Jun
14
2009
Anyone can make your own electric car, as it is much easier then you may have thought. There are kits available that will provide you with everything you need as long as you already have a car. You should completely understand how an electric engine works as this will make it easier to uncover and fix any problems that might occur. If you are doing this for the first time then you may want to enlist the help of someone that has already converted a gas car to an electric car.
The best type of cars to transform into an electric car tend to be lightweight vehicles, though you can actually convert any car. A lighter vehicle will bring you the most savings. Using a car with a manual transmission is recommended because the automatic transmission will use up a lot of energy and unlike using a gas engine you won’t stall out if you start in a higher gear.
Many individuals look for an inexpensive car to convert but you don’t want the car to fall apart anytime in the near future. Converting a car to electric will take a lot of time and you want the car to last. So do not chose the cheapest car on the lot but make sure you get a reliable car that will last. Also make sure the car has a good spot to mount the batteries, as having the batteries where a passenger will sit is not recommended.
Once you have your car you will need an electric conversion kit. This will consist of a motor and controller though it also includes wiring and mounting equipment. Kits are recommended as they are road tested and all the parts are designed to work together. Metric Mind, Canadian EV and Electro automotive all make excellent conversion kits.
Those that are converting their car in their spare time or only on the weekends may find that it will take a few weeks to complete the project. The most basic description of the job is taking out the gas engine and replacing it with a new electric engine. This means you will need to unconnect the engine and then make new connections with the electric engine.
When converting a car make sure you can use the car for what you intended. An electric car works great as a commuter car but if you are interested in driving long distances with a heavy load in the back then an electric car is not very economical.
