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.

[r_towle]

I was watching a discover channel program on batteries.
It happens to be the number 2 most recycled item on the planet.
Steel is number one btw.
They are broken down to the core elements and everything is recycled to make new batteries...

That takes one arguement off the table for me.

The issue I have with Lithium batteries is the core producer of the lithium is korea...so we will be trading one regional issue for another.

I do agree that these types of changes are monumental and almost as large as Gas versus horses back at the turn of the century.

We bought a prius because its a decent cheap car, and its 50% cheaper than a volvo to fill with gas...
Took my swedish wife out of her lifelong car brand and switched..
she loves the prius...loves the mpg, and loves the savings.

It would never have happened if it did not affect her wallet...her weekly gas budget.

We have a huge south facing barn and we are installing a fairly large grid of panels soon...140 feet by 40 feet to begin with.
That should support a few plug in hybrids as the years go on.

If and when I can build an elec car that will produce stunning speed, stunning acceleration, and go 200-300 miles between charges...I will do it.
Till then, IC hybrids as the next step...and a diesel hybrid Volvo is coming in two years...so we will switch back to volvo again.

Rich