http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/05...s-20-25-miles/

 

Here's some more:

car pooling

public transportation

telecommuting

 

I've thought about doing this wiht an older VW Beetle for my wife to drive to work (16 miles roundtrip). So as long as i knew i had a 25-30 mile range she'd be good. However, most of hte kits i've seen have tops speeds of ~40mph...that's fast enough I suppose (speed limit of 45mph) but is pretty limiting. Good for runs to the grocery store, mall etc. though too.

 

I've also heard it begining to be a trend for Hybrid owners to buy conversion kits to make them "Plug In" electric, reprogramming the gas motor to only come on to recharge the battery(s).

Consolidating trips, is one of mine.

Right now my "AWD" Rendezvous gets 27-28mpg highway, and my Venture gets right at 30mpg highway(with 160K+ miles on the clock), even with the whole family on board.(30.2 yesterday in the rain)
Most econo boxes only get less than 10 more mpg, with a less comfortable, more cramped and harsh ride.

 

Home built EV's are building steam, but the battery selection kinda stinks. If someone could offer folks some Nimh batteries maybe some of these conversions would be okay. The lead acids typically only last 500 charges. They only come with a one year warranty. You need atleast 120 volts to have acceptable speeds. It may have only cost $6000 upfront but he'll need new batteries in 20 months. 20-6 volt batteries run about $3000.

Lets run out his math, 25 miles a day times 500 days = 12500 miles.
500 days times $1.50 a charge = $750 dollars, Plus $3000 for batteries = $3750.

12500 miles divided by 20 mpg = 625 gallons, times $3.5 per gallon = $2187.5.

My math assumes he uses a trojan 6 volt T105 for $141 each plus tax times 20. Maybe theres a cheaper battery with more than 225 AH?

Even if the batteries lasted 750 cycles the gasoline motor would still be $1000 cheaper over 18750 miles.

I wonder how the van drives with all that weight. Thats 20 65 lb batteries plus all the cables. Thats 1400lbs. I am curious to how he still has an 800lb payload. Even if removing the gas engine they still not enough room for the batteries under the hood. I am assuming he could fit 4-5 up front and the rest would have to go in the rear seat area. Was that unibody designed for 1000lbs of cargo over the rear axle?
I'm not trying to dis the dude but the technologly still has a way to come and it starts with our 75 year old batteries.

 

$6000 is on the lower end of conversions. $10,000 is closer to the norm, plus the price of the donor vehicle plus you need to dispose of the old engine, and do a lot of custom fabricating or pay someone else to do it. Yes, I've seriously been thinking about it, and researching it, but part of me is waiting for battery technology to improve. I want to be able to drive on the freeway and there are a lot of hills in these parts, so performance and range are keys. I also want it to be a cool looking car. I'm seriously thinking about converting a 1st gen Camaro. (Too many projects at the moment to get serious about it.)

 

Most of the VW conversion kits cost anywhere from $3000-5000 and include brackets to mount the motor without any custom fabrication.

 

I realize that, but have you tried finding a cheap rust free VW lately? At least in these parts, folks are asking a lot for them.

 

$6k != cheap
20 mile range != practicle

Hey I can blow $6k to get an electric verison of a car they may just get me to work if I don't use the head lights turn signal brake lights or radio.

 

See them for $1,000 rust free all day long around here. Of course, any car that has been in AZ most of it's life is rust free.

You can find "project cars" with no engine/tires that are rust free for well under $1,000 ($500-700).

I calculated I can do a VW conversion that will do about 50mph and 40-50 miles for around $5-6k. Even then it's not that practical given the lifespan of the batteries available right now. What's holding us back is batteries...nothing good is available for hobbyists.

 

Agreed. Once we tackle that problem, you're going to see more and more people making conversions.

 

Wouldnt reccomend that one. All things being equal employers typically promote the workers they actually physically see.


To electric? Well I have some fears of driving an electric car personally. Since it is believed that power lines cause cancer when people live too close to them, what happens if you put a battery with more power than the average person has been directly and consistantly exposed to, directly under you for over an hour a day? I am for increased coal production for the coal burning plant up the street to run my electric to charge my car as opposed to oil. Of course as long as people understand NOW before it happens that coal prices will increase as the demand goes up. Probably meanning that your heat bill may increase because now youre competing your heating bill with the guy across the street who wants that same coal to run his car. This is the same issue with our food prices going up because people driving are forced to be your cometition by the govt regulations.

Someone else can be that gunni pig Im still trying to quit smoking. Everyone was concerned about oil so we were forced to use 10% ethanol and now they are complaining about food prices.


Lets just be honest, about the consequences (and there are consequences) of any and all alternatives and pick one.

 

-geo metro xfi. 60mpg and no $6000 conversion.

 

Priced those out lately? I remember when you couldn't give them away.

 

One is low voltage DC and the other high voltage AC. Huge difference in safety. I work on an electric railroad, and I've never heard of anyone dying of cancer caused by our power grid.

Besides, I'm fairly sure carbon monoxide is far more toxic.