Why not develop an axel with an integrated motor? It’d be easily scaled to any vehicle with a solid rear axle. Fill the engine bay with batteries… It seems like an easy approach to get a widely applicable EV conversion kit. Offer a few widths and diameter axles… Is it bad to have the motor in an unsprung position?I see hub motors, so I think not. I guess air conditioning would be another thing.
I’ve seen a kit for a Range Rover that looked pretty cool.
But a generic axle swap means someone has to figure out how to adapt the suspension to the new axle. Which means custom mounts and some welding which might make the manufacturer worry about liability of the axle comes loose on the highway.
I think an eclectic motor sitting where the transmission used to be would be far easier for a DIY swap and cheaper.
I figured axles generally only vary in width and diameter. Spring perches and other suspension attachment points can be easily welded on. Basically use the stock suspension. My little Suzuki uses leaf springs, so it’d be very simple.
There would also be some issues with the wheel flange if you want it to match the other axle and the brakes if you want them to continue to work.
But I think the biggest problem would be the the manufacturer worrying about you and me welding it badly and them getting a share of the blame when it comes loose on the highway and takes out a bus full of nuns and orphans.
The downside to putting the motor where the transmission was is that all the old ICE drive train can’t handle the instant torque, or the torque in general of most EV motors. That motor would likely shred the differential and the drive shaft.
If you look into it, you’ll find that something like a Wrangler Rubicon can actually produce more torque thanks to crazy low gearing. It can only do it at speeds so low that it is only useful for off road rock crawling at a walking pace, but it does it it with drive shafts and differentials that aren’t very special and don’t explode.