Plug it in

After a few days trying to get the Model S high voltage system to wake up, I pull the rear covers and find that the shop that did the initial estimate taped over the battery connections and didn’t plug it in. I guess that would be the safest thing to do. It’s time I learn to drop the pack! 🙂

14 thoughts on “Plug it in

  1. Will you be able to part out much of the body and/or interior to recoup the price of needed parts?

    • I hope I can recoup some of the costs. At this time there seems to be little market for the parts with the insurance companies buying all new parts, but I expect the used Tesla parts market to get better with time.

  2. Excellent conversion project! I am an EE with mechanical experience and I understand how difficult this will be. I thought of doing an ICE to EV conversion many years ago, but never had the tools or the place to do so. yet I would love to visit and give you a hand for free (I live too far in Puerto Rico). Keep up the work and keep documenting this for others like me and even for Tesla Motors.

  3. Hmm… Unless you don’t mind digging a large hole in the middle of your garage, I guess lifting up the car minus its battery would be easier than dropping it.
    The fun part of your project has begun!

  4. Wow, wonderful project! What a dream, to have a Stretchla!
    I wish you good luck and lots of fun on the way!
    Thank you for the blog!

    Thomas from Germany

  5. Otmar, how will the Stretchla compare in gross weight to the original MS? I assume the MS must have an alogorithm to deal with changes in mass ( extra passenger and luggage load) for the braking and regen systems. Will the new vehicle be roughly the same weight?

    • I wouldn’t think Tesla changes behavior dependent on weight. Regen is limited by the battery characteristics, you can’t just increase regen because the car is carrying a heavier load. The brakes are separate and simply work like conventional brakes. Since the Strechla will be heavier braking distances will increase compared to a Model S.

    • The Stretchla will be heavier, I’m only speculating as to how much. I’m shooting for a max travel weight of 15% over the Tesla GAWRs or 23% over GVWR. Weight on the air suspension is one of my larger concerns which is why I focus on GAWR. I wish I had access to a data sheet on the front air springs and the air system in general. Lacking car scales at my shop, (I looked into getting some, but they cost a pretty penny) I may only find out the final weight once it’s running.
      ESC (Electronic Stability Control) will certainly be less than optimal due to different weights and moments of inertia, I don’t expect that the regen or braking systems will care much.

      • The new suspension should still be better than the original Vanagon version, even if it is a little overweight.

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