Many people have asked me if it is really possible to convert a car from gas to electric power in a way that is practical and reliable. The answer is yes. In fact, I could never understand why there aren't local companies offering to do electric car conversions for profit.
Converting a car from gas to electric can be done in one of several ways. In some areas of the country, there might be mechanics that will do it for a price, but you might as well try to find a new one for the amount they'll charge you. There are kits you can buy on-line for between $2000 and $8000. A kit usually comes with all the electrical components and some basic instructions. It is important to remember that kits you purchase never include the batteries you need. You have to figure on another $1000 or more for batteries if you go this route since an electric car won't run without them.
A far better option is to do it yourself using inexpensive reconditioned parts you can get second hand. You have the choice of using an AC electric motor or a DC electric motor. AC motors are lighter and produce more power than DC. However, DC motors are much less expensive and easier to install than AC. For this reason, we always opt for a used DC motor. A reliable DC motor that you can get very cheap (and often even for free), will outlive just about any car you put it in, so it makes no sense to spend the additional dollars on a new AC motor for your electric car conversion.
Your DC motor will need to be in the 9 to 13 inch range. A top speed of 50 MPH or more can be achieved with this size motor. The project also requires a controller to manipulate the amount of current flowing from the batteries to the motor which determines how fast you go. The controller is assembled to your old gas pedal linkage for smooth control of the vehicle. The conversion requires an on board battery charger in order to charge your batteries between trips. Just plug it in to any common household AC circuit and simply charge it up overnight.
You'll need about 20 deep cycle batteries to achieve a range of 200 miles on a charge. There are a number of sources for finding these very cheap and often free. These batteries allow you to discharge further and charge more quickly than regular car batteries, which is whey they are called deep cycle - because they permit and stand up to greater and more frequent draining, unlike the battery you have in your car now. You can regularly discharge a deep cycle battery down to 30% or so, but you won't want to go lower than 30%.
It is important to balance the space available to hold the batteries in the car against the battery capacity. For example, if your project will require 20 batteries, you have to make sure there is room enough for 20 batteries. I know that sounds like common sense, but still - this detail is often overlooked by many people.
Learn more about electric car conversions here.
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