electric 914 kit guy Options

[spare time toys]

is this someone from here?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWPiUd9nMWA...ted&search=

[pjf]

I have a vested interest in this as I am trying to restore a 914 for an electric conversion. My 2 cents:

The thing about these conversions is that I think they make financial sense even though the cost of the conversion is high. What you have to consider is that the kit (AC or DC) plus a 914 in decent- to-restored condition is comparable to a new car. I don't think of the kit price as having to be paid back by reduced operating costs. Looking at it this way, if you can put a kit in a 914 for even $15-20K aren't you paying LESS than a new two-seater? It gets better because the electric drivetrain is simple, bulletproof, and should last longer than you will. The motors for instance should go over a million miles with minimal maintenance (brushes if DC and nothing if AC). Entire systems (exhaust, ignition, fuel, lubrication, etc) don't exist so there has to be savings there. If you can keep the rest of the car maintained you have a car that costs the same-to-less to start and less through the years.

So, if you take the cost of the kit out of the picture the straight electric/gas comparison I figure goes roughly like this:

-The lead acid batteries used cost about $1400. They can be recharged about 550 times so $1400/550 = $2.54/cycle
-The batteries hold about 17.4kwh of electricity. At .15 kwh that's $2.61
$2.54 + $2.61 = $5.15 for about 60 miles of range (combined city/highway)
-$5.15/60miles = 8.6 cents/mile (electric)
-60 miles at 30mpg at $2.80/gal = $5.60
-$5.60/60miles = 9.3 cents/mile (gas)

The numbers used are estimates and things like charger efficiency are not factored in but they give me a sense that the economics are here now and that you can do something about the environmental mess we're in and be fiscally responsible too. Oh, and you get to drive around in a cool car!