If you are planning to build your own electric car, you have to understand there are multiple components involved in the system. The key components are AC or DC motor, motor controller, manual disconnect, motor adapter, inertia switch, throttle control box, battery etc. Each and every part plays a very important role for the electric vehicle (EV) to work properly.
In this blog post, I wanted to write about the battery aspect of an electric car. The battery is the main power source of the EV. A conventional car uses gasoline as its main power source. An EV does not burn fuel therefore it needs an alternative energy source which is electricity. The only way to store and carry electric power is on battery bank fitted into the homemade electric car.
How many battery units do you need? There are a few factors that will dictate this number. The number of battery needed will depend on your electric motor, the weight of the donor car, battery charging condition, driving condition and also the drive mileage you want to achieve. An average DIY sedan electric will need from 15 to 20 units of batteries.
If you have the budget, it is best to buy all new batteries. Some people may be working on a tight budget and they may want a cheaper alternative. Where can we find cheap batteries for EV conversion? As a matter of fact, you can try ebay.
In my last blog post, I wrote about finding cheap electric motor on ebay. The same process can also be done for inexpensive battery. Before we begin, you have to know what type of battery to look for. The best battery used on an electric car is the deep cycle type. Deep cycle battery is preferred for EV conversion because it has a slow power discharge rate and has a longer life span.
To look for inexpensive battery in ebay is very easy. First, go the bay main web site. Be sure to choose a local ebay site to save on shipping and transport charges. At the web site, key in the phrase “deep cycle battery” on the search box on the top left. Next, press the “Search” button.
Ebay will then show you all the listings containing deep cycle battery. Now comes the challenging part. We have to browse through each and every offer.
Here’s a tip from Les Oke of Convert 2 EV e-book. If possible, try to look for used or reconditioned deep cycle battery. This type of the battery may not be the best, but they are usually much cheaper. If you want to save cost, this would be a good option.
Here’s another tip, make sure the selling price in inclusive of transportation charges or it comes with “Free Shipping”. Battery unit is quite heavy. If you are buying multiple units, the transport charges can be hefty.
If you are looking for more tips on how to find cheap parts for a DIY EV conversion project, be sure to check out Les Oke’s Convert 2 EV manual. It is an easy read for beginners and the recommendation can save you thousands of dollars on your homemade electric car project.
==> Click here to visit of Convert 2 EV now!
Related web pages:
1) Samuel Watson Premium Electric Car Guide Review
2) Electric Truck Conversion Kits
3) Construction Equipment – Priority Plant offers a wide range of high quality masonry saws.