[ausev] Donated cars, was Z3 Conversion Starting

[Chris Robison]

On Wed, October 25, 2006 9:30 pm, Carey King said:

> FYI I've been trying to recontact the potential source for donated cars
> for EV conversions from the car donation program, and he sounds
> interested but claims to be too busy to think about it much. I'll keep
> politely nagging him.

Can you elaborate on your plans and reasoning for doing this?

In my opinion such a source of cars to convert is of uncertain value, for
a few reasons:

First, typically the car factors as a minor proportion of the cost of a
conversion. By saving a couple thousand on an old used car, you're making
only a small dent in the cost of a conversion, and it may be worth it to
most people to spend a little to get the car they want, instead of just
taking whatever comes their way via donation.

Second, selecting a car to convert is a process that involves examining
the structure of a particular car, looking for what advantages and
disadvantages that car might present for holding batteries, motor, etc.

Then there's the personal angle -- the car to convert needs to be in good
shape and aesthetically pleasing. It needs to be a car you *want* to drive
and "preserve" for the future with an electric powertrain.

Say we do succeed in getting a supply of donated cars to convert -- what
then? Who gets them? What do we do with them?

  --chris