I now remember somebody from Europe telling me that the rust on my car would not be allow were he was from. I guess I really am in EV heaven . We have NO inspection, ever here in Florida USA. There's a guy down the street who makes 3 wheelers , front end motorcycle back end car and has one with large V8 and back seat (size of a car). Motor cycles don't even need insurance here. With all you have to go through I don't see much hope for conversions there. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Janez Svetlin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, October 11, 2002 2:02 PM Subject: Re: EVs and Europe/conversions
> 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 > >
