[Ruckeriii]

I just want to avoid paying for gas. This project will probably be painful, my wife HATES me doing anything that might cost money and has no problem telling me.

Here are the answers to the questions that it suggested I give you information on? I do have a few very basic questions of my own. How much will I need to spend on batteries roughly to convert a car? And how much is a good motor in the 10 inch range new?

Thanks for your help.
Mason

Your skill level with auto mechanics and fabrication? If I need to do something. I WILL get it done. A degree in electronics, experience soldering, fabricating, and have no trouble pointing to my car and putting it back on right. I recently designed and built my own solar water heating system, including solar panels.

The range you are hoping to get? (how many miles/charge) . I need to go at least 100 miles per charge to get to work and back with some leeway to spare.

What level of performance you are hoping to get? Freeway speeds.

How much money you are willing to put into your project? I have about a $3000 budget.

What parts you've already considered, if any? I've thought about using a tow motor engine for the motor and would like to know how much different batteries might cost me.

 

[Yabert]

Hi

A tipical car need 200-300 Wh per miles to be move (depending of car and speed).

The only type of batterie able to give 100 miles range to a car, Li-ion (LifePo4), cost around 0.40$ per Wh.
Some math give: 200 x 0.4 = 80$ x 100 miles = 8000$ only for batteries and it's conservative!

Some people do a small range conversion for 1000$ with old forklift component and cheap batteries.

 

[Ruckeriii]

Some people do a small range conversion for 1000$ with old forklift component and cheap batteries.

My wife would KILL me! I need to fine an alternitive. Can't I just piled more batteries into the car?

Mason

 

[DC Braveheart]

My wife would KILL me! I need to fine an alternitive. Can't I just piled more batteries into the car?

Mason

Fast, long range, cheap ... pick 2 of the 3 it can be done ... all 3 ... no way

 

[Ruckeriii]

Fast, long range, cheap ... pick 2 of the 3 it can be done ... all 3 ... no way

All right... Slow. About what 55 MPH 50? It is 31 miles to work. I would hate to have to put this off untill the price of batterys came down.

Mason

 

[Guest]

You will be waiting awhile. In the mean time do your research but go get a nice 98 to 03 VW TDI and install a good quality vegie oil set up and drive with that until you can afford the electric conversion. The TDI will be cheaper and you will still get to save the world. Running your car on garbage veggie oil is a cool alternative to electric. Just a low cost VW electric conversion will cost you $4k and that will be with lead acid batteries and that will only get you about 20 miles at any decent speed. That is of course if you can find a decent VW or other glider in good enough condition as to not deplete your budget. The cost of the vehicle is included in the cost of any conversion. Some cars are not so cheap. I can get a good TDI here for about $3k now. $1K more for the veggie oil setup. So for a $4k vehicle I can do my part. Just a thought. And you can drive more than 50 miles per tank of veggie oil.

Pete

 

[icec0o1]

Yeah, don't even consider lead acid. It's cheaper up front but it'll only last you two years and will max out at about 50 miles range (for the first 6 months).

Lithium is expensive but it'll last you 10 years and you'll get it back by saving on gas. If you can't make the investment up front for lithium, just give up on the project untill you can is my advice. And anyways, there are huge advances in battery technology right now. There are lithium batteries in final testing that have twice the capacity of current ones and should be out in 2-3 years. But nothing's guaranteed and if you only want 100 miles range, current technology will get you there.

 

[Ruckeriii]

Thanks all, I will start saving my moneyand wait for the price to come down. When the price and money meet in the middle of build my EV.

Mason

 

[nimblemotors]

I strongly suggest that you buy a Prius, you'll get 50mpg using the gas motor, until you can afford the batteries to convert it to all-electric,
which will be cheap and easy to do in a year or so.

Thanks all, I will start saving my moneyand wait for the price to come down. When the price and money meet in the middle of build my EV.

Mason

 

[Ruckeriii]

From what I understand converting the previous over to a plug-in vehicle almost never uses the gas motor is fairly simple. Alas my wife has been forbidden me from buying it

Mason

 

[KiwiEV]

Wife in control there mate? Hehehe, I know your pain.