[ausev] EV dreaming

Sun Feb 11 10:42:40 GMT 2007

What do you all know about the "wedgies" being sold on S. Lamar? I am
seriously considering getting one.

On 2/10/07, jefoy at mindspring.com <jefoy at mindspring.com> wrote:
>
> Jerry,
>
> From what I have read and my own experiance with different types of ICE
> vehicles, I would lean toward the S-10 or other small truck type
> conversions. One frequently glossed over aspect of most conversions is that
> for small cars like the Geo, Del Sol or similar, you are taking a package
> designed for a GVWR rating of ~3500 lbs and taking it right to the limit or
> beyond that with the combined weight of batteries & motor. The various
> conversion kits sell heavier springs but that doesn't address the rest of
> the package, spindles, spring attaching points, brakes, etc..
>
> A truck offers several inherent advantages:
> 1. The suspension is already designed for the load, you don't have the
> margin you had before to load 1000 lbs of firewood in the bed but you can
> still haul as many aluminum cans to the recycle center as you want to.
> 2. The cab is seperate from the bed and it is easy to put the batteries
> under the bed and not have to worry about keeping acid fumes out of the
> passenger area.
> 3. Most trucks are a body on frame design which makes it easy to remove
> the bed and fabricate battery mounts attached directly to the frame. On a
> unibody car you have to be careful what you cut and what you attach to since
> the body and floorpan are part of the structure.
>
> It is certainly possible to convert a small car and do it safely. It
> requires more work and planning to get it right but it can be done.  Newer
> vehicles have much better brakes and suspensions than they did several years
> ago when some of the first conversions were being done. I have a conversion
> project (on hold) using a 1993 Infinity as a base vehicle because the price
> was right (free), and I aquired a series wound motor and transaxle cheap so
> all have to do is match axles and fabricate the engine mount. If I was
> starting from scratch I would likely choose a truck for the reasons listed
> above.
>
> Jack Foy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> >From: jerry young <mochajiva at yahoo.com>
> >Sent: Feb 9, 2007 7:31 PM
> >To: ausev at austinev.org
> >Subject: [ausev] EV dreaming
> >
> >Hello Austin EVers,
> >I have thought about having an EV for many years and
> >it has never seemed like quite the right moment. I am
> >not sure it is now but I am itching to take a stab at
> >it. I am feeling very late to the party.
> >The main use for the vehicle would be work commuting
> >20 miles round trip to downtown Austin and in-town
> >errands. It would be nice to have a vehicle that I
> >could drive 65 mph on MoPac, but I could settle for a
> >backstreet commuter if the price was right.
> >
> >My budget is under $10,000. In saying that, I mean I
> >would like it to be a lot less than $10,000 but I
> >would figure out a way to spend even a little more if
> >I could buy a beautiful conversion outright.
> >
> >The big question is do I buy a used EV or do I convert
> >my own? I can't afford a quality conversion shop job
> >and I am leery of cheaper shops that look like they
> >are selling vehicles with batteries that could fly
> >around if there was an accident. This indicates to me
> >that they are not being as thorough in their work as I
> >would like. Maybe a person can buy one of these and
> >then upgrade it—I don't know.
> >The biggest hurdle if I try my own conversion is I
> >don't have a garage. I share a driveway where I could
> >do light work on my EV and I have a place to plug in
> >to recharge but that's it. I am thinking I might be
> >able to rent one short term or even rent one that came
> >with a person that I could pay to help me with the
> >conversion.
> >The second hurdle is that I am a bit fearful that I
> >will start on a long project and somewhere it will bog
> >down and I won't have the drive to complete it. Group
> >support could be of help in this situation. After
> >looking at various conversions on line, including some
> >of those done in Austin, I am in awe of the relentless
> >drive people have shown in making and documenting
> >their conversions.
> >The third hurdle is finding a donor vehicle. I have
> >mixed feelings about this. On the one hand I am
> >thinking along the lines of a Chevy S10 pickup because
> >EV America has had a lot of experience with them and I
> >assume all the problems of this conversion have been
> >ironed out long ago. Then there are the Geo Metro
> >conversions. I like them because they also have many
> >conversions done on them and they are cheaper to
> >convert. I am concerned though that the Geo Metro is a
> >bit dated and they may not be very sturdy cars. Also,
> >a sporty 2 seater has a huge appeal to me as an EV
> >vehicle. In particular I think it would be neat to
> >convert a Honda Del Sol. It might take a long wait for
> >a reasonably priced donor on this one however. Which
> >brings up a point, maybe it's better not to worry
> >about exactly what the donor is and just grab the
> >first $500 car that is reasonably doable. I wonder
> >what experienced EVers think on this issue?
> >Well that's my story so far.
> >Any input/comments would by greatly appreciated.
> >Jerry
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
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>
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