--- Alan Brinkman <
[email protected]> wrote:
> Ryan,
>
> No one replied on list to your message, and I am a
> novice, but I'll take
> a stab and then see who corrects me with a better
> take.
>
> Lead acid batteries are one item I was expecting or
> hoping to decrease
> in cost to help with my project. The price of lead
> went up, and the
> retail cost of batteries went up more than the cost
> increase of the
> lead. You really have to search around for a proven
> model of lead acid
> battery that performs in EV use, deep cycle, and
> treat it well, or you
> burn up your pack and money.
>
> Lithium batteries, because of demand, short supply,
> quality issues, new
> uses from big companies taking up manufacturing
> capacity, etc. are not
> likely to drop in price as many would hope. It may
> be some time before
> production is more standardized, more quality, and
> competition drives
> prices down.
>
> The cost of high performance controllers, because of
> the intricate
> matching of parts, attention to detail, technical
> plan, and intense
> labor, is not going to decrease. Increasing input
> costs will likely
> push the prices up over time.
>
> Motors for an EV are fairly specific and not widely
> produced. The tie
> in with DC motors for forklifts and materials
> handling keeps these units
> available and reasonable. Several manufacturers
> produce quite similar
> DC motors and pricing is good. I worry that if the
> lift industry moves
> to AC motors, then DC will be hard to find, repair,
> etc... Then again,
> you will be able to find an AC setup cheaper to drop
> in your favorite
> glider.
>
> Some good news....
>
> A previously built EV is still your best value.
> Make sure the
> components are well matched, and will do the job for
> you, or that you
> can afford to make the necessary updates to get what
> you need.
>
> Flooded lead acid batteries are the best value in
> general.
>
> There is more talk around the world of companies
> producing battery
> powered vehicles, maybe in short runs at first, but
> it all helps. Maybe
> one day their parts will be available to builders.
>
> My plan is to get my EV built and running, then save
> enough $$$ at $75 a
> tank full of gas to be able to go to the top notch
> sources and get a few
> parts that need replacement and have a super
> machine.
>
> Until then, dumpsters beware.
>
> I see you are an aircraft mechanic. One of the best
> mechanics in my
> area (retired now) was an aircraft mechanic. He
> would get upset when
> someone would use the incorrect screwdriver on the
> head of a screw. You
> have a good resource in your skills and knowledge.
>
> Alan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
[email protected]
> [mailto:
[email protected]] On
> Behalf Of Ryan Stotts
> Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 5:40 PM
> To: EVDL
> Subject: [EVDL] Permanent conversion fixed costs?
>
> Will a $5,000 Zilla(AC or DC) always be $5,000? For
> example; it will
> never be $3,000?
>
>
> Will a $5,000 motor(AC or DC) always be $5,000?
>
>
> On one hand, those two items are potentially one
> time purchases. I'm
> still adjusting to the idea of spending $10k on two
> items.
>
> How about batteries? Will A123 batteries ever be
> price competitive with
> lead?
>
> The price of the pack is one thing. How about that
> pesky BMS? Will
> it ever be ~.50 cents a module?
>
> What's a good in time estimate on the BMS cost for a
> 336v pack of A123s?
>
> The high maintenance, noise, and pollution of my ICE
> vehicles really
> makes me want to convert them. But the money..
>
> Now if I won the lottery, price would be a non
> issue(of course). But
> I'm just a $20/hr part time aircraft mechanic, part
> time floor
> sweeper(someone that gets paid more then I do thinks
> it's a great idea
> to have a hangar full of $20-$25/hr aircraft
> mechanics sweep the
> floor... a LOT and often!).
>
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