[gregstra]

I converted this 1998 Saturn SC2 to electric using the Electro-Automotive AC kit in 2009. Original battery pack PbAcid (T-1275), replaced with LiFePO4 in 2012. Even with the lighter batteries, the AC24LS/DMOC445 is inadequate for highway driving. Located in Boston area.

Drive: Azure Dynamics AC24LS with DMOC445 controller, connected to original manual transmission. I have all the DMOC files for this installation.
Batteries: 50 CALB CA 100 AH cells in series, 165 V, with copper busbars. Located in insulated/heated box in back seat area (back seat removed). I have 2 extra cells, never used.
On-board charger: Zivan NG-3 programmed for 175 V out, 220 VAC in. J1772 connector with spoofing module to allow charging by Level 2 charging stations. Homemade circuit to shut down charger when cells are full.
DC/DC: Dual Mean Well 645W power supplies (total 86 amps).
Miscellany: Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tires with plenty of tread. ZEVA Fuel Gage driver. Stock tachometer tied to Motor RPM. Ceramic heater mounted in stock heater core controlled by HVAC controls, not enough power for New England winters and the large swept windshield. VW vacuum pump for power brakes.

The batteries are 9 years old but still work well. The car is getting rusty and needs brake work. Used as a commuter until COVID.
Asking $1500. Buyer responsible for shipping or pick-up. The car is drivable and registered as an EV but not currently inspected.

 

[Kranich]

I'm looking at maybe 1000 buck to ship it to Wisconsin... but I'm interested. Please contact me. I'm new on this forum so not sure if you can PM me or how that works. Or email me at kronware at gmail and let me know what kind of range it was getting and about how many charge cycles on the batteries. Thank you!

 

[onegreenev]

That is a heavy car for the AC setup you have in the beastie. I have a similar setup in a 914 Porsche. What this setup needs is a higher amperage setup to counter the low amperage of the DMOC 455 Controller. I’d love to dump in 600 amps vs 200. It would wake up the little motor rather well and push the rpm limits into the 5000 rpm range.

 

[onegreenev]

Good price for the beastie. A good system to transplant into a VW Bug or Buggy.

 

[remy_martian]

Yes, piss on the previous builder's time and effort.

We all live for the day for someone to cannibalize our conversions.

A good system to restore.

 

[onegreenev]

Lets see. You converted it back in 2009 and found it to be inadequate for highway use. It is now been sitting and getting rusty and in nee of brakes. My comment is not to piss on anyones time and effort to convert a car but to utilize a good deal and put the components into another vehicle that is better suited for the motor/controller setup. I am fully aware of the inadequate nature of the motor/controller setup but in the day it was a pretty sweet gig. The biggest issue is the controller. The DMOC 455 is not a high amperage setup which low voltage systems need. If the controller were a DMOC 645 at 600 amps then this would be most adequate for the highway. Still no Tesla. The Saturn is a very nice looking vehicle and well suited for converting to electric. However it would benefit from a more powerful system. That is why I suggested to use it in a lighter weight vehicle. Even the Porsche 914 was marginal with the very same setup. I have one. It needs more kick in the pants. So, you are selling to someone who might actually get those components into a vehicle that would be well suited for the setup. In my opinion it would be an honor to have it put into a vehicle better suited for the setup. No disrespect but you did find out it was inadequate. Why would someone want to put an inadequate setup back on the street? Sell it to someone that can do the system justice. It is a nice system. I like it. Just a bit underpowered. I would never recommend anyone build a conversion that is only suited for the side streets of town. The other benefit of this setup is that you have all the par files for the setup. A rare find indeed. I have my files too so I can make voltage changes but the amperage is limited. I have a DMOC 645 that can do 600 amps. But I have not par file to match the controller. Bummer.

 

[remy_martian]

Fair enough. But a green-thinking someone with body repair skills and who needs a city car would be a better fit. I actually forwarded this listing to a guy who was in that category, but he's tapped for cash.

 

[gregstra]

I accept that this was not a perfect conversion, but it has suited my commuting needs for over 10 years and it was a fun project from which I learned a TON. I'm ready to let it go now. Hopefully to someone who can take it to the next level, whether it is a refresh on this conversion or taking the parts and putting them to good use in a different one.

 

[onegreenev]

I accept that this was not a perfect conversion, but it has suited my commuting needs for over 10 years and it was a fun project from which I learned a TON. I'm ready to let it go now. Hopefully to someone who can take it to the next level, whether it is a refresh on this conversion or taking the parts and putting them to good use in a different one.

Did you get another Electric Vehicle? Did you build a different one? Im working on getting a twin HPEVS AC-35 into my Bug. That will give me 167 HP and 170ft/lb torque and up to 1000 amps. 144 volts. It will be slow going because it is so damn cold right now. If I were there to get the vehicle I'd buy it and put that system in a Bug. It is well worth what you are asking. 10 Years is a good long time for a conversion. I like the Electro Auto AC kit. I'd love to try to get the Big DMOC working with the little motor or a different motor.

 

[onegreenev]

Do you have pics of your build? Is it over on EV Album?

 

[onegreenev]

Yup, found it over on EV-Album

Found your blog too.

 

[onegreenev]

Coupe de Volt. Nice

 

[gregstra]

I was young back then and thought the play on words was oh so clever. No, I haven't done any other projects. I did this conversion in a friend's garage who unfortunately passed away shortly after I finished (for unrelated reasons!). I don't really have the space to do something like that anymore. Maybe after I retire...

Looks like Kranich is going to take it off my hands and haul it to the midwest. I will be a little sad to see it go, but it's time.

 

[Kranich]

I've been commuting with the "Coupe de Volt" for 3 days now. As I write this its getting it first drink of electricity from the Chippewa river hydro dam. I couldn't be happier because it fits my needs perfectly. Greg did excellent work on the conversion and he was very generous with extra parts and documentation.

 

[MattsAwesomeStuff]

Thank you for following through with an update!

We hear so many stories, and never hear how they ended up.

$1500 was a good deal for the batteries alone, let alone all the rest of the car. I found it particularly impressive that he did all the little things to polish it up. Tach sensor, heating using the original controls, etc.

Take some video of it sometime

 

[Jnbrown3]

I converted this 1998 Saturn SC2 to electric using the Electro-Automotive AC kit in 2009. Original battery pack PbAcid (T-1275), replaced with LiFePO4 in 2012. Even with the lighter batteries, the AC24LS/DMOC445 is inadequate for highway driving. Located in Boston area.

Drive: Azure Dynamics AC24LS with DMOC445 controller, connected to original manual transmission. I have all the DMOC files for this installation.
Batteries: 50 CALB CA 100 AH cells in series, 165 V, with copper busbars. Located in insulated/heated box in back seat area (back seat removed). I have 2 extra cells, never used.
On-board charger: Zivan NG-3 programmed for 175 V out, 220 VAC in. J1772 connector with spoofing module to allow charging by Level 2 charging stations. Homemade circuit to shut down charger when cells are full.
DC/DC: Dual Mean Well 645W power supplies (total 86 amps).
Miscellany: Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tires with plenty of tread. ZEVA Fuel Gage driver. Stock tachometer tied to Motor RPM. Ceramic heater mounted in stock heater core controlled by HVAC controls, not enough power for New England winters and the large swept windshield. VW vacuum pump for power brakes.

The batteries are 9 years old but still work well. The car is getting rusty and needs brake work. Used as a commuter until COVID.
Asking $1500. Buyer responsible for shipping or pick-up. The car is drivable and registered as an EV but not currently inspected.
View attachment 125708

Hi, is this still available? Thank you

 

[naveenkshyam]

I am interested to buy! Is it still available?

 

[Kranich]

It is sold.