RANT: Electric Conversions, Not what you think...... Options

[KaptKaos]

There's a fellow selling a motor in the classifieds. Here's the link:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=92077

Seems normal enough. I assume, maybe wrongly, that this person is using the car for an electric conversion.

I have no issue with people converting their cars to electric motors. However, I am wondering if it is reasonable to ask or inform the people that are looking to do this to please try to use '76 cars? This is particularly important in California, as the smog checks in California aren't required on Pre-76 cars.

There are two counter arguments that I can think of and they are:

1) '76 cars are fairly rare, and therefore either more expensive and/or harder to find.
2) The point of an electric conversion is to reduce emissions, so using a car that has higher emissions makes more sense.

I am not sure if this is practical/possible/reasonable/feasible, so I figured that I'd ask.

Am I out of line here?

Please note that I mean no ill will to the seller above.

[jtg]

Here's some info that I think is true:

There's a federal tax incentive for conversions. About 10% credit on parts bought if I remember correctly.


PThompson is right. About 9k for top of the line Batteries, 2K for a motor (DC), 2k for a controller, 1-2K for a charger, 1K for a motor-transmission adapter plate. rdauenhauer: I spent 9K for batteries 14 months ago, they came from China. The rest of the conversion parts were USA made.


The Prius is nice but it derives all it's energy from gasoline. Mine is all electric and gets charged from local power company. My state gets 75% of it's power from clean natural gas or nuclear. Clean diesel is good but still petroleum dependent.

I agree with jimtab, hybrids are not the complete solution. Why have an gas engine in an electric powered car if you don't have to? I charge mine up about twice a week if I drive it every day. For those that have two cars, one could very easily be a battery powered electric. My 914 was the perfect car for me to convert.

Jim