I'm surprised that it wasn't obvious that the availability of OEM EVs like the Leaf would drastically reduce conversions. I recall discussions with this conclusion when the Leaf first became available. There is no way you can do a conversion with the fit and finish, interior space, range, power, and quality and reliability of a Leaf for similar cost (after the $7500 credit). The 80kW peak AC motor/controller would cost you almost as much as the Leaf. A conversion using a series DC motor would cost almost as much as a Leaf since a 24 kWh LiFePO4 pack would cost around $10k delivered, and you wouldn't have the same quality or fit and finish.
As for feeling sorry for ourselves as unappreciated pioneers, rubbish. That was the whole point of being a pioneer - to show the practicality of EVs and get more on the road. I want to see more ice vehicles replaced with electric or some other clean technology on a large scale, and that requires OEM vehicles sold by the millions. I was happy to see all those OEM vehicles at NPD - we even had a Fisker Karma (I think the (23"?) wheels and tires for that car probably cost more than my battery pack). I also enjoyed looking over the new cars and talking with their owners about them. One guy was so enthusiastic, I was ready to buy a Leaf after talking to him! And they ARE pioneers relative to most people. At least in my experience, there is not that much difference in reliability. I've not experienced much down time with my EV over the last 4 years, and it has never failed out on the road. Of course reliability of conversions varies widely, depending on quality of components and work. I think there will still be people doing conversions as a hobby project, but fewer as OEM prices decrease. I think people will make use of junkyard parts to cobble together a lower cost EV, or buy two wrecked Leafs to make one, much like some currently do with ice vehicles, and about on the same scale, but it will take several years before many are available. Definitely a different situation now, and that's a good thing. -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/Plug-In-Day-2013-tp4665446p4665460.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
