On 8/1/06, Darryl McMahon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Note my description of my 4,000 vertical feet commute.... other than that, I agree with you -- don't drive so fast and anticipate traffic and you don't really need the brakes that much.
Yeah, they had rather unique styling didn't they... I sort of like it. The body is actually in great shape -- it's been covered for the last 8 years or so. A little chipped on the front end from dirt roads, but not alot of damage from UV. Just needs a new battery pack, tires, and motor brushes, to be back on the road.
Personally, I like the Advanced DC motors. But then I think regen is
over-rated.
Note my description of my 4,000 vertical feet commute.... other than that, I agree with you -- don't drive so fast and anticipate traffic and you don't really need the brakes that much.
If you learn to drive so that you use the brakes as little
as possible, then regen offers little advantage, for there is little
braking energy for it to recoup. Good strategy for improving fuel
economy in ICE vehicles too.
An Electrek - wow that takes me back. So ugly they were cute. How's
the body (plastic I think) holding up after all these years?
Yeah, they had rather unique styling didn't they... I sort of like it. The body is actually in great shape -- it's been covered for the last 8 years or so. A little chipped on the front end from dirt roads, but not alot of damage from UV. Just needs a new battery pack, tires, and motor brushes, to be back on the road.
Darryl
Zeke Yewdall wrote:
> I've seen one or two civic conversions. One late 80's, and one mid 90's
> era. Seemed pretty nice, especially the 90's one which used a 9"
> motor and
> a 120 volt battery pack, which is generally used in the small pickup
> conversions -- it could easily turf the tires if you launched to quickly.
> But both used Advanced DC motors which don't allow regen... But they are
> only about $1,600 for the motor, and probably under $4k for a complete
> drive
> system, compared to $32k for a single purchase of a AC Propulsion
> complete
> drive system -- so you can see why everyone uses the series DC motors for
> conversions. I've also got a line on an old Electrek, which uses a shunt
> wound GE motor, so it's got regen too. I almost bought it before I
> moved to
> the mountains where I have a 4,000 vertical feet commute. It will
> make it,
> but only at 10 or 15mph or so, which given the speed limit of 35, and
> traffic speed of 45, would annoy all the SUV drivers... Putting NiMH
> batteries in it would probably improve it a bit by dropping the curb
> weight,
> but those are pricey too.....
>
> On 8/1/06, Darryl McMahon <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote:
>
>>
>> Joe,
>> I don't know of any Civic conversions personally - they tend to
>> biodegrade too soon around here to be popular as conversions.
>>
>> Different story in California where they fail smog tests long before the
>> bodies are done.
>>
>> There is a Del Sol somewhere around here that the owner is looking to
>> sell mostly for parts because the body is beginning to give way. That
>> might be a pretty clean swap out to convert your Civic. If you are
>> interested, I'll see if I can track it down. I suspect the price will
>> be significant, but likely a bargain as the owner was not known for
>> cutting corners or using anything but first-rate parts and materials.
>> There's also a first-class EV conversion guy locally who as of last
>> night does not currently have a vehicle project in his shop. He is
>> currently restoring the controller from a 1922 Milburn Light electric -
>> he does museum quality work.
>>
>> Darryl
>>
>> Joe Street wrote:
>>
>> >Hey Darryl;
>> >
>> >I still have my '92 civic hatch sitting in my driveway. Do you know of
>> >any instructions or anyone who has converted one to electric?
>> >
>> >Joe
>> >
>> >[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >>Tony Marzolino wrote:
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>>Hey Guys - These are great, but once again..NO prices and NO
>> >>>availability????? Are there any REAL options available for US
>> >>>consumers?
>> >>>
>> >>>Thanks, Tony Marzolino
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>Make your own.
>> >>
>> >>Just back from a quick jaunt in the e-914 conversion. Starting to
>> track
>> >>some energy consumption stats. Looks to be less than 0.2 kWh per
>> km, or
>> >>better than 5 km/kWh. Took my wife out for Dim Sum, first time I have
>> >>had her out with the targa top off. Based on comments and facial
>> >>expressions, I think the bug-eyed little electric is winning her over.
>> >>
>> >>If you want sustainable transportation, it's still up to you.
>> Biofuels
>> >>are one route, human power another. If you want to go electric,
>> consider
>> >>where your electricity is coming from. You can buy green power from
>> most
>> >>U.S. utilities now. If not, you can buy Green Tags (which is what I
>> do).
>> >>
>> >>I believe you can buy a Tango today - George Clooney did.
>> >>
>> >>Second hand EVs come up for sale on occasion. Here are some links
>> to EV
>> 4
>> >>sale sites:
>> >>http://www.econogics.com/ev/evdl.htm#Sale
>> >>
>> >>If you want to start with something smaller, consider an electric
>> bike:
>> >>http://www.econogics.com/ev/evbikes.htm
>> >>
>> >>(By way of comparison, my e-bike appears to get about somewhere around
>> 100
>> >>km/kWh).
>> >>
>> >>or electric moped:
>> >>http://www.econogics.com/ev/evmopeds.htm
>> >>
>> >>or electric scooter:
>> >>http://www.econogics.com/ev/evscoots.htm
>> >>
>> >>or even an electric skateboard:
>> >>http://www.econogics.com/ev/evboards.htm
>> >>
>> >>Other options for starting small are boats:
>> >> http://www.econogics.com/ev/evboats.htm
>> >>
>> >>or electric mowers or electric tractors:
>> >> http://www.econogics.com/ev/evtools.htm
>> >>
>> >>or electric go-karts or yard-karts:
>> >>http://www.econogics.com/ev/evkarts.htm
>> >>
>> >>The resurgence of interest in "production" EVs today is
>> predictable, it
>> >>rises and falls with gasoline prices. We've been here before, with
>> more
>> >>success in the 1970s (ComutaCars) and the 1990s (CARB ZEV
>> mandate). You
>> >>won't see them in North America until GM and Ford are both gone,
>> and the
>> >>oil lobby no longer owns the White House. Technology is not, and has
>> not
>> >>been, the issue for a long time.
>> >>
>> >>If you want to support on-road EVs directly, including plug-in hybrid
>> EVs,
>> >>today, join the Electric Auto Association.
>> >>http://www.eaaev.org/
>> >>
>> >>Darryl McMahon
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>>doug swanson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: And then there's Tesla
>> >>>Motors, with a convertible!
>> >>>
>> >>>http://www.teslamotors.com/index.php?js_enabled=1
>> >>>
>> >>>doug swanson
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>Joe Street wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>>Yaaaay!
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> http://news.en.autos.sympatico.msn.ca/article.aspx?cp-documentid=673300
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>Joe
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
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>>
>> >>
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>> >>
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>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
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>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> Darryl McMahon http://www.econogics.com
>> It's your planet. If you won't look after it, who will?
>>
>>
>>
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>
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--
Darryl McMahon http://www.econogics.com
It's your planet. If you won't look after it, who will?
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