Toyota Stout EV conversion for Sellar Dairy

ElectroBert in 11 minutes.
Summary of the 18 part series showing the conversion of Sellar Dairy's 1968 Toyota Stout farm utility vehicle to electric. Using a Motenergy (MarsElectric) ME1004 electric motor, Kelly KDZ-E 72801 controller (with regenerative braking) & 2x BYD 48v Flex 5kwh LFP (LiFePO4) lithium batteries. With Victron 48v Multiplus inverter/charger. See Sellardairy.com.au and Sellar Dairy video ( • Sellar Farmhouse Cream... ) for more about Sellar Farmhouse Creamery, Victoria, Australia.
Music attribution:
Mr Smith - Guitarista
Lobo Loco - Little Canyon Ride
Mr Smith - Short Burn
Lobo Loco - Path of no Return
Lobo Loco - Last Bar Guests
Special thanks to:
Adrian
Sam
Gus
Tess
Guy
Toby
Dave
Rob
The local EV conversion group
and everyone else who made this project possible.

[@speedfreak8200]

I'm an old bastard and I've always liked EV's, the motor and battery technology is rapidly evolving. Not sure why some (old people) are so negative and comparing them with ICE engines, they both have they're place. I'm too old & poor to ever own one, but I'm all for them. High from Orygun!!

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks for the support. Yes, batteries are expensive. Our next project helps overcome their significant cost by sourcing them from a wrecked EV. Totally agree they have certain use cases where they work very well.

[@phalanx3803]

i am one of the young bastards i dont mind EV stuff tools and runabout's are where they work great. the problem is the govement think everything should be an EV now. we have a JD9400 that thing can put down 300kW for 10 hours straight thats roughly an 18 tonne battery worth about $880,000. also we dont have the power available to charge it at least we have power currently working at a factory getting some experience in other field before i take over the farm theres no grid connection at all not even water and its only 15 km from town the site has to truck its water in and power is provided by 3 massive generators roaring all day long.

[@unhippy1]

@@phalanx3803 I work on a Mine and for kicks and giggles to keep the hippys happy we did a work out of what it would cost to power the operation totally on electric power.....just the batterys to make all the heavy machinery electric with swap-out batterys to allow for 24/7 operation was something like 27 times the yearly gross income of the whole mine in that past year and that was at a time when prices were high....thats without the cost of converting current equipment to electric as there is no production equipment thats battery electric.....plus when asked asked about power supply the electric grid replied with a very pointed 'fuck off and stop smoking what ever it is your on'....

[@camerontrickey6057]

I knew ones like you would be out there

[@jimcabezola3051]

Mahalo for this summary! All of you folks just rocked this conversion. No faffing, no messing about, no existential angst. “Just”…two months of hard thinking and a hard slog and…YOU DID IT! The ideal farm vehicle you made yourselves! No corporation or government people ordering you about and watching every move you make. You saw a problem, and you solved it. Mahalo for capturing this process for us. I hope it leads to more people following in your footsteps! Take care and aloha!

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks heaps Jim, appreciate the support. I do hope the series helps others have a go :-)

[@speedfreak8200]

"No corporation or government people ordering you about and watching every move you make" you must be a conspiracy theoriest or something, what are you talking 👄 about, this has been going on for years, he's not building a nuclear reactor, Jim Cabob, I want summa what you're smoking, buddy ... you're a 😂 funny 😭 man 🤣 😂

[@bryandickerson5365]

That was great! Huge congrats on the successful EV project and to all the members of the organic co-op! I wish more people understood the importance of what they’re doing and how much freaking work it is! I have the worlds best farm truck. It’s a 1990 Nissan Vanette with dump bed and I dream of converting it to electric which, I believe, would make it even better in every way.

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Cool :-) Hope this project gives you an idea of what parts and sizing might be needed. Thanks for your words too. Appreciate the support.

[@alexsanderh.nakazono6715]

Congratulations on your work. Sustainability, transforming an old vehicle with modern technology using electricity that does not pollute. Gratitude!

[@shattergraveknight3378]

As a fellow jack of all trades, I gotta show my respect for the work you did on this one. That was not a small project, great job!

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks mate, really appreciate your support. I learnt a lot on this project. Can only imagine how much I will learning on the upcoming woodgas project.

[@lumberjackdreamer6267]

Perfect for farm use. Amazing torque, quiet, no fumes.

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks LumberJackDreamer. It’s been working a treat.

[@joaof1225]

Great job! You are definitely a jack of all trades.

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks mate. Having a go is the ticket. I learn so much from every project I take on. And that makes the next project possible.

[@LVRaven610]

Great work! Love to see EV technology being put to use in new and innovative ways. Also admire your fabrication skills. Cheers!

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks LVRaven! A great way to get some experience on a “simple” conversion.

[@LarsDennert]

The best EV that Toyota never built.

[@bellofbelmont]

Well done perfect example of reuse. Thanks for the vid. Subscribed and shared. ... . Jim Bell (Australia)

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks for the support mate. Great to have you along for the ride.

[@bratindustries]

great work on just getting something going to get to work! folks often fall into the chasing perfection hole with ev conversions and they never see the light of day.

[@fryersforestrd4140]

I’ve really seen this too. Lots of resources tied up for years and no complete outcome. I’m currently getting my ducks in a line for the next project so it can move quickly once I start. The local EV conversion group has been a great support to get me through. Trying to return that favour a bit for others on the group now.

[@Grant_S_M]

AMAZING that the tiny motor can pull all of that weight! Great job :)

[@fryersforestrd4140]

It’s cool hey. All about hearing. 100:1 gear reduction in 1st. Means wheel torque is 100x motor torque less driveline losses. Motor products about 90Nm. Thus 9000 Nm in 1st up until the battery currently limit kicks in which is quickly because of 160a limit we imposed. Then torque tails off as rpm increases until decreasing torque equals drive torque. Practical, little tractor. Certainly can’t go anywhere fast.

[@rushja]

This was absolutely awesome. I love that you were able to size the motor and the battery for the exact job that the truck does. Props to you for your skills and work ethic, I love it!

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks James.

[@restfulplace3273]

This makes me happy. I grew up with my dads Toyota Stout. Amazing work truck that outperforms expectations. Makes the helix seem blah by comparison:). The budget conversion js on point. Just enough engineering to be viable

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks mate. Fully agree. I was riding in a stout before I can remember. Conversions is running well 1.5 years on 👍

[@beatdownjar]

This is awesome. Really considering doin this to my Kei truck

[@marcexec]

Something to be said for a 48V system (safe voltages) in a farm setting, especially with PV all over. Fair play to you and long may it last!

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Yeah, 48v is a good standard in that way. It’s just capable of this task. 400v dc is serious stuff. 48 is what the automotive industry should standardise around in a way. 12v requires big cables and isn’t appreciably safer. But that’s another story. The Ute has been going well over the year and a half since built.

[@petedawborn]

Ingenious, persistent and very impressive head and hand skills, working it all out and then putting into action! Skills sadly not seen that much everyday in young people, but you’ve restored my faith in what’s possible with a great attitude, thanks so much for sharing! Happy milking

[@suzanmuir2623]

So very impressed Oliver with the complexity and perfection of your metal machining skills. Awesome end result and love the portable milking business too! Well done both of you!

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks very much Suzan. The dairy is great. Tess loves her job/life milking and the cows come to be milked when called by name.

[@hawaiiebikes707]

I love this! Mahalo for making this 🤙

[@NigelMarston]

Brilliant..!! Reminds me of the first vehicle I ever drove. My uncle was a milkman - he let me drive his milk float when I helped him on his round at about 12yo.

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Haha cool :-) Yeah these trucks were used as milk trucks. Episode 3 of the full series shows Mr C J Parker’s milk truck (1969 Toyota Stout). Thanks for sharing your memory.

[@adamjohnnorton]

That is awesome! LOVE your work. Nothing like good old practical ingenuity in a impractical world.

[@SeanQuinn4]

Phenomenal restoration and conversion. Cheers!

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks mate, appreciate the support.

[@gfbprojects1071]

Great job with ElectroBert. Love how you take the milking shed out to the cows rather than bring them in. 😊

[@fryersforestrd4140]

It’s been working really well. It’s the first licensed one in our state. More common in Eastern Europe. We love the system.

[@jesper1406]

​@@fryersforestrd4140 It must be a lot less stressful for the cows...

[@videogalore]

Superb, well done on the conversion and thank you for sharing too!

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks for your support 😁

[@troydalby8935]

Just doing some EV training for our techs . Love your simple work on this . 👌

[@westincello]

Absolutely awesome conversion project! Glad to see an old truck get a new life with electric technology.

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks mate, appreciate the support. More to come!

[@Userplane]

This is one of the coolest conversions I’ve seen

[@greatdane3343]

Great job and application 👍

[@mattsimon931]

Forgot to add in Restoration to the title of this, looks great, well done.

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Haha, it was a running joke in the full series. I was trying to avoid a restoration. Lol. Repair was what I was going for but yeah, it ended up a bit of a resto didn’t it.

[@craftedbyalvint]

Love the pace of the video and editing

[@UnholySeoul]

Thoroughly enjoyed the video. Great amount of know-how and ingenuity, keep it up!

[@BenMitro]

Nicely done people!

[@gamertherapyconsoleyoursel5804]

This was really cool to see!

[@MartinBettler]

Great job!

[@paultheprofit]

Great work...love it 🎉

[@roberthocking9138]

Nice work 👍

[@zenclimber]

Love it!!!

[@robertocruz8028]

Completamente impresionado con ese trabajo , felicitaciones por tu esfuerzo en demostrar que si es posible un proyecto como ese 🎉 saludes desde Centro America

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Muchas Gracias. Tienes muchas Toyota Stout en America Central? Disculpe, mi espanol no es muy bueno.

[@robertocruz8028]

@@fryersforestrd4140 There are not many in the present and those that are are worth gold

[@megulman]

Hooray for ElectroBert!!

[@peteromara4794]

Just love it Oliver. You bloody genius! x

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks Pete, appreciate your words. Means a lot coming from you :-)

[@ladislavboxan1121]

nice job!

[@Limestone_Permaculture]

Absolutely incredible & gobsmacked by your ingenuity Oliver!

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks Brett 🙏 Glad you enjoyed the series. The scope of the upcoming woodgas project is so much bigger. I’ll be doing it step by step. Not certain yet but likely electrification of the truck first.

[@Limestone_Permaculture]

@@fryersforestrd4140 Looking forward to that mate!

[@like.butter]

Very cool! 💪🏻

[@aorloff]

Obtainium Engineer indeed !

[@anthonyrosa4388]

love it

[@jimnattress4036]

Great work

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks mate.

[@Lobo_Loco]

Great to see the result at the end. A wonderful mobile cow milking station💚

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks so much for your awesome tracks! Also, I must ask if you have any suggestions what I do about Google thinking the music is not yours. I’m going to follow it up with them but the “content ID” system claims the music is someone else’s. They don’t seem to have a way to dispute this. I can dispute the claim but it gets sent to the supposed owner of the music. And they don’t offer customer service it appears for small KZbin accounts. I’ll keep investigating. And thanks again for making your music available.

[@Lobo_Loco]

Thank you for your information ... Now, I reported it to KZbin, the false copyright claim should disappear soon. :)

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Amazing! Double thankyou :-) Please do let me know if there is anything I can do better to credit you too. 🎼⚡️

[@chris_camo]

Very cool mate. I have 3 stouts! Maybe I'll do this to one of them one day.

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks Chris. What models have you got? Are you also in Victoria?

[@XavierArte]

Well done Olivier. Great and inventive job. Say hello to David🙏

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks Xavier :-) I’ll pass on your greetings.

[@chetmyers7041]

Great channel. Greetings from South-Eastern USA. Love the music selections and editing. You explain things but do not yak for hours.

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks mate, appreciate your words 👍

[@outlawMrTuff]

cool Yota.. mine is a 66 and it is rowdy.. it's my first vehicle. iv had it 27 years.. was my Grandads before that.. he was a WWII UDT ...

[@jesper1406]

Great video. I subbed, and I'm bringing a greeting from my trimmer. It's just ACHING to meet your beard... 😂

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Haha thanks for the support mate. I could do with a trim before I get it stuck in something.

[@frankcoffey]

Fantastic, love this.

[@WentzCraft]

So awesome

[@user-jl3zi7gh8l]

Good job very talented .?. Godbless for doing a ev car lessen gaßes

[@gabrielrodriguez6026]

Is amazing. Good job man.

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks :-)

[@abhu1420]

ماشاءالله عليه مبدع 👍🏼👌🏼

[@nathanashburner5429]

Great ute

[@Jagermonsta]

wait not even 500 subs? this clip alone was worth a sub

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks Beardy! Did you hear that everyone :-)

[@TradieTrev]

Nice old ute and conversion, I'll be keen to see your next project! Being a tech bloke have you seen the LoRaWAN cattle collars? Could be a nice addition to the milking station.

[@fryersforestrd4140]

I’ll have to look into it. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@ericolivomartinez3674]

camioneta toyota stout 2000.lo mejor este señor si es un mecánico completo yo pensaba que éramos muy poco ami me gusta luchar con estos coches viejo la mecánica ha sido mi vida estudie mecánica con lanational schools society en mi país españa

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Muchas Gracias. Esto trabajo es mi escuela di mecanico. Perdona por mi espanol. Hablo in porquito.

[@antronx7]

Great job! How many amps does it use when pulling max load? For bonus points put solar panels on the milking parlor or the truck attachment.

[@fryersforestrd4140]

On the motor side, the controller is reliving 800A. But it’s limited to “20% battery current”. Practically what this means is that the motor amps are constant at 800A (and thus constant torque) as rpm rises until battery current of 200A is reached. From this point the motor amps decline (and so does torque) As rpm increases and battery amps are constant until the decreasing torque and increasing rpm reach a steady state. Practically this means that the vehicle had great off the line performance but doesn’t tend to push the motor at 800A for long. Unless the user leaves the vehicle in a high gear and struggles up a hill at low rpm. That is a risk. I’ve trained the dairy staff to keep the motor running at higher rpm. Thus keeping motor amps down from peak. As for panels on the roof of the dairy truck, we did consider this. I liked the idea but it’s actually better I think to have the panels on the roof of the main shed and keep the dairy truck without panels. The reasons that Pushed me in this direction are: A - the truck gets used primarily in the early morning and is often partial shaded from what little sun might hit it. Orientation to the sun is seldom good. B - the roof gets knocked by branches and the like that could damage panels C - the cost per watt installed in the large grid connect system on the roof of the dairy is really good. D - And we use the roof of the slip-on as a mobile work platform a LOT! It’s an unexpected utility of the vehicle that’s actually super valuable. We’ve used it for building sheds and structures on the farm a lot. So our solar is all in one on the big shed roof.

[@shadowgattler]

How do you hook up things like the head lights and radio?

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Hey Jack, there is a DC-DC converter from the HV (48v) to 12. So that acts as the 12v power source for headlights etc. I’ve changed the key wiring to be a dedicated “enable” signal for the DC-DC. Checkout the full conversion series for details :-)

[@discoverymoi]

the welding jobs was as stunning to me. Now how does it handle the heat since I see you didn’t put any type of cooling system.?

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Good question. Sorry I didn’t manage to document the addition of a temperature controller fan in a cowling that comes on(currently) at 42c motor shell temp. I repurposed a Stout heater core fan. It’s triggered by the Venus GX. Seems to manage pulling the big trailer up pretty steep hills on a 40C day. But I am thinking of dropping motor amps back down a bit from 800.

[@shawncell1247]

would love to see it long term condition

[@fryersforestrd4140]

I’ll do an update after a year and then 5 years. So far we had a new automotive relay fail and the brake master is leaking. I used a reconditioned master I had on hand. Other than that it’s been running well now for about 6 months. There was a slight repetitive noise coming from what I think is the jack shaft we build that carried the chain gear reduction large gear despite our efforts to get alignment just right. If anything is going to fail I think that is a likely part. Definitely think I will be shy of Toyota reliability. But it’s bloody amazing not feathering a clutch and having tons of torque.

[@johnussss]

How cool, friends of ours in the early seventies used these utes as milk trucks, they didn't service them and when they were worn they bought new ones, they were successful and wanted the tax write off.

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Was that in Australia? I think they were a pretty basic and solid unit. They were used in mining for similar reasons I believe.

[@johnussss]

Yeah, Lower Blue Mountains NSW @@fryersforestrd4140

[@carholic-sz3qv]

Hi! Nive conversion ! How old is that white vehicle!? Is it a toyota hiace? Thanks

[@fryersforestrd4140]

The truck is a 1974 Toyota Dyna. It’s got the same motor as the Stout. Doesn’t go anywhere fast but with patience it does the job. But it will be the star of the next project.

[@carholic-sz3qv]

@@fryersforestrd4140 cool mate!

[@ReodorF1]

Cool what engine was it in the toyota you took out? 5R engine?

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Yes, it was the gear driven 5R with square aluminum rocker cover. See episode 1 of the full series of me pulling it out :-)

[@robertlewis7237]

THANK YOU FOR VIDEO GREAT SEE AUSTRALIA IN WAY THAT WORK RIGHT. LIKE WAS COST POWER UP TOYOTA STOUT GO EV POWER

[@JohnEl]

Hi! Why subtitles are not awailable? Are u from Australia? In our country only military vehicle have black license plate

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Yes, I live in Australia. The number plate was from a previous owner. Here civilians can have black plates. I’ve never had it registered personally. Hopefully one day the previous owner sees it. Where are you from?

[@JohnEl]

@@fryersforestrd4140 Ukraine

[@user-bp7qt9bd2z]

Impressive Oliver. I'm a bit biased as you know & nothing beats healthy 5R........that however is a completely different story. One question, vacuum for the brakes......assuming it is headed for the street?

[@fryersforestrd4140]

I love the ol 5R engine. A rock solid engine. I’ve got a few still doing active duty for me. Two in registered Stouts and Dynas. No point saying you’ll change the motor once it dies haha. You’ll die first. The farm Ute turned out the brakes worked sufficiently without a vac booster but for the street you need an electric vac pump to create the vac for the booster. You are onto it 👍

[@user-bp7qt9bd2z]

@@fryersforestrd4140 Yep...or the alternator from a diesel but you will need to plumb in an oil supply & return to the sump.

[@GBCobber]

Looks great, but that motor controller has cooling fins for a reason.

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Thanks Bay. Are you concerned that it will overheat? Note the full aluminum base of the motor controller is connected to an even bigger aluminum heat sink of the inverter box (repurposed sma sunny boy) with thermal compound on the interface. I did consider putting a fan on the sma heatsink but it never even gets warm to touch. The motor on the other hand most definitely does get hot.

[@GBCobber]

@@fryersforestrd4140 Possibly. I don't know the ratings but it would produce considerable heat at high loads. The cooler the better in any case. Ideally it should and easily could have clean airflow around it.

[@GBCobber]

I didn't realize you had it thermal pasted to a bigger heat sink, but still its base isn't the hot part and might not transfer well. Maybe. :)

[@GBCobber]

Had another look and see what you mean. I think it's ok. sorry to bother you. :)

[@WahteverYouWant]

What is the kachunk kachunk machine?

[@fryersforestrd4140]

That’s the vacuum pump that runs off the victron inverter. The vacuum pump has on it a pulsator that provides a pulsating vacuum to the milking cups and a continuous vacuum. The milking cups use the pulsating vacuum to squeeze the milk out and then the constant vacuum to pull it through to the milking bucket.

[@WahteverYouWant]

@@fryersforestrd4140 kew

[@Unc_Talks]

No emissions seems smart for an organic operation..

[@murmaider2]

Only if you ignore all the emissions and 3rd world slave labor that goes into this stuff

[@gregj3515]

i'm surprised the toyota metal has lasted that long....

[@fryersforestrd4140]

The early Stouts seem to have very good paint and metal. Multiple coats that are very robust. It seems by the late 70’s they had moved to a single coat primer/ top coat. They seem to last remarkably well. There are of course weaknesses and the bulkhead below the windscreen seems prone to rust. But this is a design flaw. My fathers 1972 Stout already had rust on this spot in 1982 when he did a massive 400 hour overhaul on it. I think the last 60’s was the height of Toyota build quality.

[@unhippy1]

There is no way that 'dairy farm' is anything more than a hobby operation if they are using a truck mounted milking pump.

[@fryersforestrd4140]

For most dairy farmers, there is no way you could make a living from 10 milking cows milked with a single set of cups off a single vacuum pump. So I understand where coming from. But it is NOT a hobby operation and there are some things that are very different in this business. It sells direct to customers in the local town through a community supported agriculture model. I understand that the model is very different from the huge scale that dairies have had to get to for financial viability under pressure of falling milk prices.

[@jackbauer2698]

It's no longer a Toyota it's now a... ToVolta

[@oscarwolf6280]

To much weight of the car bodies

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Not quite sure what your question is. The weight of the Stout is around 1270kg without a tray. Tray weights vary depending on construction. Bert weights about 1900kg with the slip-op mounted.

[@geirmyrvagnes8718]

Good thing he removed that big lump of cast iron up front, then. 😅

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

Back in the early 1970's our neighbor bought one, it was red and it was a 1967, Such a shame you guys ruined this one. Would have been nice if it could have been restored back to original as there are so few of these left.

[@fryersforestrd4140]

Now, when you say ruined, let me remind you we saved it from rusting which is what kills stouts. I have a grave yard of 7 stouts rusting away and this is a practical use, not a hobby. There aren’t enough people to fix all the old rusting stouts. See episode three of the full series about mr C J Parker’s milk truck. Sellar dairy paid us for a practical farm ute conversion. But it sounds like you should restore one to “save it”.

[@murmaider2]

Like not only do I have to see the soulless abominations that are modern EVs, but now people are also taking some of the last good looking vehicles and butchering them too

[@fryersforestrd4140]

What’s your preference? What would you do?

[@armelitolfd7594]

🥲🥲wonderful I have a lot of questions to ask you

[@fryersforestrd4140]

You are welcome to checkout the in depth series we’ve posted on the conversion too. That might answer some questions. Feel free to ask anything failing that :-)