Remembering the Electric Commodore

[Sprintey]

With GM being ahead of electric, then cancelling that, and much later going all-in so hard they bypassed hybrid, and now eating their hat and going back to hybrid, I thought it was time to go back to some of their pioneering electrification:

The electric VE Commodore:

https://thedriven.io/2021/11/01/the-...-ve-commodore/

https://www.carsales.com.au/editoria...-record-31483/

swappable batteries, imagine that!

And long before that, a hybrid VT:

https://www.drive.com.au/caradvice/2...ric-commodore/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFs8cZOQSvA

way cooler looking than equivalent Prius.

They were so far ahead of the game they are behind.

[Franco Cozzo]

Technically their first EV was a VN Commodore:

As told by China Car History, an engineer by the name of Yuan Jia Zhen working at Beijing Second Auto Works judged the BJ6490 a great basis for an EV because the wagon body allowed so many golf cart batteries to be stuffed inside.

The result was a car named the BJ6940D that had a range of about 100km and a top speed of 92km/h.

It was this vehicle Yuan convinced Wang to buy for 140,000 RMB (about $A30,000 today) when he heard he was considering importing an EV to research the technology.

As the China Car History story relates: “According to Mr Yuan this was therefore the first public sale of an electric vehicle in China”.

If that’s true, then there’s some added piquancy to it all considering China is now a key driver of global EV take-up, and BYD is amongst the foremost manufacturers of EVs and is considering building them in Australia.

But the story doesn’t end there as BYD acquired a second BJ6490D that was later converted to hybrid power. More modern batteries delivered this car a range of 200km, which is pretty respectable.

Yuan spotted it being used as unregistered transport within BYD’s Shenzen factory premises when he visited in 2002.

https://www.carsales.com.au/editoria...modore-124410/

BYD's EV program was inspired by a VN Commodore, thats hilarious.

[Sprintey]

Great find. They also had a ship and exported to Thailand back in the 1960s...

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

BYD's EV program was inspired by a VN Commodore, thats hilarious.

In 1942, during WW2, the British had the idea for a basic cheap "Light Fleet Carrier" that could be rushed into production. And most importantly, by forgoing speed and advanced construction, could be built by 2nd-tier civilian ship yards, using existing surplus materials and parts.

One of these was only just finished basic construction in time for the end of the war, and was left sitting. It was eventually finished off, and sold to Australia, where after many delays she entered service as HMAS Melbourne.

The Melbourne was so small that towards the end of her life, she could only carry 4 small jets, and by the end of the 70's she was unfit to operate modern aircraft. She was paid off in 1982.

The Melbourne, tiny, 40 years old, and beyond obsolete, was sold for scrap. But in a secret deal, she was purchased by the Chinese Government, who use the Melbourne to learn how to design their own aircraft carriers, and to train their pilots.