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Electric Car Conversions
You really have to balance the battery capacity against the space available to hold the batteries in the car. In other words, if you need 20 batteries, you have to make sure there is room for 20 batteries. Common sense, I know, but still - you'd be surprised how many people overlook this detail.
Be careful of electric car conversion kits that are sold online. They are very expensive and no more reliable than one you make yourself for a lot less money.
You may want to check out Convert2EV for some very detailed, but easy to follow instructions on identifying the parts you need, where to find those parts and how to complete the conversion. The authors are true experts and in my opinion there is no better resouce available anywhere.
So what is the best kind of car to use for your electric car conversion? See part 2, Electric Vehicle Conversions, for that answer and more.
Be careful of electric car conversion kits that are sold online. They are very expensive and no more reliable than one you make yourself for a lot less money.
You may want to check out Convert2EV for some very detailed, but easy to follow instructions on identifying the parts you need, where to find those parts and how to complete the conversion. The authors are true experts and in my opinion there is no better resouce available anywhere.
So what is the best kind of car to use for your electric car conversion? See part 2, Electric Vehicle Conversions, for that answer and more.
Welcome to part 1 of this article on Electric Car Conversions.
Many people ask me if it is really possible to convert a car from gas to electric power, and the answer is "absolutely, yes". In fact, I could never understand why there aren't local companies offering to do these conversions for a price. I think they'd clean up, and if I ever get tired of the website thing, I might even try it.
There are several basic concepts you need to be aware of.There are several different approaches you can take to convert a car from gas to electric.
There might be mechanics around that will do it for you, but you might as well try to find a new one for the cost. You can buy a kit, which will run you between $2000 and $5000. This doesn't include the cost of batteries though, so figure on another $1000 or more for those. A far better alternative is to do it yourself using reconditioned parts you can get second hand.
You have the choice of using and AC electric motor or a DC electric motor. AC motors are lighter and produce more power. They are also much more expensive. For this reason, we opt for a used DC motor. A decent DC motor that you can get very cheap (if not free in a lot of cases), will outlast just about any car you put it in so there's no reason to spend the extra money buying a new AC motor for your electric car conversion.
Many people ask me if it is really possible to convert a car from gas to electric power, and the answer is "absolutely, yes". In fact, I could never understand why there aren't local companies offering to do these conversions for a price. I think they'd clean up, and if I ever get tired of the website thing, I might even try it.
There are several basic concepts you need to be aware of.There are several different approaches you can take to convert a car from gas to electric.
There might be mechanics around that will do it for you, but you might as well try to find a new one for the cost. You can buy a kit, which will run you between $2000 and $5000. This doesn't include the cost of batteries though, so figure on another $1000 or more for those. A far better alternative is to do it yourself using reconditioned parts you can get second hand.
You have the choice of using and AC electric motor or a DC electric motor. AC motors are lighter and produce more power. They are also much more expensive. For this reason, we opt for a used DC motor. A decent DC motor that you can get very cheap (if not free in a lot of cases), will outlast just about any car you put it in so there's no reason to spend the extra money buying a new AC motor for your electric car conversion.
Get a DC motor in the 9 to 13 inch range. These have enough power to achieve a top speed of 50 MPH. You'll also need a controller to regulate the amount of current flowing from the batteries to the motor which determines how fast you go. The controller is connected to your old gas pedal linkage for smooth control of the vehicle.
In order to charge your batteries between trips you will need an on board battery charger. That way you can simply plug it into any common AC circuit and get charged up again.
You'll need about 20 deep cycle batteries to achieve a range of 200 miles on a charge. You can also get these very cheap and often free, from the sources listed in the plans. These batteries allow you to charge more quickly and discharge further than regular car batteries normally found in your vehicle now.
They are called deep cycle because they permit and stand up to frequent draining and recharging, unlike the battery you have in your car now. You can regularly discharge a deep cycle battery down to 30% or so, but you won't want to go lower than 30% before recharing, which can easily be performed overnight no regular household current.
In order to charge your batteries between trips you will need an on board battery charger. That way you can simply plug it into any common AC circuit and get charged up again.
You'll need about 20 deep cycle batteries to achieve a range of 200 miles on a charge. You can also get these very cheap and often free, from the sources listed in the plans. These batteries allow you to charge more quickly and discharge further than regular car batteries normally found in your vehicle now.
They are called deep cycle because they permit and stand up to frequent draining and recharging, unlike the battery you have in your car now. You can regularly discharge a deep cycle battery down to 30% or so, but you won't want to go lower than 30% before recharing, which can easily be performed overnight no regular household current.
