EV conversions

[evelrod]

Here is an interesting site. One of the locals has just done this on a VW. Looks pretty simple and economical if it works as advertised. The mechanical end is quite simple, very easy conversion. Battery placement seems to be taken care of but I know nothing about the power conversion and modulation. That does not look so simple to me.

http://www.e-volks.com

Hmmmm. I have a Nash Met and a VW that have been sitting around for a few years. Naw...I'm not into electric cars. However, the hybrid version with a tiny little 2kw diesel generator sounds possible.

Rod

 

[carnage1]

If you put the metropolitan on the road you have to promise to attach a giant wind up key that slowly unwinds as you drive
I had a friend who's daily driver was an old datsun pickup he converted to electric. His biggest issue was that the clutch couldn't handle the start off torque so he had to go bigger.

Luck is a difficult thing to verify and therefore should be tested often. - Me

 

[GregLocock]

A 2kW diesel is going to be running flat chat night and day to run a truck for a couple of hours. I think a typical series hybrid would use a 10-20 kW IC engine.

Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[evelrod]

Greg, I got the impression from the site and from seeing the VW up close, that the minimal generator capacity was meant to work as an emergency backup rather than a true 'hybrid'. I know you have a great deal of expertise in this field and I don't have any at all... As a 'casual' observer of the local guy's Vdub, I'm not too impressed (the 48v option) if you put your foot into it, the bats (6 eight volt marine) go flat in double quick time. His stated plans are to only uses the car around town so it may work out ok for him.

In my case, I would be more likely to use the Met except I just rebuilt the engine last year and it only has 500 miles on it (and it gets 35/40mpg!). Beside the fact that I would only be happy with the 144v option, then where would I put all the batts? The VW sounds even less promising...where would I put eighteen 8v or even twelve 12v batts? How would it handle the extra thousand lbs. of batts and motor? I think it's the battery technology that will hold this conversion up. I guess I'll pass. I've got way too many projects on hold as it is.

Rod