Is this one of those very light three bench seat 1800 pound Suzuki like vehicles or a large american type minivan. Lawrence Rhodes... ----- Original Message ----- From: "Victor Tikhonov" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002 6:35 PM Subject: Re: DIY 9-person EV unrealistic?
> Christopher Witmer wrote: > > > > I live in Japan and would love to be able to convert my 9-person Nissan > > diesel van to electric; in a few more years it will no longer be legal > > for me to own a diesel vehicle in Tokyo anyway. If the vehicle had a > > range of 60 miles between recharges it would be adequate. Still, nine > > people (my whole family) is a lot to haul around . . . is the DIY > > technology up to snuff yet for this kind of a conversion, or is it still > > pushing the envelope too much for a novice to consider? > > > > Christopher Witmer > > I think degree of difficulty of a car, truck or van conversion will > be about the same. A van will require heavier components and batteries, > but all the steps involved will be the same as for lighter cars > (3 wheelers and below aside). > > Conversions of minivans are exist and production vehicle exist as well. > Buses also being made (in case you have _very_ large family...:-) > > Just do the home work, crunch the numbers and see if a vehicle > and drive system/battery will provide expected performance. > > Look here and you'll find a few large vehicles. > http://ev.inel.gov/fop/ > > And, for fun, one more: > http://www.mercedes-benz.com/e/ecars/transporter/sprinter/alternative/elektr o_umwelt.htm > > So if you feel you have enough guts to do a smaller car conversion, > you can do a larger one as well. Kinda like if you master to > groom a small dog, a large one will not be a problem as well... > > Victor >
