914 converted to electric cars, Your honest Opinion. Options

[james2]

http://www.evalbum.com/type/PORS

Seems to be a fair number of 914's are getting converted to electric power.

I have mixed thoughts. i love internal combustion engines.

I also hate to see original cars modified.

On the other hand, I'm a firm believer that man/woman can do what they wish with their own property.

I also like the idea of driving around for 2 cents a mile. I even kicked around the idea of doing my own EV, but the batteries are just not there yet.

You can get good batteries, but you would never save enough on gas to pay for them.

a GOOD set is about 8-12K for lithium Ion. The old Lead Acid are just too heavy and who wants a car that can only go 30-40 miles?

[JimSar]

But why the 914? Why not a Type III? Or any of a number of Japanese imports?

Two trunks (room for plenty of batteries), lightweight (greater range), lots of suspension upgrades available (to handle the extra weight), still reasonably affordable as a glider, no "advanced" electronics to integrate with, kits available from Electro Automotive (at least, maybe others as well). That's just off the top of my head.

Skip

Speaking of trunk space, here's how mine look:
(IMG:http://lh3.ggpht.com/jimsar9/SGcus9AgewI/AAAAAAAAB-E/bDBRE5pmujk/062908-0001.JPG?imgmax=720)


(IMG:http://lh4.ggpht.com/jimsar9/SGcu29-FZII/AAAAAAAAB-M/FfcQcnOsJm0/062908-0004.JPG?imgmax=720)

Serious sh!t happens when you reach 88 mph. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

(IMG:http://lh3.ggpht.com/jimsar9/SGcu-Samn5I/AAAAAAAAB-U/xb9y-9Zf0fk/062908-0021.JPG?imgmax=720)

(IMG:http://lh6.ggpht.com/jimsar9/SGcuc2zProI/AAAAAAAAB98/Nmp8f1GhQOs/062908-0010.JPG?imgmax=720)

My office is less than 5 miles from home, and if I make side trips for errands and what have you, it's 25 - 30 miles max for the day. Charging at night costs under a dollar because we have a 2.1 kw solar power "plant" up on the roof. That's using the summertime net metering rate / time of use metering.

Strictly on cost/benefit, the project doesn't make sense. But since when did our hobbies (vices) become an economic issue? I loved building it, I enjoy driving it, can't take my money to the grave, I rest my case.

-jim

[cobra94563]

Jim,
Very cool! do you have a thread on your build or a web page with more info on your car? Looks very well done.

[JimSar]

Jim,
Very cool! do you have a thread on your build or a web page with more info on your car? Looks very well done.

Here's my lame attempt at a blog:
http://electric914.wordpress.com/

More "build" pictures here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jimsar9/PV2EV

Chris914, KTA has a new owner. It was a long time coming, are you keeping in touch with Ken?

I'm really, really hoping that when the time comes for me to replace the batteries, it won't be lead acid anymore. The crisis we're in right now, hopefully, will force the hand of the government as well as private researchers.
-jim