On 5 Jun 2016 at 0:45, Tom Mandera via EV wrote:
> The motor was ~$600, the battery and accessories another ~$800 IIRC.
> Yes, I could've just bought a new gas tractor (or just kept using the
> gas tractor I already/still have) for less.
>
Or a purpose-built electric tractor! I'm sure you wouldn't get the same
satisfaction or the learning experience you got from conversion, but with
some patience, in that price range you could get a nice used GE Elec-Trac.
For even less scratch, you could get a fixer-upper ET that you could
probably get up and running with a lot less work than conversion.
There were variations in model numbers later in production and with some of
the later manufacturers who licensed the design from GE, but basically there
were 7 models. The ER8-36 riding mower was just that and nothing else. The
E8M light duty tractor with three 12v batteries could also push a dozer
blade for moving snow. The E10M was an E8M with 6v golf car batteries and
could also handle a snow thrower (though the snow throwers that fit are
scarce). The E12 / E12M, E15, and E20 all were larger, had heavier
construction, ran on six golf car batteries, and used golf-car type
resistance speed controllers. These bigger guys accepted a wide range of
attachments including a dozer blade, snow thrower, rear-mounted rototiller,
sickle bar mower, even a hydraulic bucket. As you'd expect, some of these
goodies are hard to find now and can get a bit pricey.
These tractors all had separate motors for drive and for each mower blade.
In the last few months I've seen offers to sell ETs that vary from a pair of
large-frame models (E12 and E15) "in need of work" with a bunch of extras
for $300, to a spiffed-up ("refurbished") E10M for $675.
The most common model is probably the E15. Going price for one with mower
deck in working condition seems to be around $350-500, with nicer examples
in the $600 and up range.
The smaller machines with three 12v marine batteries (ER8-36 and E8M) will
mow around 1 to 1-1/2 acres, depending on terrain and battery condition.
The ones with 6 golf car batteries are good for 2-4 acres. GE claimed up to
5 acres, but I question that.
M-suffix machines and the little ER8-36 rider use belly-mounted mowers. The
others take front-mounted mowers.
If anyone's interested in learning more about ETs, contact me off list, and
I'll hook you up with some resources.
David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA
EVDL Administrator
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