If you were going to convert a car to Electric to sell, which car would it be?

In reply to Merc:

The issue with AC is the controller pricing. If you want anything more than about 70hp you are looking at controllers that run you over $15k just to get 150hp. A really high quality 150hp continuous DC controller is $2k. 300hp continuous DC controller is $3k. 1000hp DC controller is just under $10k. There are endless arguments out there about the merits of AC vs DC. The most compelling argument to me for AC is it is whats "cool" right now. The best argument for me for DC is bang for the buck. I have met the guys who design and make the really good DC controllers and if I do this they will get my business for at least the first conversion.

In reply to Merc:

I guess I didn't include the Tritium(sp?) Wavesculptor AC controller. I vaguely remember thinking it was a good deal when I last looked at it. I will have to check it out again. Did you have any particular AC controller/motor setup in mind?

VonSmallhausen wrote: How about a first generation MINI (the new one) pretty little, small, and people really like them. The only problem I would see is that they haven't depreciated a ton yet.

I do like this idea! They are what the Miata was to people when it first came out: exposure to the fact that driving can be fun!

I have a fancy 32kw 3-phase brushless DC motor and controller that will do regen. I guess it's close enough to AC to be relevant, lol.

If i had to pay full price for equivalent new stuff... i just couldnt. No way in hell.

A guy on the local EV mailing list asked about doing an electric conversion on a Boxster that would rival stock performance. I tried to explain to him how much more expensive/impractical this was than he seemed to think, but i dont think it sunk in.

The notion of an electric Ford Ranger does seem like a good idea. Cheap buy in, very handy, by definition would mostly be used for in-town stuff only. Those might be more practical than Boxsters, or even a Miata for that matter.

Also, there was a factory EV Ranger, so you may be able to "borrow" some engineering.

One more for Ranger/S-10, fit a removable diesel generator in the bed and it become an unlimited range plug-in-hybrid.

dyintorace wrote: The notion of an electric Ford Ranger does seem like a good idea. Cheap buy in, very handy, by definition would mostly be used for in-town stuff only. Those might be more practical than Boxsters, or even a Miata for that matter.

I do see a real need for a functional EV, but the price just keeps scaring me off. It is about $1250 per 10 miles of range for the cheapest decent Lithium chemistry battery. I don't want to build lead sleds and I am not convinced I can sell lithium powered trucks for over $20k. I will put together a quick parts list to crunch the numbers for trucks because I do really think their is a need.

I guess that is a big qualifier for all of the cars mentioned: a 150hp 50 mile range version needs to sell for at least $20k to be worthwhile, and a 300hp 100 mile version needs to sell for at least $30k.

mmosbey wrote: Also, there was a factory EV Ranger, so you may be able to "borrow" some engineering.

That motor pops up used every once in awhile. If their was a readily available controller it would be great conversion fodder.

Just so you guys know, you can already buy a REALLY high quality EV Ranger for super cheap, relatively speaking, as well as an electric S10. These were OEM offerings back in the day, and they go for about $10k. There aren't many out there, so supply is low, but not many people want them either. Hard to compete with that when you start pricing new parts that are anywhere remotely close in quality.

No need to wish cool electric small trucks existed...they already do/did!

Bryce

Find someone who wants the car converted and let them fund your labor. Otherwise, you'll wind up working for free.

My .02 cents.

mad_machine wrote: Fiero

I have driven one! It was in the 90's and was like a science project gone bad.

Ford Focus.

Edit...scratch that...make a trike like the T-Rex.

It is much harder to sell a $20K car with a radical motor swap then a $30K new car with dealer financing and warranty.

MrJoshua wrote: I have a job and am financially secure. That said, being able to knock one out and sell it every month or two wouldn't be bad.

Every month or 2?

Be serious. You are not being honest with yourself.

Your ability to focus on doing the same routine project over and over 4-6 times per year is about as likely as me growing gills. It's not gonna happen.

Your automotive ADD will set in and you will end up with 32 non-running 1st gen MINI's in the yard.

FFR Cobra or GTM. Plenty of space, easy part replacement and they look good. The added benifif of building around the conversion instead of in it or converting to work doesn't hurt either. Plus you can score second hand unfinised kits for less than 5k.

SVreX wrote: you will end up with 32 non-running 1st gen MINI's in the yard.

You say that like its a bad thing.

In reply to MrJoshua: Yeah, but you'd have to move your operations to someplace they don't care, like anywhere in Palatka.

Nashco wrote: Just so you guys know, you can already buy a REALLY high quality EV Ranger for super cheap, relatively speaking, as well as an electric S10. These were OEM offerings back in the day, and they go for about $10k. There aren't many out there, so supply is low, but not many people want them either. Hard to compete with that when you start pricing new parts that are anywhere remotely close in quality. No need to wish cool electric small trucks existed...they already do/did! Bryce

In did not know...but i am not really the target market.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ranger_EV
Interesting dashboard.

A Buick Electra. A Ford Lighning. Oooh! A Dodge Charger - Yes! The world's first electric car that can be jumped over poorly constructed bridges. You'll make millions while saving a fortune on rebadging the cars as electric.

There's a reason that "name brand" kit cars sell for several times the average scratch-built. If a customer's gonna shell out big bucks for something, they want a known quantity. The list of successes in low-volume products like this is vastly smaller than the road-kill list. Ask yourself in what ways will your product be appealing enough for people to buy it. Is it sexy? Is it fast? Is it economical? Is it green? Is it cheap? If your vehicle isn't clearly superior in one or more of these areas, you've got a hell of an uphill battle.

Build one for yourself before you worry about selling them. You'll have a vastly better idea of the challenges and opportunites once you've gotten your feet wet.

Someone wrote motorcycle. In some states go to your local Best Buy

Brammo Electric Motorcycle

In reply to kreb:

I understand and agree with pretty much everything you say. I hope to produce a vehicle that is sexy, fast, economical, reliable, and green. Cheap won't make the list, but less expensive than boring EV's and well within the price range people pay for that particular model of car are my goals. I plan on building one myself over 6 months or so to develop the concept and prove it is possible within budget. Then comes the difficult part of trying to sell it for enough money to make it worthwhile. I would just build what I want, but no one is going to spend the money to buy my 96 Previa for more than it would take to convert it. I am trying for once to look at the end goal before choosing a project. Then hopefully if I prove the idea worthless I will still be able to get most of my money back out of it.

I'm sure there will be demand from the right demographic. Might gut instinct says that buyer will want a Civic hatch even if it costs a little more.

FlightService wrote: Someone wrote motorcycle. In some states go to your local Best Buy Brammo Electric Motorcycle

Brammo used to build Atoms under license and had a shop full of cool cars. I dropped by a couple years ago and it looked like they had jetisoned cars altogether to focus on electric motorcycles.