Rate my odds of success

[AtomicCEO]

Here's my goal:

- An electric conversion of a 1974 VW Bug for my commute to work.

- 96V motor with a top speed of 65mph, and a range of 40-60 miles

- Budget of under $7K before tax breaks (which hopefully will bring the cost down to around $3K in Colorado).

 

I've made an offer on the donor vehicle. My budget was originally 6K, but in looking at the difference between $500 VW Beetles and $1200 Beetles... I opted to splurge there. The one I'm getting has a blown engine, but a completely redone interior with new seats, dash, and carpets. The cheap one had a massive hole in the floor and a rat living in it. Yikes.

 

The kit comes from a place online that gives you everything but the batteries, and the boxes they mount in.

 

I will be documenting the build... successful or not... with pictures and video.

 

With the tax incentives (Credit of up to 85% of the cost of converting a vehicle), and a total cost of only 7K, I don't know why more people don't do this kind of thing. Feel free to try to shoot my optimism full of holes. I would like some devil's advocate thinking to see if I'm being an idiot or not before I lay out most of the cash.

 

CO Alternative Fuel Vehicle Tax Credit

[AtomicCEO]

By the way, the last time I worked on a car was 1995, and I changed a distributor cap. It was the most advanced thing I had ever done on a vehicle... usually I limit myself to changing batteries and wiper blades.

 

However, as most can attest to around here... I am a borderline genius, and I'm an expert at everything.

[yo mama]

I think you'll make it work.

[Jimmy Neutron]

I think you'll make it work.

+1.

 

If you need help, call Puddy.

[Puddy]

+1.

 

If you need help, call Puddy.

+1

 

I can read some f'n instructions baby.

Edited August 11, 2008 by Puddy

[jaxfactor]

+1

 

I can read some f'n instructions baby.

 

 

You can put the finishing touches on it, like new tires for instance.

[yo mama]

+1.

 

If you need help, call Puddy.

The car is going to Amsterdam?

[TimC]

VW Beetle

 

Get da Vette next time, ElectricBoy.

 

Or maybe you should just invade Poland and steal their technology.

[rocknrobn26]

Who is doing your welding?

[AtomicCEO]

Who is doing your welding?

 

I'm trying to figure out how to get one interested in the project.

[Azazello1313]

...1974 VW Bug

 

for real?

[Savage Beatings]

I think you will be successful... until G. Richard Wagoner Jr. puts a bullet in your head.

[rocknrobn26]

I'm trying to figure out how to get one interested in the project.

 

Actually...I had prettier students than that!

[yo mama]

Actually...I had prettier students than that!

Prettier than a case of scotch? I doubt it.

[AtomicCEO]

for real?

 

Well, unless you want to go up to 144V, which is an awful lot of batteries... you need a car that is as close to 2000 lbs as possible.

 

Common conversions are Geo Metros, VW Rabbits, VW Bugs, and little pickup trucks.

 

It's much easier to find old Bugs than it is to find Rabbits or Metros, and I didn't want a truck. Plus there is a massive marketplace for aftermarket VW Bug parts. If I need a new bumper, seat, shocks, clutch, or dashboard... I can find tons of options from 5 or 6 different manufacturers.

 

If this works out, I've been giving thought to trying a fancy kit car on top of the VW frame. There are a lot of interesting sportscar bodies you can put on a Beetle frame.

 

It's really one of the best cars to work with for this.

[paulzale]

Should be pretty straight forward and I wish you well, the hardest part will be getting the batteries at a good price. I think lead has gone up 50% over the past year.

[Pope Flick]

Well, unless you want to go up to 144V, which is an awful lot of batteries... you need a car that is as close to 2000 lbs as possible.

 

Common conversions are Geo Metros, VW Rabbits, VW Bugs, and little pickup trucks.

 

It's much easier to find old Bugs than it is to find Rabbits or Metros, and I didn't want a truck. Plus there is a massive marketplace for aftermarket VW Bug parts. If I need a new bumper, seat, shocks, clutch, or dashboard... I can find tons of options from 5 or 6 different manufacturers.

 

If this works out, I've been giving thought to trying a fancy kit car on top of the VW frame. There are a lot of interesting sportscar bodies you can put on a Beetle frame.

 

It's really one of the best cars to work with for this.

 

 

The first time that thing moves and makes no sound, your brain is going to shut down for a moment or two...

[Clubfoothead]

If you can't weld very well (I can't), you might find out who the local high school or jr. college shop teacher is and see if his student's couldn't help you since you are providing the materials. Maybe the students could get extra credit or something. Worst that can happen is they tell you no. If there's ever anything I can do to help, let me know. I can at least hold the j0int while you weld and I used to be able to read schematics.

 

I'm jealous.

[cre8tiff]

Umm, doesn't Colorado have, like mountains and stuff? Seems an electric car wouldn't do that well in steep terrain...

[SEC=UGA]

Here's my goal:

- An electric conversion of a 1974 VW Bug for my commute to work.

- 96V motor with a top speed of 65mph, and a range of 40-60 miles

- Budget of under $7K before tax breaks (which hopefully will bring the cost down to around $3K in Colorado).

 

I've made an offer on the donor vehicle. My budget was originally 6K, but in looking at the difference between $500 VW Beetles and $1200 Beetles... I opted to splurge there. The one I'm getting has a blown engine, but a completely redone interior with new seats, dash, and carpets. The cheap one had a massive hole in the floor and a rat living in it. Yikes.

 

The kit comes from a place online that gives you everything but the batteries, and the boxes they mount in.

 

I will be documenting the build... successful or not... with pictures and video.

 

With the tax incentives (Credit of up to 85% of the cost of converting a vehicle), and a total cost of only 7K, I don't know why more people don't do this kind of thing. Feel free to try to shoot my optimism full of holes. I would like some devil's advocate thinking to see if I'm being an idiot or not before I lay out most of the cash.

 

CO Alternative Fuel Vehicle Tax Credit

 

Do electric cars that you build yourself have AC and heat? How does it work?

[wiegie]

Where is the "you're going to electrocute yourself" option?

Edited August 12, 2008 by wiegie

[AtomicCEO]

Umm, doesn't Colorado have, like mountains and stuff? Seems an electric car wouldn't do that well in steep terrain...

 

I will not be driving to the mountains within a 40-60 mile range. Like most people, I drive to work and back 5 days a week. My wife has a car, too... so we can use that if we need to go to the mountains.

 

Do electric cars that you build yourself have AC and heat? How does it work?

 

Excellent question. Heat... yes. I can install a heater, no problem. A/C... not so much. AC is very heavy and very power-intensive. Luckily, there is underground parking across from where I work, and I won't have that 107 degree car when I leave work in the summer.

 

Where is the "you're going to electrocute yourself" option?

 

Unfortunately, that would have been a very popular choice, and for good reason.

 

I saw pictures from another conversion, and there was a pic of when he accidentally hooked up a terminal wrong. The battery melted in seconds, and it wasn't even 72V DC. I am a little worried about that.

[AtomicCEO]

By the way, I'm doing regular updates to my Facebook page on this project, instead of posting it out here.

 

If you are interested, just shoot me a pm, and I'll add you as a friend.

 

The first two major components of this process have been:

1) Kill the bee's nest in the engine.

2) Cut a hole through the hood to access the release catch because it was jammed shut.

 

So far, it's all going exactly according to plan.

[Chief Dick]

I'm very proud of you for trying. This is exactly the type of thinking that will free us from the throes of foreign oil.

 

And just think, you will be helping the coal miners.

[tbimm]

I voted kinda work. After my latest Hybrid class I see many problems that you may not be able to overcome. Keeping the electric motor cool is a serious issue. The transmission is a hugh hurdle and then once you get it fabricated it will also have a serious cooling issue. Anything I can do to help[ let me know!