When you are converting a gasoline driven car to run on electricity, there are a few electrical accessories in your car that you may not get to use. If you are using a vehicle during cold winter months, you’ll want a heater to keep you warm. Unless you don’t mind wear thick clothing every time you get into your car.
When you are starting your Do It Yourself electric car conversion project, you have to get a donor car. Some times, due to the condition of the donor car, it may not have a heater or the heater in simply broken. How do you replace the heater with minimum cost? You can install one yourself by using the heating element of an ordinary room heater.
Watch the video below. Gavin Shoebridge of New Zealand modified a room heater that he bought from an appliance shop to be used on his electric car. What Gavin did was to remove the heating element and attached it to the existing water heater core in the air condition unit.
It’s a straight forward and simple process. Just cut a hole on the core, insert the heating element, seal it with some high temperature gasket sealant, hook it up to the power source and you will have a heater for your home made electric car.
Converting a conventional car to EV can be fun and rewarding. If you would like to find out how to get started on your own EV conversion, you can download a preview copy of Les Oke’s Convert 2 EV e-book.
Les Oke’s has been driving and converting electric cars for more than 20 years. Convert 2 EV is a manual he written for EV novices. Just enter your name and email address in the form on upper right of this blog and you can download the e-book immediate.
In this blog post, I am going to focus on Peter Millward’s Electricity4gas Manual review. If you were to surf the web for information related to DIY electric car conversion, most probably you will come across the Electricity4gas guide. The main web site for the EV conversion manual can be seen at www.electricity4gas.com.
Who Is Peter Millward?
Peter Millward is the author of Electricity 4 Gas e-book. From the web site, he mentioned that he is an environmental activist. Meaning Peter has a philosophy and strong concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the environment. One way of doing so is to reduce his carbon footprint by driving a pure electric car.
I wanted to know more about Peter. Unfortunately, a quick Google on his name did not reveal much information. Is he a real person or just a marketing spoke person? Honestly, I do not know. Many e-book publishers actually put a person to showcase their product as part of their marketing strategy. I am not too concern with that. What’s important is the information, not the packaging.
Electricty4gas Manual Content
What can you find inside Electricity4gas guide? Generally, the e-book was written for someone who has an interest to convert a gasoline driven car to electric. It shows you all the technical aspects of an EV conversion project.
The e-book was written primarily targeting the novice. The language is pretty easy to understand with lots of pictures and diagrams. For an experienced auto mechanic, he may not appreciate the simplicity of this manual.
Owning Your Own Electric Car
Electric car conversion is a simple but a tedious process. You have to know the internal workings of an automobile. You would also have to be good with hand tool and machinery.
The fact is, most people would not have the time nor the know how to convert a gasoline driven car to run on pure electricity. In this case, it would be a better idea to send your car to a professional workshop to be electric retrofitted.
Have you been to the workshop for a major repair on your car and not knowing what’s going to happen? It is quite a frightening experience. You will experience the same feeling with your EV conversion. You wouldn’t know the difference between a charge controller or a transmission adapter plate.
To be prudent, it is best for you to get some basic knowledge on the science behind an electric vehicle. With some information, at least you will understand what the mechanic is try to tell you about EV. To brush up on your EV skills, Peter Millward Electricity4gas manual will be very helpful.
I have been keeping an eye on the electric car industry for over a year now. Since then, there have been a lot of new electric car models that have been unveiled from the manufacturers. These EVs are very practical for everyday driving. Some of the cars are not available for the time being, but the manufacturers have started taking orders. The following is my personal list of the Top Ten Electric Car Model.
1) Tesla Roadster - The Tesla Roadster is an all-electric sports car produced by the electric car firm Tesla Motors and is the first car produced by the company. The Roadster can travel more then 200 miles on a single charge of its lithium-ion battery pack, and can accelerate from 0–60 mph in 3.9 seconds. This is my number 1 pick because of its great sex appeal.
2) BMW Mini E - BMW announced the production of a Mini powered by an electric motor in the summer of 2008 to be called the Mini E. BMW Group will be the world’s first manufacturer of premium electric vehicles to deploy a fleet of more than 500 Mini E for private use.
3) Fisker Karma - The Fisker Karma is a plug-in hybrid luxury sports sedan revealed on 14 January 2008 and manufactured by Fisker Automotive. So far, this is the closest luxury sport electric car that can rival the Tesla Roaster.
4) Chevrolet Volt - The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle to be produced by General Motors. The vehicle is expected to be launched as a 2011 model with integration vehicles to be built starting on June 2009. In spite of GM bankruptcy filing, the automaker announced it remained committed to keeping the Volt on schedule. There has been a lot of buzz on the Chevrolet Volt. It looks like it could be the idea sedan electric car for the average driver.
5) Tesla Model S - The Tesla Model S is the second electric car model from Tesla Motors. This is a cheaper version of a sedan electric vehicle for the public. During the preliminary development stage, the car was actually codenamed WhiteStar.
6) Nissan Electric Cube - The Nissan Cube is a mini MPV produced by Nissan and currently sold only in Japan, United States and Canada. In 2008, Nissan revealed the Nissan Denki (Japanese for “electric”) Cube Concept. Making its debut at the March 2008 New York International Auto Show.
7) Jeep EV Wrangler - The 2010 Jeep Wrangler EV, was revealed on the 2009 Detroit auto show. The Wrangler EV runs as an electric vehicle so long as its lithium-ion batteries hold a charge. The vehicle also has a 200-kW (268 hp) electric motor that can go up to 40 miles, before a small gasoline engine kicks in. The internal combustion engine doesn’t physically drive the rear wheels, but acts as a generator and feeds electricity to both the battery and the electric motor. In total, The Wrangler EV with the combination of battery and generator power is enough to travel 400 miles on a ten-gallon tank of fuel.
8) BYD E6 - BYD E6 is an all electric crossover in production by BYD Auto. Its all-electric range is expected to reach 400 km per charge. The E6 will be marketed as a 5-passenger family-oriented crossover vehicle.
9) Citreon C1 ev’ie - The Citroën C1 ev’ie is a model of electric car adapted from a standard Citroën C1 by the Electric Car Corporation. The model was first released on 30 April 2009.
10) Aptera 2e - The Aptera 2 Series is a high-efficiency passenger vehicle, currently in the final stages of design by Aptera Motors. The initial 2e model is a two-seat, three-wheeled battery electric vehicle. Aptera is currently accepting pre-orders from California residents.
Do you have the desire to buy an electric car? I am not talking about hybrid car, but a pure plug in electric vehicle (EV). There’s going to be a lot of buzz in the automotive industry very soon with car manufacturers promoting the heck out of pure electric cars. Chevrolet is creating buzz with their Volt model, Nissan is promoting their Electric Cube and BMW their Mini electric model. Have you check the price of these EV? You’ll be surprised it will cost upwards of $40,000. Pretty pricey for a car don’t you think.
Some electric car enthusiast would prefer to convert a conventional gasoline vehicle into a pure electric car. It is not as glamorous, but it does give you the same benefits of any EV such as zero emission, noise free and especially gasoline free. To do that, you will need a DIY electric car plan.
What can you expect from a homemade electric car plan? First of all, you need to understand your driving needs. Most of us would think that we need a car to drive long distances. In actual fact, 90 percent of the time, our car is used for short commute of less than 50 miles.
But if you do need a car to travel long distances for work on a daily basis, you have to understand an EV would not suit your requirement. The best electric car on the road which is the Tesla Roadster has a drive mileage of only about 200 miles before you have to recharge the battery. The normal sedan EV would have a mileage of approximately 100 miles.
Preparing The Plan
When you are drawing up your DIY electric car plan, you have to factor in your daily driving needs. What do you need the car for? Is it for short commute to the grocery store or to pick up the kids from school? Do you have to carry heavy loads?
Based on your needs, you can now start sourcing for the electric donor car. A donor car is basically a car that you will use for your electric car conversion project. The work will involve stripping out the internal combustion engine and replaces it with an electric motor. To power the motor, a series of deep cycle batteries will be used. How many batteries to use again will depend on your requirement or as per your DIY electric car plan.
Outsourcing The Conversion Work
Most people would not have to skill or the experience to convert a conventional automobile into an EV. It would be a better idea to outsource the work to a professional mechanic. To be prudent, you should learn some basic science of an EV. With some knowledge, at least you will know when you are being charged for parts or work not needed on your car.
For a really practical and easy to read electric car conversion manual, check out Les Oke’s Convert 2 EV e-book. Les Oke has been converting and driving electric cars for more then 20 years. Convert 2 EV was written to impart his skill and experience to those new to electric vehicle.
The next step is to connect the electric motor to the existing transmission unit. How do you do that? There are numerous ways to connect both the motor and transmission shaft together. You can custom made a metal bracket and then use a universal coupler. Alternatively, you also custom made an adapter plate.
The video below shows how Gavin Shoebridge of New Zealand custom made an adapter for his electric motor. He actually outsourced the work to a local engineering workshop. That is a good idea. Have you tried drilling, cutting and filing an 1 inch metal plate? It is not fun is you don’t have the proper tools and equipment.
When the adapter plate is done, all you have to do is bolt on the electric motor and connect is to the transmission unit. Make sure you have sufficient bolts. At this stage, it might be helpful if you have a hoist handy. The electric motor plus the adapter plate can weight quite a bit. When the electric motor is connected to the transmission, next you have to secure it the chassis of your homemade electric car.
If you are doing a DIY electric car conversion at home, one of the key components that you have to look into is the battery. For an electric vehicle (EV) instep of the internal combustion engine (ICE), you are now using an electric motor to generate torque. To spin the motor, you need an electric power source, which is the battery pack. What kind of battery should you get for your homemade electric car?
Generally, people will use acid flooded deep cycle battery, just like the one used on electric golf carts. As an alternative, you can also consider the AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) battery for your electric car.
Benefits of AGM Type Batteries
One of the key difference of this type of battery is the absorbed glass mats used between the plates. The mat is soaked with electrolyte material up to about 95% saturation. This is also called “starved electrolyte” because it is not fully saturated.
Since the mat is not fully saturated, the batteries will not leak in case there is a crack on the casing. This is advantages for electric cars in case you get yourself in an accident. Having 10 - 15 units of battery on board, any acid leaks will be hazardous to the car and the driver.
Since the AGM has no liquid electrolyte, this mean there is no freezing during cold weather and expansion during warm weather issues. They are literally immune to their surrounding temperatures.
Efficiency of AGM
Most AGM batteries are very efficient. They have an efficiency rate of up to 99% when charging, due to the fact that all the hydrogen and oxygen gasses recombine back into water during the charging process. This is effect reduce the chances of water lost.
If you are using AGM for your electric car, you do not need a special charger. Any normal acid type will work just fine. This is great for EV converter that’s working on a tight budget.
Finally, AGM battery has very low self-discharge rate, only 1 to 3% per month. What does this mean? You can literally leave the AGM idle with no charging for extended period of time. When you use it again, you will notice a reasonable charge level. If you were to do this is a conventional acid flooded battery, if left sitting idle for a long time, you will notice a power loss due to self-discharging.
Should You Use AGM Batteries?
Now for the final question…Should you use AGM batteries for you DIY electric car conversion? There are many advantages for an AGM compared to acid flooded battery. It is safer, immune to temperature changes, highly efficient and can hold the charge quite well. The only drawback is its cost. AGM is typically cost 2 -3 time more than a conventional flooded type.
You would have to work out your conversion budget. Compare the pros and cons of using AGM. The end results will be great for you electric car.
Many electric car owners, especially in the United States like to show off their DIY electric car conversion. That has lead to the establishment of numerous electric car clubs. The following is the list of Top Ten Electric Car Club in America:
1) Electric Cars Owners Club
The Electric Car Owners Club was started in 1982 by Frank Didik as an informal association of electric car owners and enthusiasts. At that time, interest in electric cars developed during the second gasoline crises in 1977, had died out, and it was very difficult for electric car owners to obtain information on maintaining and improving their electric cars. The club acted as a focal point for electric car owners.
2) Methacton Electric Car Club
The Methacton Electric Car Club has been in existence since 2001. They are an extracurricular, high school club with 15 active members, based at Methacton High School, in Norristown, PA. They maintain, as well as continually develop a battery electric vehicle known as, The Lorax. The club works with faculty sponsors, members of the community and local and national sponsors, to continually develop the car’s technology and energy efficiency.
3) Milwaukee Electric Car Club
The Milwaukee Electric Car Club is dedicated to Electric Cars, electric car technology, building electric vehicles. Milwaukee Electric Car Club has members who converted gasoline vehicles to Ac & DC powered electric vehicles.
4) Fox Valley Electric Auto Association
Fox Valley Electric Auto Association, the FVEAA for short. They are the northern Illinois chapter of the Electric Auto Association and they meet each month.
5) Santa Monica Neighborhood Electric Vehicle Club
NEV Clubs are on the rise. Forming a club enables members to explore the many uses of NEV transportation in their community; thereby promoting a clean, quiet, and pleasant environment. A NEV club consists of a group of people who are passionate about low-speed vehicles and are interested in making a difference in their community.
6) Eastern Electric Vehicle Club
Founded in 1980, the E.E.V.C. is a grass-roots network of people from all walks of life interested in the potential of alternative powered vehicles. As the need for alternative energy grows, so does the importance of exploring alternative energy resources.
7) EV Club Of The South
The EV Club Of The South is for EV drivers, their families and others interested in electric vehicles and is a chapter of the EAA Electric Auto Association.
8) Gateway Electric Vehicle Club
Gateway Electric Vehicle Club is a registered chapter of the Electric Auto Association (EAA) made up of individuals living in the Saint Louis area that believe electric vehicles (EVs) are an important part of the solution to our global energy crisis. The main goal of the club is to raise awareness around the benefits of EVs.
9) Austin Area Electric Automobile Association
The Austin EV is a group of people who gather to discuss electric vehicles, their construction, the technologies that make them work, and how we can further their continued re-introduction into central Texas.
Do you need a clutch for a DIY electric car conversion? Some people would prefer a clutch system on the EV to shift gears on the go. In fact, when you are driving a homemade electric car, you can just leave it in 2nd or 3rd gear. All you have to do is shift it into gear, press on the accelerator pedal and off you go.
Just to show you a DIY electric car does not need a clutch, the video below shows good old Gavin Shoebridge removes (grid off) the whole clutch pedal of his Mitsubishi Tredia electric donor car.
One benefits of driving an all electric automobile is having less trip to the gas station. Unless you want to use the rest room or buy candy at the service station, you wouldn’t have to go there anymore.
All electric car, as its name suggests, use purely electricity for power. To generate torque, the vehicle uses either a AC or DC electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine (ICE).
For the time being, all electric automobiles are still relatively expensive compared to a conventional vehicle. A good sedan EV from the manufacturers would cost upwards of $40,000. Some district is cheaper because the local government offers grants.
Alternatively, you can own an EV by building one at your home garage. Many car enthusiasts are converting a gasoline driven car to run purely on electricity.
If you want a homemade all electric automobile, first, you have to get a donor car. The donor car is basically the vehicle that you will be converting to EV.
What is the criteria for a donor car? First, it has to be rear wheel drive. Second, make sure there is ample storage space for the batteries. A DIY electric car would require 10 - 15 units of lead acid batteries. To save cost, you can look for a donor car which has a busted engine.
Electric Car “Heart Surgery”
The idea of a DIY all electric car is to remove the internal combustion engine and replaces it with the electric motor. When the engine is gone, all the connecting parts such as gas tank, fuel lines, fuel pump, radiator, exhaust pipe etc are redundant and can be removed as well.
To generate torque, the electric motor is connected to the existing transmission unit. By having a rear wheel drive donor car, the process of lining up the motor with the transmission will be much easier.
How do you join both the motor and transmission shaft together? You will have to use a device known as a universal coupler and adapter plate. To line up the shafts, you have to custom made a medal bracket for the electric motor.
Not everyone can perform a DIY electric automobile from their home garage. It requires machine tooling skill and also electrical wiring knowledge. If you are not good with hand tools, it may be a better idea to outsource the conversion work to a professional mechanic.
In this blog post, I am going to focus on Peter Millward’s 
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