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Posts Tagged ‘Car Conversion’

Reasons For An Electric Car Conversion

July 2nd, 2009

More and more people are trying to find viable ways of saving money.  With so many companies letting employees go and the cost of gas on the rise, this has become a serious challenge.  This has led to the development of the hybrid electric car and while a great idea, buying one of these cars is expensive.  Then, with the size of these cars being so small, they do not work for everyone and they can present a danger in some conditions.

As a part of the electric conversion , people also enjoy saving a tremendous amount of money by doing the conversion themselves and the love diversity in that it works on all cars, but also trucks, vans, and sports utility vehicles, whether running on regular, unleaded, or diesel gasoline.  To complete the conversion process, people need only a few standard tools and a little time.  Then, with this being a completely safe process for the person doing the conversion and there is no damage to the automobile, gas to electric conversion makes perfect sense.  The benefit of using a conversion kit, like the the Build Your Own Elect Auto system, changing a gas powered automobile to run that runs on electricity, the person uses his or her own car, no matter the type, even expensive models such as Mercedes Benz, Volvo, and BMW.

Another kit is the Electricityfor Gas.  Using a kit such as this for converting a gas-powered car into one that runs on electricity, consumers discover that the kits are inexpensive, the information is easy to follow, and the conversion can be completed without the need for special tools.  After the car is done, the person has a high-energy efficient vehicle that is safe, powerful, and one that does not pollute the air.

In addition to this conversion kit being easy to use, it is also affordable, providing everything a person needs to turn a gas powered car into one that runs off electricity.  When people look at the low cost for the product and then compare it with all the benefits associated with the conversion, the electric car wins without trouble.

To complete the conversion, the instructions make it easy.  Once the person that has made all the changes and the car is now ready to run on electricity, the savings will be tremendous, not to mention cleaner air due to fewer emissions.  An electric car can be used for short or long distance trips.  Capable of traveling up to 100 miles without being charged, these cars are a great option for getting around town but for longer trips, the person simply needs to use the battery to recharge.  Additionally, electric cars are capable of traveling up to 50 miles per hour so they can be driven on interstate freeways.

To make the conversion from a gas-powered car to electric even better, people need to take time to learn about rebates and various incentives offered by the Federal government.  Simply put, deciding to convert to an electric car offers a long list of benefits from lower cost, cleaner air, and governmental deductions.

More and more, people want to make a difference in the environment, working to product cleaner air for generations to come.  Converting a gas car to one that runs on electricity accomplishes this goal.  Sure, consumers could visit any number of dealerships to buy a hybrid but they will pay significant money.  Instead, using a kit to complete the conversion is more affordable but the results just as incredible.

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Electric Car Motors

June 27th, 2009

The electric motor world is separated into two categories. Without going into great detail, there are alternating current (AC) motors and direct current (DC) motors. Electric car motors can be of either variety. Electric cars made by large vehicle manufacturers usually come with AC motors.These usually produce more power for their size and they are generally lighter than DC motors. On the other hand, DC motors are much less expensive and a lot easier for the DIY enthusiast to install than AC motors. This is the reason most of us prefer the DC motor when taking on any conversion project.

It is fairly simple to locate the right DC motor for any electric car conversion project if you know what to look for.

To begin with, DC electric car motors are almost always described by their diameter.

Obviously, the motor’s ability to produce horsepower increases with its diameter, but these will also use more energy and require more batteries or more frequent charging. The best motor to use for an electric vehicle conversion project is one between 9 and 13 inches.

You can expect that this size motor provides enough output and horsepower to get you around at top speeds approaching 55 MPH and can achieve a range of between 150 and 200 miles between charges.

A DC motor in this 9 to 13 inch size range will also work well with deep cycle batteries which we’ve found to be the best choice for DIY conversions.

Electric car motor installation is easy to do and pretty much fail safe provided you follow the instructions. You should probably have a helper for this step because the motor weighs around 150 pounds.

I recommend to everyone considering an electric car conversion that you don’t buy a new motor. These cost between $1000 and $5000 on line depending on the size.

A reconditioned used motor, available for a fraction of the new price will usually outlive any car you put it in. They’ve actually been known to outlive two cars in some situations

Why spend the extra money on something that is no more reliable and and requires no less effort to install? You can find these cheap reliable motors in ample supply by just looking around your local area.

An experienced guide and a good set of plans starts to become extremely valuable here. You do have to know where to look and what to look for to save the most money you can. You can get all your parts very very cheap, and in a lot of cases even free, and a high quality project guide will provide you with the invaluable information you need to do this.

It also takes you step by step through the entire conversion and makes sure that your batteries motor, controller and every other part you use (including the car!) are all appropriate for the project and for each other. As mentioned above, you can often complete a full conversion for under $500 – and that’s including the batteries. More questions about electric car motors? We have recommendations and lots more info at our site. Stop by and check it out.

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How To Start Building A DIY Electric Car

June 26th, 2009

Skeptics love to challenge the idea that a regular person can build their own electric car at a reasonable price using parts that are regularly available and easy to find

Truthfully, I’ve never understood why everyone isn’t building a DIY electric car of their own. So why aren’t more people doing it you may ask? After all, who wouldn’t rather drive for 4 cents per mile instead of four dollars per mile, right? Everyone would gladly say goodbye to tune ups, oil changes and the gas pump forever if the could. Therefore, many conclude that converting a car to electric power must be difficult, highly complicated and beyond the ability of most people. I only know that it is relatively simple to complete and its a really fun project to do.

Anyway, you simply start your DIY Electric car project with a vehicle that is appropriate for converting and a good set of instructions.

Use a car that is fairly small and light but not too small that you won’t have space to mount your [batteries and electric motor. An automatic transmission should not be used. Go for a manual transmission because it makes the whole project a lot easier. That’s really important, but don’t worry if you can’t or don’t want to drive a stick. You won’t have to shift at all once the conversion is completed. Used cars with engine damage, but that are in otherwise excellent condition can be found at amazingly low prices. You just have to look around a bit, but its worth it. Before you buy anything, check out the breaks transmission, undercarriage, etc to make sure there aren’t any issues.

Do yourself a favor. Don’t convert your primary vehicle if you take long trips or do a lot of freeway driving. You won’t be happy if you do because even though a DIY car conversion will travel at speeds approaching 60 MPH and has a range of about 200 miles on a single charge, its just not something you want to be driving across country. One other thing practice getting used to the vehicle’s responsiveness once your project is completed. These things are surprisingly quick off the line and you have to get used to the touch of the controller (the electric vehicle version of the gas pedal).

Step-by-step illustrated plans that walk you through the entire project are very important. Most importantly though, a high quality set of directions provides priceless information on where to find all your parts very very inexpensively-and in some cases even free. You can save a ton of money on a good instruction guide. Consider that conversion kits cost $6000 or more and that’s before you even purchase a single battery or the vehicle, or you can spend $50 on a set of plans up front and convert the entire car for under $500 including the batteries. For more information on DIY electric cars and recommendations for a great set of plans, see the related articles at our site.

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Find Your Electric Car Plans

June 26th, 2009

It seems like everywhere you turn, people are looking to break away from the gas pump with an alternative fuel car. Once promises as the low cost alternative future, bio-diesel and ethanol are being blended into the regular fuel supply and people are beginning to understand that these are not the solutions we’ve been looking for. Study after study identifies fuel economy, maintenance and performance problems surrounding both bio-diesel and ethanol. In response consumers are beginning to rethink their options, and rightfully so. Its no wonder then that electric car conversions are the latest technology to capture the interest of DIY and conservation enthusiasts everywhere. Its truly inexpensive to operate and very reliable, plus the the fully electric car is a lot of fun to build. 

From a technical and mechanical standpoint, the project is fairly simple to complete. However, in order to complete a successful conversion there are several steps you need to get right. To cover all the bases, you must get a set of high quality plans. Not all plans are created equally, as you learn when you’ve reviewed as many of these as we have. See The ONLY Electric Car Plans we Recommend.

With the right set of plans you can complete the entire conversion for under five hundred dollars, compared to over $10,000 using a kit and retail parts.

There is no question that electric car conversion project success is tied to the quality of the information you receive. A good set of plans should not just show how to complete the conversion. You also should expect them to show you where to acquire parts and how to get them at the best prices. You also should expect your plans to include detailed explanations and illustrations of all required steps.

Don’t spend more than $50 on your plans. The best set we’ve seen actually costs less that that. You’ll find that you save many times this amount in time and materials well before the project is completed. You can find out about the best electric car plans here.

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Do-It-Yourself Electric Car Motor Conversion

June 25th, 2009

If you decide to build an electric car on your own, you made a good decision and it is not diffiuclt at all. Owning a lightweight, economy coupe that has been converted to electricity is not only efficient, but it is an excellent choice! If proper care is taken during the conversion process in the placement and selection of the components, such a vehicle can be expected to last longer than it would have with a conventional, gasoline engine. Electric car conversion kits are easily obtained, especially for those lightweight models whose motor is located in the rear such as the Volkswagen Beetle.

Converting lightweight vehicles to build your own electric car allows the owner to utilize a smaller electric motor, which is less expensive and weighs less. By having a lighter overall weight, the electric car will need less power to start and also need less power to take off and to accelerate. Likewise, the traveling range per recharge is dramatically increased in many common driving conditions.

Two car models that have been proven to be easy to convert into electric cars are coupes and sedans. Owners who need more load capacity or more room to place the batteries will find that a compact sedan is more suited to their preferences. Some of the most commonly sold EV Conversions are made using this size vehicle e.g. the latest Ford Ranger EV. The Honda Civic, for example, was converted to an electric vehicle by retaining the back seat, sinking nine lead-acid flooded batteries deep into the trunk in the space where the spare tire would have been placed, and adding an additional nine batteries in the engine area. One great example of an electric car conversion is a 1987 model Mitsubishi Tredia; the batteries were placed above the floorspace in the trunk and the batteries were sealed and externally vented.

THere are several major car manufacturers that are working on new hybrids and plug-in electric vehicles for everyday use. These latest conversions are designed to allow the driver to operate the vehicle for up to 40 miles by total electric power, after which the gasoline-powered engine would turn on and recharge the batteries. This feat can be accomplished by replacing the nickel-metal hydride variety of batteries with a different system for battery management.

Before attempting to build your own electric car, check with state and local authorities. THere are some places in the US where the gross vehicle weight rating has to be below a certain level; including the driver and passengers. Please make sure that the conversion does not result in the car exceeding the recommended, original design weight; it may be illegal to drive such a vehicle in your state. You should note that under certain circumstances such a vehicle may get insurance cancelled. In order to avoid such catastrophes, hobbyists are advised to increase the spring rating, increase the shock length, make suspension modifications, and to use the smallest and lightest sized batteries and motor to suit their needs.

If you are under the impression that it is hard to convert your car into electric, you are wrong. You can now discover how to convert your car into electric for under $300 by reading Peter’s detailed, step-by-step manual! Go to Electricity4Gas

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