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Electric Vehicle Conversions
A lot of times you can find a car without a motor that is in otherwise really good shape. You can usually get these for a very low price and it eliminates the need to pull the motor.
Even if you have to pull the gasoline engine, it really isn't that complicated. You might be surprised how easy it is. Just make sure you have a helper or two and rent and engine jack. You can always sell the motor to offset some of your project expenses. In the very worst case, you can pay a mechanic to pull the engine for you. If he has any interest in the engine, you might work a trade where you let him keep it in return for pulling it.
Leave the clutch and flywheel assembly and detach the rest. That will leave you room for batteries and DC motor mounting. You can check out our other electric vehicle conversions articles for more information on installing the motor, batteries, controller and on board charger.
Also, take a look at Convert2EV. Their guide contains all the information required to fully and inexpensively convert any car to electric power at a really low cost. Plus they have great advice on finding the parts you need at the cheapest possible prices. The authors are true experts and I've learned a lot from the material they put out. In my opinion there is no better resouce available.
Even if you have to pull the gasoline engine, it really isn't that complicated. You might be surprised how easy it is. Just make sure you have a helper or two and rent and engine jack. You can always sell the motor to offset some of your project expenses. In the very worst case, you can pay a mechanic to pull the engine for you. If he has any interest in the engine, you might work a trade where you let him keep it in return for pulling it.
Leave the clutch and flywheel assembly and detach the rest. That will leave you room for batteries and DC motor mounting. You can check out our other electric vehicle conversions articles for more information on installing the motor, batteries, controller and on board charger.
Also, take a look at Convert2EV. Their guide contains all the information required to fully and inexpensively convert any car to electric power at a really low cost. Plus they have great advice on finding the parts you need at the cheapest possible prices. The authors are true experts and I've learned a lot from the material they put out. In my opinion there is no better resouce available.
This is Part 2 of our 2 part article on Electric Vehicle Conversions. For Part 1, please see Electric Car Conversions.
In part 1 we discussed the major parts required that go into the car, but what about the other necessary resources? Let's cover those now.
The first thing you will need is a car. So what's the best car for electric vehicle conversions? Actually, any car will work, but some definitely work better than others. Let's narrow it down a bit and see if we can't find the "perfect" selection.
First, we recommend using a manual transmission car. It makes the entire process a lot easier and don't worry if you can't drive a stick - you won't have to shift. Next, you have to understand that the size and weight of the vehicle are important in deterimining the top speed and the range per charge, i.e. how far you can travel before you need to re-charge the batteries.
There is a minor paradox to work out when selecting the right choice for your electric vehicle conversions. First, the lower the total weight of the finished product, the farther and faster it will ultimately go. So in general, smaller cars are better than bigger ones.
In part 1 we discussed the major parts required that go into the car, but what about the other necessary resources? Let's cover those now.
The first thing you will need is a car. So what's the best car for electric vehicle conversions? Actually, any car will work, but some definitely work better than others. Let's narrow it down a bit and see if we can't find the "perfect" selection.
First, we recommend using a manual transmission car. It makes the entire process a lot easier and don't worry if you can't drive a stick - you won't have to shift. Next, you have to understand that the size and weight of the vehicle are important in deterimining the top speed and the range per charge, i.e. how far you can travel before you need to re-charge the batteries.
There is a minor paradox to work out when selecting the right choice for your electric vehicle conversions. First, the lower the total weight of the finished product, the farther and faster it will ultimately go. So in general, smaller cars are better than bigger ones.
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At the same time, the number of batteries and motor size also impact the speed and range. Obviously, twenty batteries will take you farther than ten will. In the same way, a 13 inch motor will produce more power than a 9 inch motor. So you have to balance the size of the vehicle you choose against the necessary battery, motor and other equipment space required. In addition, you'll want some amount of cargo space.
The point is to not choose a car that is too small, but don't start out trying to convert a Lincoln Navigator either. The best candidates are a small pickup truck, or a compact car, like an Elantra or Corolla. With a small pick-up you can line up your battery bank in the bed and still have some space available for cargo.
Most people who have done electric vehicle conversions maintain their primary gas guzzler for long trips and freeway driving, so it makes sense to consider a second car for your conversion.
The point is to not choose a car that is too small, but don't start out trying to convert a Lincoln Navigator either. The best candidates are a small pickup truck, or a compact car, like an Elantra or Corolla. With a small pick-up you can line up your battery bank in the bed and still have some space available for cargo.
Most people who have done electric vehicle conversions maintain their primary gas guzzler for long trips and freeway driving, so it makes sense to consider a second car for your conversion.