electric ranger

[Ranger Kip]

how many are there? how many exist today? any users have them?

 

[adsm08]

Too many, few, haven't seen one on here yet.

They were junk dude.

 

[Grey_04]

Google is your friend


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ranger_EV

 

[94 lngbd]

not only were they elcetric but they were front wheel drive,saw one in Cal. in 2001,during a road trip

 

[straycat]

I never saw one. I only know of them from some reviews I read in car magazine some years ago. The results were.....'Stay away from this vehicle'.

 

[adsm08]

The problem with them was that they were meant mostly for use as fleet vehicles that didn't ever have to leave the city they were own by and intended for use in an area where they could be plugged in at every destination. They could only go about 30 to 60 miles a day and weren't really meant for use as a personal vehicle.

 

[exbass94]

not only were they elcetric but they were front wheel drive,saw one in Cal. in 2001,during a road trip

No they're not, they were rear wheel drive.

 

[James86]

No they're not, they were rear wheel drive.

From what I recall reading, they had a pretty decent suspension setup in back because of it

 

[Ranger Kip]

I would have done a triple battery system and that would extended it by at least 40 miles, if I can get 70 miles out of an electric car, it will work for me getting around my area for chores. Especially since its a truck.

 

[LearjetMinako]

A good 60 mile range would last a week for me going to work. If I had one, I would do a lithium battery conversion. The concept was unique, but not practically for the vehicle. We're just now starting to get into the EV market with cars. Production EV trucks will take a little longer. But just owning and driving an EV Ranger has a cool factor of +10.

 

[Ranger Kip]

A good 60 mile range would last a week for me going to work. If I had one, I would do a lithium battery conversion. The concept was unique, but not practically for the vehicle. We're just now starting to get into the EV market with cars. Production EV trucks will take a little longer. But just owning and driving an EV Ranger has a cool factor of +10.

Indeed +10 , did any other companies make an electric truck?

 

[94 lngbd]

No they're not, they were rear wheel drive.

The one I saw had a beefy rear suspension because the entire underside of the bed was used to hold all the batteries & it was a FWD version & sure did look to be a factory done job. It was a strait axle in the rear like whats on the dodge mini vans

 

[exbass94]

The one I saw had a beefy rear suspension because the entire underside of the bed was used to hold all the batteries & it was a FWD version & sure did look to be a factory done job. It was a strait axle in the rear like whats on the dodge mini vans

If you click on the wiki link above you can see a picture of the rear suspension of the EV Ranger:

What you saw was probably an aftermarket conversion.

 

[straycat]

If you click on the wiki link above you can see a picture of the rear suspension of the EV Ranger:

What you saw was probably an aftermarket conversion.

Actually, this setup is from the first year (98). The next year it was changed to leaf springs because the ride was pure 100% shit.

 

[Captain Ledd]

The one I saw had a beefy rear suspension because the entire underside of the bed was used to hold all the batteries & it was a FWD version & sure did look to be a factory done job. It was a strait axle in the rear like whats on the dodge mini vans

It's called a DeDion Tube. Basically you have an independent axle differential setup as if it were conventional a-arms, but they use a tube going around it to hold the wheels in place.

Mostly it's done for less unsprung weight. As the differential and axle shafts aren't part of the axle, also the axle tube doesn't have to support the differential and the design can be opened up to further lighten it using more shapes and trusses that otherwise couldn't be used.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Dion_tube
(the second picture should look familiar)