Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Electric Car Conversion Part 1 – The Donor Vehicle and The ICE Removal:
Unfortunately, my enthusiasm for the project faded when we moved to another house out of the range of the car's design.
Fast Forward 3 years:
My desire for an Electric Vehicle was rekindled by the announcement of the Nissan Leaf. But after nearly a year sitting on the waiting list, I opted to roll my own, again.
I have read that the an electric
vehicle will have greater range if it can carry more batteries. It
makes sense. More fuel = more range.
A Geo Metro has a light frame but has little room for extra weight. A pickup truck is relatively lightweight but has a stronger frame that can handle additional battery weight.
In June 2011, I acquired a 1992 Toyota Pickup Truck. Although the mileage was high, it was in good cosmetic condition.
I ripped out all the “unnecessary” parts. The internal combustion engine, radiator, gas tank and the exhaust system.
This lightened the truck weight
by 500 lbs and freed up a lot of room in the engine compartment for an
electric motor and batteries.
