Has anyone been thinking about building an electric car (home-made) for themselvees any time soon? Options

[shawnbem]

I just read of how a man in Los Angelese has converted an old Porsche 914 to an electric car with a 60 mile range for $18,000 (24 lead acid batteries)
I thought to myself that's a good idea. Probably better to buy an electric scooter though, if you don't need to take the freeway often as is the case in L.A.

I'm now doing some investigation into that idea and I hope to begin building my own electic car also. Does anyone else have similar plans?

I have heard about how its actually better to convet old small pickup trucks (Ford/Toyota/GM) to electric pickups because the box can hold more batteries and the springs are easily upgraded to hold the extra tonnage. Lead acid batts are heavy but they're cheap, so that's why Lithium Ions are shunned for now.

[Chris914n6]

I'd do a Fiero before I'd do a 40 y/o rust prone Porsche parts pricing 914.
But I have a 200hp 914 so I'd do a small truck as a daily + truck things if it was cost effective. Alas I drive too little to even do a diesel swap to run biofuel with a decent return.

[eyecolor]

Guilty as charged.
I was fortunate to have mepstein over to visit my electric 914 and after 4 years of work I can agree with almost every opinion offered.
Financially it makes no sense but the feeling of accomplishment is awesome, especially for someone who does eye exams all day and knew nothing about brakes or transmissions until I had the good fortune to work with Eric Shea and Dr. Evil.
The car came with a non-working non-porsche motor and was probably one step from a parts car.
However, now its been saved and I hope to get it to Hershey this April. The right person can restore it to its formal glory, but not until I've stopped grinning.
Egg throwers will be tolerated
This group has been an excellent source of knowledge,goodwill, and inspiration.

George
Wilmington,DE

[mepstein]

Guilty as charged.
I was fortunate to have mepstein over to visit my electric 914 and after 4 years of work I can agree with almost every opinion offered.
Financially it makes no sense but the feeling of accomplishment is awesome, especially for someone who does eye exams all day and knew nothing about brakes or transmissions until I had the good fortune to work with Eric Shea and Dr. Evil.
The car came with a non-working non-porsche motor and was probably one step from a parts car.
However, now its been saved and I hope to get it to Hershey this April. The right person can restore it to its formal glory, but not until I've stopped grinning.
Egg throwers will be tolerated
This group has been an excellent source of knowledge,goodwill, and inspiration.

George
Wilmington,DE

I think that's what it's all about. Having fun.