EV ( Electric Vehicle ) Conversion 4-30-2007

Mowed the lawn, replaced the threshold between the kitchen and the foyer, killed a hobo...
Didn't want you to think I've been getting lazy.
One of the hardest parts so far has been the battery selection phase of this project.
I need to know what batteries I'm going with, to

1. Tell Bryan at Belktronix to optimize his system for them.
2. Figure out the battery boxes and how to weld and bolt them to the car
3. Know how many happy hours I'm gonna have to miss this year as discretionary funds will have been spent.

12V AGM Contenders:

• Discover Energy EV12A-A
  12 Volt 140 Amp. Hrs. @ 20-Hour Rate
  1 hour rate (84.0A to 09.00 volts) 84 A.H.
• PowerSonic PS-121400FR
  12 Volt 140 Amp. Hrs. @ 20-Hour Rate
  1 hour rate (84.0A to 09.00 volts) 84 A.H.
• Interstate DCM0100
  100 Amp. Hrs.@ 20-Hour Rate
  1 hour rate (57.0A to 09.60 volts) 57 A.H.

Until the FireFly's are available or Valence come down 50% in price.

EV ( Electric Vehicle ) Conversion 4-22-2007

1st batch of photos from Earth Day:

M.K. answers his fan's questions.

Lee Campbell and his Solar Assisted Electric S10.	He uses 200 watts of solar panels to charge two 12-volt batteries, one that runs the vehicle accessories and gauges, the other runs the electric power steering.	2 PVC tubes with PC fans ventilate his battery box that holds 20 6-volt, deep-cycle, lead-acid batteries. 4 more in a box up front for a total of 144V.

EV ( Electric Vehicle ) Conversion 4-21-2007

Tomorrow I'll be in a parade alongside a couple dozen alternative fueled vehicles. Most will be electric as many members of the EVAoSD will be in attendance. If you are in the San Diego area drop by the world's largest Earth Day event.

I'm no hippie, but even I know that a smog filled sky can't be doing us much good.

An experiment for all the .001% of doubters still out there, that don't think what we drive matters.
(Caution: Try this only if you drive an EV as you will die otherwise.)

1. Park in your garage and leave your engine running.
2. Close the main garage door and all other garage doors and windows.
3. Duct tape a hose(s) to the tail pipe(s) of your running vehicle.
   
4. Lead the hose(s) to your car window and relax awhile.

Disclaimer: You agree not to hold me responsible if you are dumb enough to try the above experiment.

EV ( Electric Vehicle ) Conversion 4-20-2007

Bob and Joe drag racing their EVs!!!

More pictures and info here.

I missed this event due to having (getting) to go to the Warden's (wife's) friend's b-day party (Hi Joanna!).

EV ( Electric Vehicle ) Conversion 4-18-2007

Had I been less impulsive, I could have saved myself a whole lot of time and money by starting with the following Bradley GTE.

This version of the car was designed as an EV (electric vehicle) from the start.

For anyone who has been inspired to drive an Electric Bradley and start with an almost completed vehicle: Here's the Dallas Craig'sList ad (copy of ad )and the same car marked up at the everything-VW site Samba (copy of ad).

EV ( Electric Vehicle ) Conversion 4-14-07

I showed up at the Poway Earth Arbor Day & Clean Car Show today and met up with some of the gang from the EVAoSD (Bill Hammons, President EVAOSD middle). Bob on the right is an actual professional mechanic "Specializing in Electric Vehicle Conversion". I know I'll be calling him. The next photo shows his work on his mini-truck.

I also took some pix of Mr. Q's VW Rabbit,focusing on the vacuum assisted brake system, as I have a couple parts already to build this in my conversion and have no clue how.

The round brake booster is something I have to look up to see if I need it for my car.

I met up with Michael Kadie of SSI Racing Cobra EV fame again while I was there. I'd like to thank everyone who has visited his site from the link in this blog as it gave me some web cred. He was able to track that some of his visitors bailed my site for his.
Also, Joseph S. Gottlieb of was representing with a ZAP Xebra. If I were like the majority of drivers in this country that only drives 25 miles daily, I'd be in one today. Unfortunately my job is 25 freeway miles away just to get there. I can't say enough about how cool Joseph is; and not just because he's offered to help me in any way he can using his resources as an electric car dealer. Anyone who has a chance to hear him speak about EV's in general knows what EV passion is.

EV ( Electric Vehicle ) Conversion 4-12-2007

Check this out.
Aptera Motors is local.

If this comes out before I'm done with my conversion, I'm buying it (as long as it's freeway legal).
Otherwise the wish list has the VentureOne or the Phoenix Motorcars SUV.

Electric Vehicle ( EV ) Conversion 4-9-2007

My competition:

Electric Vehicle ( EV ) Conversion 4-8-2007

Happy Easter!

So, I'm cruising eBay motors and I find the following:

I'm imagining had I waited and gotten this one, there would have been a lot less snickering from the gang at work, not to mention a lot less doo-doo related comments about my Root Beer Metallic Disco Brown paint job.



I've been joining online groups left and right, or up or down, or back and forward (anyone with the correct saying for cyberspace let me know). The latest places in which I've prompted the denizens to say "There goes the virtual neighborhood!" are:

• with an active Message Board
• VW-EV The Electric Volkswagen
• a much smaller Bradley Yahoo Group

Electric Vehicle ( EV ) Conversion 4-7-2007

ICE removed.

Next week the electric motor gets installed.
I can no longer call my BGT the "Brown Gassy Turd".
So far replacement names are:
"Glitter Poop", and "Marriage Killer"...

Electric Vehicle ( EV ) Conversion 4-6-2007

Added some gadgets/widgets to blog.
Don't be shy. Sign in on the guestbook.

Also, here's a shout-out to a favorite EV site:

Electric Vehicle ( EV ) Conversion 4-4-2007

I found my mechanic on Craig's List.
Basically, I figured I could use the help (..er, pay someone who knows what they are doing.)
I went with the lowest quote that I got from all the Mobile Mechanics in the area. Here's the RFQ I sent out:

Would like a quote for the following:

Replace 71 VW beetle drum brakes with Karman Ghia disc brakes.
Install new shocks.
Remove 74 VW SuperBeetle engine from vehicle and replace with another motor.

Lots more work but would like to start with that.

Thanks,
Manny

Richard's Ad:

THE AAA HANDYMAN
Anytime-Anywhere-Anything

Can't beat that.
Nor could anyone beat his quote.

Met him on Sunday, and we went over the job. A little while later he found that he got himself into a lot more than he bargained for. I'll detail the BGT2's problems later.
12 hours later :
1 Shock installed then removed
Old front Brakes removed along with Gas Tank.
It was fun, so we agreed to continue today for another day's work.
I was missing a couple parts that had fallen apart on Sunday, so we went to a shop called VW Paradise not too far away as soon as they opened at 8AM.

Now, I need to work to be able to pay Richard, and I'm also not at a point where I can leave a guy I just met @ my house all alone. That's where the BGT-Cam comes in.
Every once in awhile I'd check in on him via web cam (notice the respect/reverence he has for my car):

Richard praying to the EV gods, and then kneeling to the Bradley GT2.

Here's some footage from the end of the day. Mounts upgraded wheel and then the "Roll Test".

Electric Vehicle ( EV ) Conversion 4-2-2007

I returned to the DMV today. I've been given until the end of June before I have to take the vehicle for a smog test. 8^)
Once the vehicle is converted I need to have the car re-inspected so that CA recognizes that it is no longer a gasoline powered vehicle.

Electric Vehicle ( EV ) Conversion 4-1-2007

I ran over my mechanic! Had to call 911 to send an ambulance over...

He asked me to flip on the lights while he was pulling off the gas tank from under the car( I still don't know why).
So I pushed the buttons and nothing happened.
I figured the car had to be running so I turned the ignition on and the car sprang forward.
It was still in gear!!!
He sort of screamed, and it gets a bit hazy from here on, there was some profanities thrown around, and blood, so much blood.
Well ,anywho...
April Fools.

Actually except for the 1st and last sentence, it pretty much happened, the emergency brake held luckily.