Nov
30
Electric Vehicle Kits: Build Your Own Electric Car
November 30, 2007 |
With rising fuel costs more and more people and are looking for
alternatives. One such alternative that is gaining popularity,
especially with the do-it yourself types, are the electric vehicle
kits. Anyone familiar with automobiles can now use these kits to
convert traditional gas powered vehicles to one powered by electric
current.
However, converting a traditional Gas powered vehicle into an
electric vehicle can be a very daunting task. Only those who are the
very mechanically minded should try this. To convert the vehicle will
require extensive modifications to nearly all-mechanical parts of the
car. Everything from the engine to the radiator, heater and
air-conditioning, to the gauges on the panel. On top of that, the
electric cars have to be recharged on a regular basis, which means
having to purchase or use the services of recharging station. Solar
power could be another potential source of power for the electric
vehicle.
Can any car be converted into an electric vehicle?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. Not all cars can be converted into
an electric vehicle. However, and the most common electric vehicle kit
seems to be the Chevy S-10 pick up kit. For examples to follow just do
a search online for Chevy S-10 pickup Electric conversions. Other cars
that are good candidates for conversion are the Chevy Geo, especially
from 1989 to 1999. These cars are good potential candidates for an
electric vehicle kit conversion. Cars similar to the Chevy Geo Metro,
such as the Chevy Sprint, Pontiac Firefly and the Suzuki Swift are also
ideal for conversions too.
Are there downsides to using an electric vehicle kit?
Going back a few years, many people associated electric powered
vehicles with slowness and a lack of power. But as usual, thanks to
technology, significant advances in the electric vehicle have changed
all that. With these electric vehicle kits some cars can reach top
speeds of between 70 and 75 mph. nonetheless, converting to electric
power still has its drawbacks.
The biggest drawback it is of course the need for recharging the
batteries. As an example, the Chevy Geo Metro kit must be recharged
every 20 to 40 miles, depending on driving habits and battery quality.
For city driving, this would be ideal. However, for lengthy commutes on
the highway, this would not be ideal.
The Chevy S-10 with an electric vehicle kit installed will run a
little longer on a single charge. On a single charge, the S-10 should
last between 40 and 60 miles. Again this depends upon the driving
habits as well as the size and quality of batteries. Some S-10 models
can be equipped with solar powered panels which would in reduced in the
need for charging, at least when driving during daylight hours.
Converting vehicles with electric vehicle kits is not a cheap
affair. Most conversion kits seem to cost between $8000 to $10,000. And
this does not even include professional installation as well as the
cost of the batteries, not to mention access to or the purchase of a
charging station.
Quite frankly, with the cost involved of using an electric vehicle
kit, it probably wouldn’t be very practical for the average consumer,
especially if they do a lot of highway driving. However, that being
said, it probably would be ideal for a back yard mechanic who loves to
tinker with cars and has a few bucks to throw around and wants to
impress his beer-drinking buddies.
About The Author:
Kerry Ng
is a successful Webmaster and publisher of The Hybrid Cars Blog. For
more great helpful information about the Hybrid Cars visit http://www.hybridcarsinfoblog.com/build-your-own-electric-vehicle
Technorati Tags: electric car, hybrid, economical, build, kit car, diy, D.I.Y, lpg, dual-fuel, biodiesel, eco friendly, affordable
Comments
5 Comments so far
Charging station? You just need a charger and then plug it into your home wall socket. If you have a 220 charger, then you plug it into your cloths dryer plug. No charging stations needed.
Any idea how much it’s likely to cost to charge up on your home socket? I love the concept, but it would be nice to have the running costs in mind!
Great blog!
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[…] HybridCars.co.za » About us wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt With rising fuel costs more and more people and are looking for alternatives. One such alternative that is gaining popularity, especially with the do-it yourself types, are the electric vehicle kits. Anyone familiar with automobiles can now use these kits to convert traditional gas powered vehicles to one powered by electric current. However, converting a traditional Gas powered vehicle into an electric vehicle can be a very daunting task. Only those who are the very mechanically minded […]
[…] Biodiesel and Ethanol Investing - Biofuel Stocks, Ethanol and Biodiesel Plant News, Industry Trends wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt With rising fuel costs more and more people and are looking for alternatives. One such alternative that is gaining popularity, especially with the do-it yourself types, are the electric vehicle kits. Anyone familiar with automobiles can now use these kits to convert traditional gas powered vehicles to one powered by electric current. However, converting a traditional Gas powered vehicle into an electric vehicle can be a very daunting task. Only those who are the very mechanically minded […]