Electric Car Conversion

Dear Electric cars are hard to find. Here’s why.

First, it is the batteries. The batteries are still expensive, about $ 900 per kWh for the later-type lithium battery. A gallon of gasoline has the energy equivalent of about 36kWh. So, to store energy in a gallon of gasoline in a modern battery will cost about $ 30 000. Therefore a new battery, Nissan Leaf 24kWh has been working almost $ 40,000 before incentives.

So how can you find a cheap electric car when the batteries are so expensive? There are two possibilities.

Get a NEV. If you are not in a hurry, you get a used Neighborhood Electric Vehicle. Some of these little cars can move along to 40 miles an hour (64 mph) or more. You can make a ZENN for 2007 5.300 $, have a Zap XEBRA 2008-4500 or 2007 $ $ 4500 for Flybo.

Modern NEV can hit 35 kilometers per hour and can have a range of 50 miles (80km) or more. Some are a little faster, some a little slower and the range can vary. However, if you are in the city, where the speed is not important, a NEV is a good solution. If you autonomy and speed, check the electric cars.

Get a chance EV: electric cars that can use, just turn the key and go to cost about $ 7,500. This figure is well, you can sign a contract for less, no, he will likely need a new set of batteries. Remember that at this price range, you probably also in the neighborhood of 20-40 miles. Again, you might luck and hit 60 miles, but it is a track for good measure VE.

Here’s why: The battery type and weight. The old lead-acid batteries are relatively cheap and easy to obtain, but they take much space and do not have much energy. At the end of the day was 1200 pounds of batteries you get 30 miles down the road, depending on conditions. This area can be the driving, tires and so on, but does not extend too much in most cases.

Here, for example a battery

Battery Type -: 24 – Trojan 12Volt @ $ 125/ea = $ 3,000
- Package Weight = 24 x € 62 = £ 1.488 = 24 x = Storage 5400 AH 225Ah
144volts Storage Pack – 225Ah x = = 32.26 kWh = 32 256 watts
- It is almost 1 gallon of gasoline energy equivalent

Depending on the weight of the electric car, motor, controller, terrain, temperature and driving style, a gallon of gas in an older less effective EV could tell you, 40 miles. However, it is likely that you get less. This is the main reason people sell their transformations.

If you want a cheap electric car, try a NEV, or perhaps used a conversion. Be willing to change the batteries and work with portfolio constraints.

Make your own conversion: This is probably the absolute get an electric car. However, some important points:

1st You must have some kind of business, tools, time, skills, and hopefully by this possibility. Although it is quite possible, it is not for most people. Check the web for guys who have converted from a forklift in a pack for something like $ 900. It is actually more complicated than that, but it is a lower price.

2nd You might find themselves with the power between the EVN and described the car used electric top. One thing about antiques donors is that they are old. There is a reason they are very small. You can to some savings to extract, it will require some considerable effort.

There is a saying push the brothers on NPR (most places Saturday in the continental United States) have: “The man pays the most expensive” Even though it is not always true, we recommend the approach of EV cheap considerable need for research.