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.

[Eric_Shea]

Cool info.

Now, lets get that battery pack down to say $5k and I'm on it. We could have it fit where the gas tank was and, at around 350lbs (was I reading that right... You're going to shave 850lbs off with the new battery) that would be amazing. I had a 350lb girlfriend once... 914 handled it well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Glass hoods, glass body panels. Weight savings on the motor. We might be able to get this pig to weigh in at stock numbers!

I think its a cool technology to follow. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[914Mike]

Cool info.

Now, lets get that battery pack down to say $5k and I'm on it. We could have it fit where the gas tank was and, at around 350lbs (was I reading that right... You're going to shave 850lbs off with the new battery) that would be amazing. I had a 350lb girlfriend once... 914 handled it well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Glass hoods, glass body panels. Weight savings on the motor. We might be able to get this pig to weigh in at stock numbers!

I think its a cool technology to follow. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

My '74 has a glass bumper, it was easier to cut the charging port (hidden behind the front plate) than steel. I may swap out the lids when it's due for paint.

The price of batteries is driven by consumption. That's where Hybrids are helping, they consume a lot more batteries than would otherwise be used, and the cost gets lower the more sold.

One point:

Cold weather does not affect lithium as much as lead/acid, but those of you that drive in sub-zero temps probably already have a block heater to keep your ICE warm at night, lots of places up north have plugs outside stores that are free for shoppers. Same thing with batteries, just run the heater on high while charging to warm them up, and run it on low while driving to maintain the temps. Battery boxes are insulated...

I'm going with lead/acid for my first pack, to allow me to tweak the settings on the AC controller. When that set dies, I'll be looking at alternatives, which will be cheaper than they are today. Higher voltage will mean revamping all the settings, but I'll have done it before...