Sheer wrote: > There's one area in which I fail. If the NiZn pack has it's > expected life, my car will require a new battery pack at > 60,000 miles. He wants 100,000, which would require either > NiCad or NaNiCl, either of which would push the budget up.
Actually, there are several: - 0-60mph in 14s fully loaded (4 passengers), especially at say 50-80%DOD. - ability to carry 4 passengers (your conversion will be a bit to well-over GVWR with 4 passengers, won't it?) - plug-and-play maintenance-free (your conversion doesn't yet include a full set of Mk3 regulators and their associated cost does it?) It also doesn't include a battery temperature management system (yes, yes, I know, not essential on the north-wet coast, but it will be essential elsewhere) to keep the pack at a safe usable temp. And, the otherwise wonderful PFC charger isn't yet available commercially with a controller implementing a proper NiZn algorithm complete with temperature compensation, is it? Does your conversion still fit the budget with all of this extra equipment factored in? A Z5C NaNiCl pack with matching MES-DEA 3.2kW charger in an '87 vintage Chevy Sprint, with ADC 8" and T-Rex controller, would tip the scales at under 2000lbs, offer a +60mi range, and >60000mi pack life. It would fail the acceleration requirement miserably (~24s due to Z5C 32kW peak power), but it would meet the cost requirement. Depending on the size of the passengers, it ~might~ squeak by with 4 onboard at GVWR (if a 2-door; the 4-door might have a slightly higher GVWR). It would be plug-and-play, maintenance free, with the exception of periodic brush replacement. An AC drive such as yours would be preferable from this point of view, but the budget doesn't allow it. Cheers, Roger.
