It is not likely that the prices of oil and gas are going to come down anytime in the near future. This has resulted in car manufacturers and others doing research look into other options that mean cars that are less costly, consume less fuel and consequently reduce expenditure thereof, and increase savings.

The electric car is a vehicle that offers the same advantages as any conventional vehicle that runs on gas and yet saves you a lot of money. There are electric vehicle conversion kits that are available and allow your cars to run on electricity.

Electric car owners do not have to worry about spending on petrol from time to time nor do they need to set aside a budget separately for petrol. They also enjoy additional benefits such as a noiseless drive, less money and time spent on traveling, and being able to drive at high speeds.

To top it all, the electric car is emission free. It is environmentally friendly and the best way to go green.

Buying Electric Car Retrofitting Kits

You have the option of converting your car to run on electricity by using do-it-yourself kits. If you are not confident enough with DIY kits, you can always buy off an electric car from a suitable manufacturer.

The third option is to buy premade electric car kits that can be fit into your vehicle to turn it into an electrically powered vehicle. Canadian Electric Vehicles is a company that sells electric premade car kits for such a purpose. Universal and Custom kits are the two types that are available.

Whereas universal kits are made to suit most vehicles such as smaller trucks and cars, the custom kits are specifically made for a single type of car. They cannot be used on any another type of vehicle or another car.

The universal kit comes along with all accessories such as the cables, DC motor, charger, circuit breaker, pot box, shunt, etc. The custom kits are more suited for those vehicles that are made differently than others.

Some examples are the kits made for Nissan, Chevy, Ford, etc. The construction of such vehicles may require additional or customized equipment to effectively convert them into electric powered cars. An example could be the different drive system, the boxes, and the battery rack.

Some additional points to be kept in mind when getting a conversion kit for your vehicle are the following. First of all purchase the right kit for your car that has suitable tools and additional parts. There should be enough space in your vehicle to be able to place the batteries.

Make sure that there is allowance for ventilation in terms of air space. After installation of the kit, it is strongly recommended to first perform a system recheck. Then thoroughly check to ensure correct set up and working of the electric kit.

Keeping away from bumpy and rough roads, when driving such cars, ensures that no part of the electric kit is damaged and lasts longer. It is recommended that batteries be charged once every three years.

An electric car conversion kit will allow you to run your car which otherwise you will drive using gasoline into an electric vehicle. Most of the kits are available in the market with vendors; you can get all the components if you are interested in retrofitting your automobile to run on electricity. These kits can be installed by you without any outside support.

Before you actually go to buy the kit, you must research well and find the cars which are more suited for such a conversion. After having installed the electric kit, your car should run as per your needs.

Before you actually decide to convert your vehicle into an electric vehicle (EV), here are some tips which you should keep in mind so that you get the most out of your “green” car.

Majority of the cars have a limit of driving from 30 and 100 miles, this is affected by the driving conditions and weight of the car. The car suits those who have to commute in this range and conversion will highly benefit them.

There are other options also as those who have two cars and one is used only for short trips, conversion to electric kit is the best alternative. This will save a huge amount on the costs of gasoline annually.

For those who have to commute more than 30 miles one way and the terrain are rough and hilly, the conversion will not suit you. But for those who have a driving needs of around 20 miles and the road is good and other conditions are normal, the conversion can be really beneficial for them.

Remember that electric cars have to be charged overnight so that you can use it next day. For charging you need a garage or a carport which has suitable electrical outlets. Most of the car can run up to 25 miles per gallon ratio; the top speed is as good as that of gas powered vehicles and can accommodate four passengers comfortably.

The normal cost is within $10,000 but batteries need to be replaced annually and the cost is around $300 each. Before you go for conversion you must keep all these expenses in mind. Those who are interested to know about the conversion of their vehicles into pure electric vehicle, they can attend various schools which teach the subject of EV conversion.

Such courses are quite useful and will help you to reduce the mistakes when installing the electric conversion kit. They also give you a fair idea about the total cost and actually help you in finding the suitable kit.

If you find it difficult or do not have mechanical ability, you can seek the help of an expert mechanic who can help you in the installation process. There are many companies which are in the business of converting your car to an electric vehicle; if budget permits you can also seek their assistance.

There is a lot of material available on the internet, you may browse online and get the desired information. Once done, you will have great satisfaction in terms of saving money and also contributing to the environment.

For more information on homemade electric car, check out the  Convert2EV ebook by Les and Jane Oke.

The Okes are from Canada and they have been living a green lifestyle for more than 15 years. The guide was written based on their experience on retrofitting automobiles to run purely on electricity. For more information on electric vehicle conversion, click on the link below to visit the Convert2EV web site.

==> Click here to visit Convert2EV now!

Will you have a hybrid of gas and electric or a complete electric car? A hybrid car has an electric battery and a gas engine that works together to power the car. While the hybrid can drive for short distances using just battery power, it’s not good for touring.

A fully electric car makes it difficult to drive much longer distances as you will need to eventually recharge. For trips around town, it is doable.

To create such a car, you can try using solar power. What happens when it is cloudy? Although it isn’t completely off the grid, you can plug your car’s battery to recharge the solar cells.

Plugging your car into any outlet won’t work as the car will need much more power. A standard household socket can charge the car but it will take longer. You will need a dedicated charger.

Advances in battery technology makes lithium batteries most suitable for electric cars. It holds a charge much longer and is better for driving longer distances.

To store energy in lithium batteries, using wind or solar power can charge them while being completely off the grid. When charging is complete you can drop the battery into the car and drive wherever you need to go. It is a great option for backup batteries that you can store for later use.

You can use solar, deep cycle, airplane, and golf cart batteries. Golf cart batteries are the best and cheapest to use. To determine how many batteries you need, you need to figure if you are using DC or AC conversion.

Using lithium batteries have no need for DC/AC conversion. Lithium batteries aren’t cheap, but it lasts the longest.

To make an electric car, you will need a donor car (preferably a newer model as parts are hard to come by for older cars) with lots of room for battery cells. Depending on the battery you use will determine how fast the car will go, how much electricity it can contain, and how big of a space you need to build the engine.

The car must have a manual transmission for the conversion to work. Having a car that is light in frame is best.

Purchase a conversion kit.

You will also need some mechanical know-how as converting a gasoline powered car to electric is quite a task. The transmission adaptor plate and assembly that fits the motor is quite precise. If you don’t know what you’re doing, take your project to someone who does, but with a conversion kit and following instructions you can do the retrofitting yourself.

Firstly, after initial investment, there is absolutely no recurring expenses on fuel; resulting in considerable savings. Electric car motors are practically noise-free unlike internal combustion engines of gasoline-run cars. You can enjoy the same high-speed drive as in standard gasoline vehicles.

There will be considerable savings in terms of time and costs; there is no need to stop an electric car on a long drive from time to time for filling up gas. Apart from all these factors, electric cars do not emit any harmful gases and therefore, are pollution-free and environmentally friendly.

It is a very simple procedure to convert the existing conventional internal combustion engine car into an electric car. There are also many companies selling full-fledged electric cars. Those who would not like to take the trouble of converting their cars into electrical ones on their own and get their hands dirty or greasy; they can dispose off their cars and buy an electric car from a car dealer.

There are also many companies, such as Canadian Electric Vehicles that sell electric car conversion kits for the benefit of those who would like to fit electrical system in their cars without any external help. There are two types of electric car conversion kits, the universal kit and the custom-made kit.

The universal kit, similar to the ones made by the Canadian Electric Vehicles and the Deluxe Universal Kit produced by the Electro Automotive are meant for varieties of light vehicles, such as cars and small trucks. The kit includes all components and accessories required for conversion such as the advance DC motor, Adaptor, Contractor, Controller, Pot Box, Circuit breaker, Fusible Links, Ampere and Voltage Gauge, Shunt, Charger, Cables and the Batteries.

In contrast, the custom-made kits are made exclusively for a particular type of vehicle and thus are not suitable for any other type. For example, the electric car kits are available specifically for Sentra, Beetle, Ford Rangers, Fiero and Civic or Rabbit cars There are a few vehicles that have different configurations as compared to other cars or trucks.

Custom-made kits and specific equipment are necessary for these models in order to convert their engines to run on electric power, as for example the total ‘drive system’, battery racks and boxes. Apart from knowing about the various types of kits required for conversion of standard cars into electric car, it is necessary to be familiar with different guidelines for conversion of internal combustion engine into an electrical system.

Before taking up the conversion job, it is essential to make sure that there is adequate space in the car to keep the batteries and for providing sufficient ventilation. It is also important to check whether appropriate kit has been purchased and that it has all the needed tools.

After installing, it is advisable to ensure that all the components are accurately connected. It is also necessary not to drive on bumpy roads to avoid damages to various components of the engine. One should recharge the battery whenever necessary and according to experts, the battery should be replaced at least by three years.

In order to get comprehensive guidelines on installing an electrical system in the existing car, it is better to purchase an online guide that gives the details of the procedure for conversion of the traditional car to an electric vehicle. This will facilitate in familiarizing with the various components required and the instructions to connect them correctly.

A lot of people are wondering, how much does an electric car conversion cost?

It is very hard to come out with an exact figure. The project cost will depend a lot on what want to get out of your DIY electric car.

One thing is for sure though, if you were to buy an electric car conversion kit, you will be saving a lot of your time and effort.

The following is a list of 5 reasons why it is a good idea to use an electric car conversion kit.

1) Save cost.

Most EV conversion kits are custom made to fit a specific car model. For example, if you are planning to use Volkswagen VW Beetle as your EV donor car, you can purchase an electric retrofitting kit special designed for that model.

2) Save time.

If you were to make every EV components by yourself, it will take you a long time.

The toughest component to fabricate on your own is the metal adapter plate.

The adapter plate will be used to line up the electric motor to connect to the existing transmission unit.

Have you tried cutting, filling and drilling a 1 inch metal plate?

It is a very difficult task if you do not have the necessary tools and equipment.

3) All parts work together.

This is a big time saver also. But most importantly, it will save you a lot of unnecessary head ache!

Converting a normal car to run on electricity involves a lot of components. Sometimes, these components do not work well together.

The problem is to troubleshoot and figuring out why certain system is not working or refuse to work.

An EV conversion kit will have parts that have been tested to work well together.

4) Parts availability.

If you live in a remote area, it may be difficult for you to locate a certain parts needed for your donor car. You may have to wait weeks before the hardware shop get the stock you’ve order.

The custom EV conversion kit will have all the required parts needed to retrofit your electric car. All the components can also be easily delivered to your home or garage.

5) Step by step instruction.

Finally, the benefit of using an electric car conversion kit is the step by step instruction.

The kit comes with an instruction manual that will show you how and where to install the components sent to you.

Some premium conversion kit will also have High Definition (HD) instructional videos.

No more trial and error. All you have to do is follow the recommended directions.

Convert Your Own Electric Car

Want to know how to convert a conventional automobile into a plug in electric car? If you do, download the 20 DIY Electric Car Conversion Videos e-book.

The e-book will show you videos of homemade electric cars and the different components needed for the conversion project. Click on the link below to download the free e-book now!

==> Click here to download free e-book!

If you are good with hand tools and familiar with the workings of a car, you may consider to convert your gasoline driven car into a pure electric vehicle (EV).

To start your own retrofitting project from your home garage, there a few things you will need to do.

You should start sourcing for all the parts such as electric motor, electric controller, contactor, voltmeter, shaft coupler etc. The whole process can be quite tedious and quite time consuming.

To help you to reduce the time to source for all the parts, I have got to know an electric car conversion professional from New Your City, Mr George C. He is offering complete DIY electric car conversion kits for those who are planning to do the modification themselves immediately.

There are 4 electric vehicle conversion kits offered by George. Each of the kits have different maximum vehicle speed ranging from 40 mph to 75 mph.

The cost of the conversion kits ranges from USD2499 to USD5600. Unfortunately, George only delivers the conversion kits within the United States.

The good news is, if you are doing your DIY electric car conversion in the US, the shipping for all the kits are FREE.

All the details of the conversion kits will be included in my next posts. In the mean time, if you are keen to get your hands on the kits to start your conversion project, feel free to contact me at treyy77 (at) yahoo [dot]com and I will hook you up with George.

If you are a real electric car enthusiast and you are seriously considering to retrofit your car to run on electricity, you should look into this conversion kit. This is the top range and high performance kit offered by George C.

This electric vehicle conversion package is code name “New York City”.

The New York City (NYC) pack comes with a 144 Volt kit and the EV retrofitted can reach a speed from 65 to 75 mph. If you like to go fast in your electric car, this is your ideal package.

The NYC includes a Curtis 1231C controller and is rated at 144 volt DC at 400 amps. These top range electronic controllers provide cost-effective speed and braking control.

The benefits of high-frequency switching and ultra-low voltage drops provide very high efficiency, and smooth, silent operation.

To provide power to the EV, NYC conversion kit uses D&D Motor Systems ES-31B electric motor.The motor dimensions are 6.7 inch diameter 15.5 inches long and is rated at 90 HP at 144 Volts DC. This electric motor will generate strong enough torque to really propel your vehicle forward.

One key component in the NYC electric car conversion kit is the Smart Charger. The charger offered with this kit is a Quickcharger rated at a 144 volts. It is a smart charger and runs through multiple charge cycles before turning off when batteries are full.

The following is the list of parts included in this top range EV conversion package:

1. D&D Motor Systems ES-31B Series Motor 90 HP Peak
2. Curtis Controller 1231C (144 vdc / 400 amp)
3. Adapter Plate
4. Shaft Coupler
5. 0-5k Throttle Box
6. Contactor – Kilovac EV200(2000 amp rupture 200 amp cont.)
7. 50-150 VDC Volt Meter
8. 0-500 Amp Meter
9. Gauge Holder Bracket
10. 50mv – 500 Amp Shunt
11. 40 ft of #2/0 ga. Wire Cable
12. 12 unit of High Current Ring Terminals
13. 48-Battery Cable Terminals
14. Fuse – 400 amp slow blow
15. Quickcharger 144 Volts (Smart Charger)
16. 12 Volt Battery Charger

The complete price for the New York City Electric Car Conversion Kit is USD5600.00. If you would like to get the NYC pack, email me at treyy77 (at) yahoo[dot]com for details.