Electric 914 Progress Thread, (or, 'What Shannon Did Today') Options

[Otmar]

LRR tires are a subject which is hard to research. Manufacturers rarely have data. But the LRR tires really make a big difference.

From what I hear it's the hysteresis of the sidewall and tread that give the efficiency, that plus less flexing that comes from high pressure. Bald tires roll better than now ones to some extent.
It took adding Silca to the rubber to get LRR without sacrificing wet traction.

I often run 10 psi over the sidewall max. The ride is harsh, but it sure rolls well. I've never been able to wear any radial in the center before the edges were toast, especially on the narrow ones like on my Insight. The insight gains 5 MPG from that extra 10 psi. I also run most of my tires way above 50% of the rated load (but never over the rated load).

Check out This PDF which I found on the web. Tells a bit about it.

hth,

[BiG bOgGs]

Shannon, if you don't mind saying, how did all of the costs of conversion breakdown? Kit, batteries, tax breaks, extras....? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

[sgomes]

Lets see.... (first make sure the wife isn't looking over my shoulder....)

$1k for the car
$8k for the kit
$1k for batteries
$2k in things to bring the car up to snuff (brake upgrades, bushings, seals, etc....)
$1.8k for what I thought was a rebuilt transmission
$4k to rebuild the fucking thing.... <_<
____________
$17.8kilobucks total

Things to do:

Needs some rustoration -----> $2-4k ish (Mark!)
Needs paint --------------------> $????
Needs interior restoration --> $2k (Mr. Evil!)

[Dr Evil]

Poof! Did you speak of the devil? Here I am, send me your interior.

[Root_Werks]

I need to pull my dash and have some evil things done to it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

[Dr Evil]

Just so you guys know, I have been learning a lot lately about this upholstery biz. I just had my first dissatisfied customer. He was by no means wrong, I just needed to communicate better about what I can do with what. I will be fixing that problem and the customer is a great guy so all is going to be well, but here are the things that I learned and would like to pass onto yall.
1. If your dash core is cracked taht is no problem, but if it is eggshelled badly (brittle original covering that flakes off easy) it would probably be best for you to find a core that is not brittle. (always contact me about my abilities, now that I know their limits (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) )
2. These are vinyle covered dashes so they will not feel like the original plastic(?) coating and thus, will be different.

Everyone of my customers has been thrilled, even this latest one, but I am a perfectionist and wont settle for less than complete satisfaction. I'll be posting this stuff on my thread, too.

The most important thing to take with you out of this is that I work better with a solid core. I can bring a 1 to a 7 on a scale of 1-10, but you must ask yourself if you would be happy with a 7. So that means that I can bring a 5 to a 10, though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) I hope that I didn't scare you away, but I would rather have no customers thatn unhappy ones or to be unhappy myself. I look forward to the opportunity to work on your stuff.

Alright, enough of the serious stuff. I got a 916 replica headliner to pick up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mueba.gif)

Consequently, seats and back pads can be in drastically worse shape and be totaly brought back to life. All I need is for the skeleton to be intact.

[Aaron Cox]

i (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

i was mikes first customer. and he does good work

[Dr Evil]

Thanks Aaron, you and Twystd1 are among my biggest and happiest customers. Man, your seats were in bad shape (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) I guess in some cases you can pollish a turd. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[Chris914n6]

This may be a stupid question, but why don't EV's use solar panels? I would think that it could extend the distance another 10% or so.

Then you could be charging in the mall parking lot or...

[BiG bOgGs]

Not a stupid question, but a very common one. The dream would be to have a car that could recharge by itself sitting in a parking lot, but even if solar cells were 100% efficient the light energy that falls on the area of a car in one day is just not enought energy. An option that some have come up with is to have the building they park near covered with solar pannels that they can plug into while they are working. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

[sgomes]

I agree. Not a dumb question at all. Big Boggs is right. There just isn't enough sunlight per square foot to get the job done. HOWEVER, if we all had solar cells on our homes.... then you'd be talkin!!!!! Otmar does exactly that and is able to supply enough juice for his recharging station.

Here is a fun thing to do if you are a really weird person like me. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) Next time you're out and about try hunting for standard 120V outlets. You will be amazed. I can recharge at any 120V outlet. I've found that EVERY 7-eleven has an outlet outside. Most supermarkets have at least one (probably for vending machines or the old horse/car rides they used to have.) Motels and hotels all have them (probably for RVs and such.) ALL apartment complexes have them. etc etc etc. I would bet that everywhere I go I'm within 1000 to 2000 feet of a "recharging station."


By the way, the solar panel question is the number two question I get EVERY time I go out. What is the number one question?

"Have you thought about putting a generator on one of the wheels? I bet that would increase your range by 10% or so..."

It's not a dumb question but it does explain why there are so many people that truely believe in UFOs, perpetual motion machines, and zero-point energy. It takes some high school physics to understand why it will make things worse instead of better but it seems NO ONE I've met yet gets it.

[neo914-6]

Shannon,
Here's a car you may want when you win the Lotto... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Chrysler Crossfire electric: 6 speed allowing speeds over 90MPH, 100 mile range, 168 volt - 25 kw. It was shown at the SEMA in LV. Their website is www.whistlerinvestments.com. I wonder what they did with the Benz engine...
Felix

[neo914-6]

batteries...

[sgomes]

You gotta love their dash gauges!!!!!!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol2.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chairfall.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

Looks like a super nice conversion otherwise. I'll have to read up on the details. Their website seems to be down at the moment.

[neo914-6]

Shannon,
no price so didn't ask...
I'll scan the brochure later, I'm in the middle of cleaning out my garage (all right so I came in for a break). They also have a Mini cooper, and PT Cruiser...
Felix

[Otmar]

Whistler Investments (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

You know,
the EV industry brings out all types.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon8.gif)
Read This before you open your wallet.

[redshift]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

What an asshole!


M

[airsix]

I can recharge at any 120V outlet.  I've found that EVERY 7-eleven has an outlet outside.  Most supermarkets have at least one (probably for vending machines or the old horse/car rides they used to have.)  Motels and hotels all have them (probably for RVs and such.)  ALL apartment complexes have them.  etc etc etc.  I would bet that everywhere I go I'm within 1000 to 2000 feet of a "recharging station."

Um... Isn't that exactly like going around siphoning gas? If you don't pay the bill and don't have permission it's stealing.

By the way, the solar panel question is the number two question I get EVERY time I go out. What is the number one question? "Have you thought about putting a generator on one of the wheels?  I bet that would increase your range by 10% or so..." ...but it seems NO ONE I've met yet gets it.

The fact that no one gets it is confirmation of my greatest fears. Scary, isn't it?

-Ben M.

[sgomes]

I can recharge at any 120V outlet.  I've found that EVERY 7-eleven has an outlet outside.  Most supermarkets have at least one (probably for vending machines or the old horse/car rides they used to have.)  Motels and hotels all have them (probably for RVs and such.)  ALL apartment complexes have them.  etc etc etc.  I would bet that everywhere I go I'm within 1000 to 2000 feet of a "recharging station."

Um... Isn't that exactly like going around siphoning gas? If you don't pay the bill and don't have permission it's stealing.

Permission is the key. I hope I didn't give the impression I suit up in some kind of ninja outfit and run a quarter mile long extension cord! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

It's great advertisement for the cause. Most people are quite excited to help out and learn about electric cars at the same time. The cost is a joke.

[bob91403]

Yep, solar cells would work, if you only drove it once a week. Large panels and a charging/storage station at home make more sense. They're much more efficient when they're angled correctly to the sun. You could add a small gas powered generator, but it would not keep up with the draw. It would replace some battery weight and provide an additional charging source though. I can't wait 'til we can all convert our cars to hydrogen. It's a great way to store energy. Simple, relatively low cost for conversion. You can use wind, solar, geo-thermal, or any source you care to name, to make electricity and produce hydrogen from plain old water. Burn it, and it turns back into plain old water. There's even a, very safe, solid storage system available. The Governator has the right idea. He had his Hummer converted. Now all we need is distribution (pumps at the gas stations). Screw foreign oil!