Electric conversion

[nightfire]

It feels to me like lithium polymer batteries are almost on the tipping point of affordability; rumors are that some companies in China are selling at $0.50/wh (meaning 15kWh of batteries is almost affordable).

I've been doing a lot of research into it, and I think when I'm done playing with my new KZLE setup, I'm going to do an electric conversion. Some of the brushless motors I've been looking at deliver monsterous torque (150-200ftlb at 0 RPM) and with adequate cooling could easily sustain 200+hp output. Lithium polymer batteries would weigh in at 250lbs to provide 100-150km of range (all I need to get anywhere on the island of Montreal; if I need more, I'll just rent/borrow a car).

Imagine plugging in every few nights... $1 for a full charge ($3 for the same range), instead of $70 for a tank of gas (and rising). And having enough torque to rocket out of turns at low RPMs and still run 1/4 miles in a reasonable time (14-15 seconds).

Is anyone else here looking into it? It's still probably 1-2 years away for me, but I'm 95% sure I'm gonna do it. I might just hunt down a second MX-3 with a blown engine.

[tmac4t4]

i saw a nissan 240 converted to electric, looked completley stock and did the quarter mile in something like 12 seconds...its definatley the way of the future,,i just wish it could be sooner

[Mooneggs]

I remember seeing an episode of Pass Time where a little chevy truck was electric and it ran some crazy fast 1/4 mile time (I don't remember but I was impressed)

[npspears]

if you do go electric, make sure you create a worklog. Does anybody know how much power hydrogen engines put out?

[Nd4SpdSe]

There was a segment on Discovery's Daily Planet I've seen air a few times about electric cars and there was an electric Escort.

i saw a nissan 240 converted to electric, looked completley stock and did the quarter mile in something like 12 seconds...its definatley the way of the future,,i just wish it could be sooner

Of course, it's really only the drivetrain that's changed, unless it looked stock even with the hood popped, cause that wouldn't make sence at all

[nightfire]

if you do go electric, make sure you create a worklog. Does anybody know how much power hydrogen engines put out?

I would suspect hydrogen ICE engines can put out similar power levels per liter to an LPG engine, but the problem is, as always, hydrogen storage. You need massive pressures in the tank, which takes energy to compress (not to mention the inefficient creation of hydrogen through electrolysys, which is all a home user is likely to have available). It tends to leak through the walls of the tank. Even at high pressure, it's not dense enough to be compact and long range.

Then you have issues with ICE inefficiency, excess heat (meaning liquid cooling), oil lubrication, vacuum leaks, distributors & plugs, seals... in short, all the current complexities and problems with gasoline ICE engines.

Fuel cells + electric motors may be better, but hard to manufacture and expensive.

I think batteries are the short-term answer, and ultracapacitors the long-term answer, personally.

PS .. I already have a worklog and it's here: viewtopic.php?f=46&t=57968

If I do the electric conversion I'll add it there.

[fowljesse]

Yeah, electric is great... instant torque. I knew a guy who raced a Scion, or some box van like that. It had a motor on each wheel. Imagine racing someone, and beating them with out a sound.. the ultimate sleeper! Or get a Metro, and drive the rear wheels with electric, leaving the engine running the front wheels, so it sounds stock, and do 11 sec. 1/4 miles.

[tmac4t4]

There was a segment on Discovery's Daily Planet I've seen air a few times about electric cars and there was an electric Escort.

i saw a nissan 240 converted to electric, looked completley stock and did the quarter mile in something like 12 seconds...its definatley the way of the future,,i just wish it could be sooner

Of course, it's really only the drivetrain that's changed, unless it looked stock even with the hood popped, cause that wouldn't make sence at all

dont get me wrong, it looked stock,but with the hood popped it was definatley not stock, replaced the engine bay with batteries and the hatch was full of em too..with i could remember the important stuff like what kind of batteries and how many

[fowljesse]

The thing about batteries, also, is that you can place them low, and flat, and have the motors on the wheels. The car would handle waaaay better.

[nightfire]

There was a segment on Discovery's Daily Planet I've seen air a few times about electric cars and there was an electric Escort.

i saw a nissan 240 converted to electric, looked completley stock and did the quarter mile in something like 12 seconds...its definatley the way of the future,,i just wish it could be sooner

Of course, it's really only the drivetrain that's changed, unless it looked stock even with the hood popped, cause that wouldn't make sence at all

dont get me wrong, it looked stock,but with the hood popped it was definatley not stock, replaced the engine bay with batteries and the hatch was full of em too..with i could remember the important stuff like what kind of batteries and how many

My guess would be either AGM or standard lead acid, 12V, 60-100AH each.. between 10-20 of them. They're dirt cheap and can crank some serious amps, but they're heavy. I don't want to sacrifice handling, so I'll need to go lipo.

10kWh is the equivalent of maybe 10L of gas burned in a car

10kWh of lead acid = 700-1000lbs (< $2500)
10kWh of lipo = 150lbs or less (currently $5000-$15000)

[hgallegos915]

Theres a geo on youtube, they guy used a forklifts electric engine. Thats the key.

He registered it and its legal to drive, zero emissions. I think he only uses like 4 batteries. its good to get to work and back.

[robert davis]

still considering it? 6 months later...i am to.. even though gas has gone down a bunch. its not about saving money anymore. Its just about the principle of not being pwned everytime a corp. exec. wants to make more money and keeping the earth around for my kids. but i think i have figured out a way to make it unlimitited range. until i perfect it, i wont consider doing one, because im out in the country, a 100 mile charge would do me good most days.. but what about when i want to leave my county? I haven't even read where people have even thought of my idea, much less attempted it. I've talked it over with some backyard mechanic guru's and no one can find a flaw in it.

[Hoodzy]

Watch "Who Killed the Electric Car" amazing and very scary stuff.. you'll hate GM even more after that movie haha
Hydrogen sucks its not a viable means of fuel whatsoever.
Electric is definately the way to go.. of course the real way to go is public transport as LA will be completely grid locked within decades.. not including the decay of roads themselves which can't be maintained.

One huge thing to remember is electric vehicles will be useless in Canadian winter climates.

[colinsmx3]

its definatley the way of the future,,i just wish it could be sooner

Sorry but it's the way of the past.... They had them in the 20's and the 90's they died cause the world won't let it happen. LONG LIVE THE EV1!!!!

Who killed the electric car is AMAZING!!

[Nd4SpdSe]

I've had the idea for a while to do a Festiva in Electric....something small and light. Some weight reduction and maybe even make a solar pannel on the roof.