Strange choice of eco-car?

[freebeard]

I am concerned about this wonderful planet so my choice will seem very contradictory. A 1981 Series 3 gas guzzling Land Rover. Why?

Y knot?

The body and frame are a good start. The stock engine would probably support a eAssist altermotor making it a mild hybrid. It needs a serpentine belt setup but replaces the alternator/generator and starter.

Any unobtainium parts could be replaced with 3D printed ones. If it's good enough for Jay Leno....

Testing 21 of the Most Advanced 3D Filaments: Every Single Filament Part II

You have to move beyond PLA to get heat and gasoline (& radiation ) resistance.
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Consider stripping the paint, buffing the aluminum and then sandblasting 'reverse graffiti'-style pinstripes.

[Isaac Zachary]

I always liked the Mazda Skyactive system. It's probably a bit expensive for a diy'er. But...

The idea is to have a higher voltage (48V?) high power generator where the alternator goes that charges an ultra capacitor pack of that voltage. Then you have a DC to DC converter to convert it back down to 12V. The idea is whenever you let off the accelerator pedal it activated the generator and helps slow down the car. The energy is then used to power the 12V system without putting a constant drag on your engine. It's said to increase fuel efficiency by around 10%.

[Isaac Zachary]

Is this another one of those one time posters that come, try to make a point and then never return.

[freebeard]

The start of another great thread?

A Land Rover with an EV conversion and kids-these-days stance. Hardtop replaced with a camper shell made from Oak plywood; drop sides with bunks and Coroplast accordion tent over drop tailgate.


inhabitat.com/...designs-for-when-disaster-hits/

Pull the bottom in and you have a boat tail, pull it out and you have a stand-up shelter. Solar plus microgrid.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zachary

Being reparable is very important. However, although there are a few things I can't seem to do on my newer cars because of lack of experience or tools, it seems the most important thing is how available are parts, and if they are of a decent quality.

It doesn't do much good to have an engine that's super easy to rebuild if you can't get pistons, for an example.

Other than that, for the most part brakes are still brakes, engines are still engines, and transmissions are still transmissions. You might have to take off the intake manifolds to change the sparkplugs, but sparkplugs are still sparkplugs.

Sometimes the lack of a specific OEM part may render some adaptation unavoidable, but some classic vehicles have an impressive aftermarket support enabling owners to find either some parts closer to OEM spec or performance-oriented ones.

On older cars I do everything that's supposed to make the engine explode only to get better fuel efficiency. More ignition timing advance, leaner mixes (at part load, full load I keep at around 12:1 and don't let it ping). I've even modded the heads to get a higher compression ratio. Just don't let it ping and don't drive it like it's stolen and you'd be amazed at how much better fuel efficiency you can get with a little tuning. Of course there's always the chance of blowing your engine.

As some models, most noticeably utility vehicles, featured engines detuned in order to cope with lower-grade fuels and lube oils available when they were new, some tuning might not be so troublesome at all.

[Vwbeamer]

Sounds lovely.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

As the OP seems to enjoy a higher degree of period-accuracy, maybe some modifications suggested are not his cup of tea.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by eekowarrior

1. It is generally accepted that the carbon footprint of manufacturing a car is roughly equivalent to the CO2 emitted during it's driving lifetime.

No, that isn't generally accepted. Every study I've seen has driving the vehicle as the primary source of carbon emissions. The only "study" I've seen that had anything close to manufacturing as the primary emission source was the debunked Dust to Dust study that claimed a Jeep Wrangler was more energy efficient than a Prius by claiming a Prius only had a useful life of 109,000 miles.

This study by the Union of Concerned Scientist has manufacturing accounting for about 10% of total carbon emissions for a large gasoline powered car like an Audi A8

Originally Posted by eekowarrior

2. The CO2 emitted during manufacture is higher with all-electric/hybrids and then there are also additional toxicity concerns regarding lithium battery production.

Yes, EVs have more manufacturing emissions - which are quickly offset by the much lower emissions per mile of driving. Manufacturing is a much larger percentage of a EV's total carbon emissions but that is mostly due to the much lower emissions per mile of driving.

https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default...ull-report.pdf


I'll buy that driving an old gas-guzzler that you own free and clear is the economical choice but don't kid yourself that it is good for the environment.

You didn't bring up local emissions like HC, CO, NOx, and PM but those are also many times greater per mile for an 40 year old car than a modern car.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by JSH

You didn't bring up local emissions like HC, CO, NOx, and PM but those are also many times greater per mile for an 40 year old car than a modern car.

I'd be more concerned about HC and CO for such an ancient gasser, yet NOx could still be a matter of concern too. PM on the other hand, not so much.

[Dizono]

Originally Posted by eekowarrior

2nd but,
1. It is generally accepted that the carbon footprint of manufacturing a car is roughly equivalent to the CO2 emitted during it's driving lifetime.
2. The CO2 emitted during manufacture is higher with all-electric/hybrids and then there are also additional toxicity concerns regarding lithium battery production.

Any claims for that? Polestar recently posted this graph. And keep in mind that this is for reasonable efficient cars, not for a gas guzzler without catalytic converter and injection.

edit: can't post images any more? Because they are seen as links... Google for Polestar Lifecycle Graphy and click images...