Up to this point, all my Electric Vehicles have been DIY Conversions that I have done. So, moving up to a FACTORY converted vehicle is a little Bitter Sweet.
Popping the hood and showing off my own work has always been very satisfying. I am also a big fan of other people's conversions. To see how they put them together and what solutions they come up with has always been a thrill. At EV car shows, where there are Tesla, Leaf's and Volts, its the DIY conversions that interest me the most. ( these DIY's are fading fast). I think it is remarkable what the big Factories are doing, but with a team of engineers and the ability to build any part you want, they are not really in the same league as home built EVs. I am sure as everyone who is reading this is wondering ... WHICH FACTORY EV I succumb to? At this point in the post, those that know me, have already picked a vehicle that they THINK I might choose. Anyone guess a 1980 Ford Courier, ElectraVan ???? Done by JET ELECTRIC ? I was lucky enough to pick this truck up, in exchange for labor on a conversion. The Battery box looks to have been extended to hold 20 Golf Cart Batteries. It has the OLD GE Motor, which had an oblong Com. I was able to turn it on my neighbors lathe and was surprised at how easy this was to do. It wasn't a problem of a lifted com bar, just not perfectly round. The vehicle came with a Raptor Controller, that did not work. I replaced it with a Soliton Jr. ( 500Amp Controller). I have been driving it around with the old GOLF CART Batteries, but plan on putting some LEAF Batteries in. This was purchased by the City of Knoxville, TN in 1980 and sold to a Mr. Kirby in 1983, who sold it this year to my customer. I am thinking that this is a little bit of History here. Too bad things hadn't gone different back in 1980. We could have ALL been driving Electric Cars before the turn of the century. I would be interested to know if any one has any information or experience with this (Factory) Conversion. I would like to put the information up on our web site. -- Steve Clunn Merging the best of the past with the best of the future. www.Greenshedconversions.com _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
