Has anyone been thinking about building an electric car (home-made) for themselvees any time soon?

Question

I just read of how a man in Los Angelese has converted an old Porsche 914 to an electric car with a 60 mile range for $18,000 (24 lead acid batteries). ( http://www.latimes.com/classified/automotive/highway1/la-hy-wheels2-2008jul02,0,3144785.story )

I thought to myself that's a good idea. Probably better to buy an electric scooter though, if you don't need to take the freeway often as is the case in L.A.

I'm now doing some investigation into that idea and I hope to begin building my own electic car also. Does anyone else have similar plans?

I have heard about how its actually better to convet old small pickup trucks (Ford/Toyota/GM) to electric pickups because the box can hold more batteries and the springs are easily upgraded to hold the extra tonnage. Lead acid batts are heavy but they're cheap, so that's why Lithium Ions are shunned for now.

My thoughts are to buy an older car, as small and light as possible, and then convet it with as few batteries as possible.

Answer 1

you actually dont need to go as far as to use electric. it is now possible to make a car that runs on water seriously here go to this link its a guide on how to change your car from gas to a water fueled car, step by step so that even the general public can achieve this. it will cost its says from 60 to 150 dollars.

http://tinyurl.com/5o2gyz

Answer 2

You sound like you have put alot of thought in project, I hope you succeed and maybe you can multiply your idea and start selling electric cars. You aren't the first man to come up with idea or even for the last ten years, thirty years ago a few good men came up with the electric car but the car companies said it wasn't practical for that time. Personally I think they didn't like the idea because they didn't come up with the idea first. so they couldn't  recieve the full benefits meaning they would have to share  the profits. Its all a big stink and thank your government for it all. If they were thinking of the people in the first place they would have  Good Luck with the car.  Aprildrilled for oil in Alaska ten years ago.

Answer 3

Na this end

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The cost would make a home mortgage look small in comparison

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Just to have the parts would be a break the bank effect

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And then the trial and error all cost big time and the family effect on it would be a cost no one could account for

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So if you are into it for to be the winner of the competition don't even try unless you have a finical backer

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To do it as a build your own kite kind of attack go for it  only keep it model car size 1/32 size kind of thinking

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Answer 4

I think about it all the time, but I don't believe I have the time or skill required.  You should really check out Make Magazine at www(dot)makzine)(dot)com, as well as Popular Science.

You are right on track about eliminating weight.  To be the most efficient, you need to also eliminate as many of the electrical components as possible.  In other words, the 100 watt amp under the seat has got to go : -)

Answer 5

electric cars are ok but I'd rather build an air car if i knew how check out ConvertToAir.com for information on how air cars work