e I believe are all wheel drive.

There really aren't huge options for AWD electric vehicles yet, sadly.

MikeAqua

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#1848572 18-Aug-2017 14:20

The high torque at low speed that an electric moor provides would be handy for off-roading. The ability to actively drive different motors at different rates also introduces some helpful possibilities

The down side is that EVs tend to have the motors mounted quite low, and this may present some issues for genuine 4WD operations like wading. You would certainly want to properly water proof everything electrical

4WDs normally have sensitive components mounted high. If you look under the bonnet, the starter motor, alternator, fuel pump, ABS controller and fuse boxes should all be mounted high.

Using my Pajero as an example, the safe wade depth is around the top of the grill which is close to 1m off the ground.

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Aredwood

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#1848764 18-Aug-2017 23:32

It is very easy to make a fully waterproof electric motor. Submersible pumps have existed for what seems like forever, Alot of which have their motors permanently underwater. Easy enough to install the control electronics up high or also waterproof them to IP68 or so. In fact, alot of electric cars have to have water cooled motors. As they have such high power densities in the motors, that air cooling will never work.

A purpose built full electric 4WD won't have things like engine air intakes or fuel tank air vents, which you must never allow water to enter. And you could design an individual motor and controller for each wheel. Or at least a system similar to Tesla. Where the are 2 motors, 1 for the front and 1 for the rear wheels. And the right electrical and controller design, also battery design. You could make a 4WD which doesn't have any single point of failure, that could disable the whole vehicle.

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#1848768 19-Aug-2017 00:24

If he's not planning on testing out electrocution by mud, then this could be what he wants?

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#1848770 19-Aug-2017 00:27

Aredwood:

It is very easy to make a fully waterproof electric motor. Submersible pumps have existed for what seems like forever, Alot of which have their motors permanently underwater. Easy enough to install the control electronics up high or also waterproof them to IP68 or so. In fact, alot of electric cars have to have water cooled motors. As they have such high power densities in the motors, that air cooling will never work.

A purpose built full electric 4WD won't have things like engine air intakes or fuel tank air vents, which you must never allow water to enter. And you could design an individual motor and controller for each wheel. Or at least a system similar to Tesla. Where the are 2 motors, 1 for the front and 1 for the rear wheels. And the right electrical and controller design, also battery design. You could make a 4WD which doesn't have any single point of failure, that could disable the whole vehicle.

I'm not sure about this IP6 stuff. Sure, it comes out of the factory IP68. Like a gas cylinder comes out safe. Or a new car passes WOF. But standards do not last forever and will need to be recertified. Which is not the point - at any moment in the car's life, IP68 could be compromised, in an infinite number of ways, rendering the occupants potential barbeque during the river crossings. As opposed to ICE risking spending its life in the museum and the occupants' ego shattered in a million pieces.

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JayADee

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#1848815 19-Aug-2017 10:37

MikeB4: Do you use 4wd for extra grip on road or are you doing off road or towing. If off road and towing your options are very limited at this time. That will change.

On the beach and carting firewood in a trailer.

Edit: Hubby and I get our own firewood as much as possible and it's off road and we find piling it in the back of the vehicle is preferable to towing a trailer but we do have a trailer and often need it so ideally we'd like to be able to use either but 4 wheel is a must for it.

From the little I've read so far EV is the most sensible next vehicle for us as we head into retirement...

mudguard

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#1848844 19-Aug-2017 14:47

JayADee:
MikeB4: Do you use 4wd for extra grip on road or are you doing off road or towing. If off road and towing your options are very limited at this time. That will change.

On the beach and carting firewood in a trailer.

Edit: Hubby and I get our own firewood as much as possible and it's off road and we find piling it in the back of the vehicle is preferable to towing a trailer but we do have a trailer and often need it so ideally we'd like to be able to use either but 4 wheel is a must for it.

From the little I've read so far EV is the most sensible next vehicle for us as we head into retirement...

What sort of range do you need?
http://www.polaris.com/en-nz/ranger-utv/ranger-ev-avalanche-gray