DIY Electric Car
With the recent interest in alternative-powered vehicles in the forefront of today's transportation news, the concept of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) electric cars is not only plausible, but entirely possible for the average American. So, how difficult is it to convert an internal combustion engine (ICE) car to an electric one? Well, the first thing to do is to find a candidate for conversion, so lets get started.
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First Pick the Right Vehicle
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Electric-powered cars are constrained by various issues associated with vehicle power to weight. Based on current battery technology, and its motor, you can either go fast for a short time, or go slowly for a long(er) time. As a result, this awareness suggests that the lighter the car, the better candidate you will have for a successful DIY conversion. In this case, good candidates can be any compact car, such as the Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, Geo Metro, or better, an original Morris 1100 or Volkswagen Squareback.
Why the Last Two Cars?
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An issue with electric power is the "how" law. In other words, how many batteries can I carry, and how do I house them in a small vehicle? In order to power a motor you have to carry a number of batteries, and these take up more space than allocated in the typical compact car. In the case of both the Morris and the Squareback, they are "stationwagon" configurations, which tend to make a lot more sense then a boxy Sentra.
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Manual or Automatic?
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With electric power a gearbox is not necessary, since the system uses a power controller rather than a set of gears to move the vehicle. So, it'll be better to find a car that carries a manual, rather than automatic transmission, since the initial cost to buy will be considerably less expensive.
Get the ICE Out
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Taking an ICE out of a frame is actually very simple. To do the job, rent an engine hoist, then using tools that can be found in a typical toolkit, release the bolts that hold the engine in the frame. Then, disconnect any hoses, related wiring harnesses or accessories, and lift the engine out of the frame and put it aside.
Mounting Electric Power
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After fabricating or buying appropriate motor-mount adapters, attach them to the electric motor and power controller, and install the assembly in the engine bay. Then connect the drive-shaft/rear-end assembly to the motor, connect a wiring loom to the battery harness, and you're done.
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