1sclunn wrote: > > What about conversions ? Are there people doing conversions in Europe? > what's the price of gas there ( in dollars ) ? When I heard that the think > was $27k I started to understand why they aren't selling . What I want to > know is why I haven't sold my EV Mazda truck (best conversion I have ever > done) for $10 k if there are all these people out there wanting thinks and > EV-1's.
Conversions are rear. It is hard to register any (even gas) conversion because of legislation. For every adaptation of chassis (or any other part of the car) you have to get few written (positive) opinions from an expert of the field. That ain't a problem but costs money. Next follows an inpection. More money down the drain. All critical parts have to have appropriate suitability tests (stamped a-test mark/number). Every part of conversion process must be documented/explained. There are special standards for electrical conversions including requirements for measuring emissions :) and maximum power (road tax is based on power). Wiring must folow certain CE/SIS standards. And so on. Well it can an it has been done - converting to electric that is. I know of two local conversions. First a small pick-up. Lead / AC. Lead VESNA deep-cycle sealed VRLA batteries. High cycle life, low power. ISKRA inverter. I believe 20kW peak and continuous. About 40 miles range. Second is a small 4 seater. Some ADC motor and forklift controler. Didn't have the chance to look at it closely yet. A new car can be had for about 6500 USD on. Gas is about 78 cents /l (about $3 per gallon i believe) Diesel is cheaper at 68 cents / l ($2.5 per gallon) My car does uses about 7l/100km (33 mpg). Optima yellow top costs about $180. Vesna 55Ah/12V VRLA about $120. Flooded lead is cheaper but nothing is available under 150Ah (forklift cells). Golf cart batteries are quite expensive, costing almost as much as sealed per pound. Saft Ni-Cd cannot be imported because official distributor decided that importing their small lithium cells is enough. They don't do flooded Ni-Cd they said. Transport hazard. Considering the prices of lead batteries and the cost of gas, electric is more than twice as expensive as gas (per mile). > Reasons to buy a conversion > 1 cheaper that factory (1/2 to 1/3 the price) There is no factory EVs here. > 2 available Depends on who you ask. Around here, conversions stops at larger exhaust, cut spings and alloy rims. > 3 easy to fix ( not some computer nightmare ) That is a large benefit of an EV. I know some EV forklift tehnicians. Watering/Brushes/controller/battery replacement is all they do. > 4 service available (the guy who made it can fix it ) > 5 they go faster/further ( because a conversion is not tied down to some > safely standard, we can put more batteries in there and a big ass > controller) > 6 could use a Porsche 9/11 body and have a real nice car still less that > $20k (I'll sell my 924 for $10k now) > 7 Be part of a special group of people on the cutting edge of something so > new and exciting (EV madness)you'll want to tell everyone you meet. > 8 You will make some back yard EV car converter very happy who will hold > your hand through your EV experience (and may give you a full refunds if you > aren't happy). Things aren't happening here. You're on your own. > 9 You just recycled one of the biggest pieces of trash thrown out today and > stopped more from being made. Another nice surprise here. Every car older than 12 years must go to inspection twice a year. Our country likes us to buy new cars and trash the old ones. Nowadays every decent dealer has offer like: We'll add $1500 to your old car if you replace it with a new one. They squash the oldest ones. > Reasons not to buy a commercial EV from a car maker > > 1 coast 2 to 3 times what a conversion cost > 2 not available . can't find them or have to wait/beg ect > 3 Not easy to fix. It will be so complicated that you/they may not be able > to fix them(you have heard the stories) > 4 You will have to take it to were they say to take it for repair. Leave it > as long as they tell you to . Deal with people who thinks your nuts for > buying one (because they won't own one) > 5 There performance is not what a conversion will give you /for the money > even at 2 time the price > 6 Pick any model/year gas car then convert it Compared to some brick (ev-1 > was nice looking I will give them that)of a car. > 7 You are nothing special with your factory EV and in the eyes of the > company who sold it to you ,they hope they never see you again. Do you think > if you call them and tell them how much you liked there car they would > care( I love those phone calls) > 8 Your interest in an EV ,viewed from the bottom(sales man who wants to sell > you a gas car instead) to the top (board members ) is viewed as a problem. > "If you would just buy a regular car" .No refund here if your not happy. > 9 You didn't recycle one of the biggest pieces of trash made today . I would still like to be able to buy a EV car the normal way from the dealer someday. Janez Svetlin
