The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
- Jack Bauer
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The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
Powered by Toyota Hybrid technology featuring Hübner Synergy Drive.
I'm going to need a hacksaw
- Jack Bauer
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- Jack Bauer
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Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
Got the Lexus crossmember modified to fir the bmw mounts. Propshaft re installed and made a temporary front mount. All installed and looks great. Next up is a wheel spin with a Prius inverter.
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Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
I planning on getting GS450H transmission and your controller but I’m not sure what years but 2007 can work, is there a cut of year ?
- jnsaff
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Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
I'm also eyeing a GS450h Transmission + inverter here. The scrap yard however tells me that the inverter is from a Right Hand Steering wheel car and therefore won't be compatible.
Is there a difference for a conversion project or do they need to match with the transmission somehow?
Is there a difference for a conversion project or do they need to match with the transmission somehow?
- Kevin Sharpe
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Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
Damien is away for a few days so unless someone else can answer these questions you can expect a short delay.
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- Jack Bauer
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Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
I think they changes to a newer type of inverter in 2009. LDH/RHD should make no difference. I do have a 2013 inverter that I plan on testing.
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Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
Inverter and front mount for the GS450H gearbox fitted.
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Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
Front battery tray is in. still 160kg lighter on the front than with the V8.
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- arturk
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Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
Wow, great progress Damien!
I will be doing the same thing on my XJR in few weeks.
Are you going to put more batteries?
Front and rear to distribute the weight?
How many kWh total?
I will be doing the same thing on my XJR in few weeks.
Are you going to put more batteries?
Front and rear to distribute the weight?
How many kWh total?
1998 Jaguar XJR, GS450h drivetrain, 48kWh/96s BMW battery
- Kevin Sharpe
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Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
Another similar sized pack will be installed in the rear. After testing at ~500V a long range pack will be installed in the front/rear possibly at ~600V. The hope is that we can use this vehicle for Lexus hybrid component testing in real world scenarios such as high speed motor way cruising

~600V would also allow us to test the Tesla CCS charging at ~200kW

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- arturk
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Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
I agree that to get the beat performance specifically in the area of cruising speed and range 600V battery is the way to go.Kevin Sharpe wrote: ↑Thu Nov 28, 2019 9:16 pm
Another similar sized pack will be installed in the rear. After testing at ~500V a long range pack will be installed in the front/rear possibly at ~600V. The hope is that we can use this vehicle for Lexus hybrid component testing in real world scenarios such as high speed motor way cruising
~600V would also allow us to test the Tesla CCS charging at ~200kW![]()
However, boost converter seems interesting option for shorter range conversions and reasonable crusing speed.
Are you planning to give it a try before 600V battery is fitted?
I thought that Damien had Boost Converter almost figured out while ago.
1998 Jaguar XJR, GS450h drivetrain, 48kWh/96s BMW battery
- Kevin Sharpe
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Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
We have set ourselves two goals for the next six months, proving the Lexus platform is viable for use in long range heavy vehicles, and exhibiting the Super Yacht at the Fully Charged Live Show.
Time and resources are limited so unless the boost converter development is critical it seem unlikely it will happen before FCL.
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Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
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- arturk
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Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
Very exciting indeed!
I am thinking progress report video on SuperYacht is due very soon

1998 Jaguar XJR, GS450h drivetrain, 48kWh/96s BMW battery
- Kevin Sharpe
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Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
Hopefully videos tonight and tomorrow... in the meantime here's what happened in the workshop today

https://twitter.com/NewElectricIRL/stat ... 2394070021
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Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
I feel a little bit like I chose the wrong horse in going with the Prius.
This Lexus inverter/drivetrain is seeming like the better option, other than local availability.
This Lexus inverter/drivetrain is seeming like the better option, other than local availability.
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Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
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Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
Do not dispare. I think Prius is a great platform to gain experience. It is a rugged system. In the end you can still change inverters to get a stronger pull.MattsAwesomeStuff wrote: ↑Fri Dec 06, 2019 9:32 pm I feel a little bit like I chose the wrong horse in going with the Prius.
This Lexus inverter/drivetrain is seeming like the better option, other than local availability.
Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
I just dynoed my gs450h and thought to share the results here since no one has shared it before. it kinda pushes everything it got around 2500rpm and then dies out. can one shift the transmission to the overdrive gear from launch?
- Kevin Sharpe
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Re: The SuperYacht BMW E65 7 Series
I doubt we'll need it.. the car was very lively even with the software torque limit set to 33.3% and a 230V battery.
One thing we did notice was the difference in performance between driving in reverse (one motor) and forward (two motors). It was night and day

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