I am thinking about getting my drivers license this fall/winter and was offered a car. I was offered a geo metrl xfi from my dad that needs a new engine. I thought I would see about making it an EV after a few conversations with email to darell a super terriffic super guy and Daniel the hybrid freak.
I see a few kits online, deluxe ones from evparts for 12 grand and cheap ones from 1999 http://www.e-volks.com/about.html2.html
I guess I should start with my use. For one, I want to go to work and back. 11 miles one way by the interstate. I see from the cheap kit the speed is limited base on bank configuration or max voltage, which also effects range. Faster you go, less miles you can travel as it takes more power to travel faster than slower. I want to travel 67 miles by highway i295 65mph speed limit to visit my folks. I know for sure a generator would be needed to supplement my needs, yet make it efficient.
Another concern is charging it. If my apartment complex wont help me, I would need to plug it in at work. That would limit my range on weekend, unless its a hybrid.
Another issue is heat. Do I need a functioning heater to pass inspection or does it just need to blow air? I can install an electric heater and a fan elsewise.
I am thinking about the cheaper kit with the PWM so I can regen charge. Use a bank of batteries for the speed limit I need to travel 8, or half that (2x4 in parallel) for city use but use two banks. Then switch it from parallel to serial for highway and after a few miles pull over and start the generator or after so many miles start it before I arrive at my destination. Guessing I could get electric start and make the switches accessible inside?
One concern was where to mount the generator and how to tell an efficient one, plus battery charging. My dad said a gas engine could not be mounted under the hood, it would need a remote tank in the back. A gravity fed system wont work and would need a pump, I think a big mess. Another is charging, I guess I would need 2 chargers. One for the grid and one for the generator.
Another concern is, how do you tell an efficient generator? I ran the numbers on the models in the northerntool catalog that listed tank size, run time on half load and total output divided by 2. I divided the tank size into run time and that by the wattage at half load. item #165912-2601 came to a .0001516 the lowest number of all the generators. The diesel one item#165939-2601 was second and the little 2000 watt honda red enclosed generator came in third.
So, the idea is to get that said kit with pwm, mount 8 batteries, 2 banks of 4 in parallel or serial model for 8. Then the generator under the hood with electric start (I hope) and to crank it on my way to or near by when needed to extend my range for my weekend highway driving. Daily driving, just plug it in at work to charge it. I was going to get the extended fuel tank, 6 gallons i think for the generator and fill it as needed. I would only use the generator to extend my range or emergency, I would charge off the grid elsewise. Just got to find a 1200 watt charger to use onboard and maybe a 220/110 charger for the grid. THe shop actually has 440 outlets too.
Thanks for any advice/help, etc.
I see a few kits online, deluxe ones from evparts for 12 grand and cheap ones from 1999 http://www.e-volks.com/about.html2.html
I guess I should start with my use. For one, I want to go to work and back. 11 miles one way by the interstate. I see from the cheap kit the speed is limited base on bank configuration or max voltage, which also effects range. Faster you go, less miles you can travel as it takes more power to travel faster than slower. I want to travel 67 miles by highway i295 65mph speed limit to visit my folks. I know for sure a generator would be needed to supplement my needs, yet make it efficient.
Another concern is charging it. If my apartment complex wont help me, I would need to plug it in at work. That would limit my range on weekend, unless its a hybrid.
Another issue is heat. Do I need a functioning heater to pass inspection or does it just need to blow air? I can install an electric heater and a fan elsewise.
I am thinking about the cheaper kit with the PWM so I can regen charge. Use a bank of batteries for the speed limit I need to travel 8, or half that (2x4 in parallel) for city use but use two banks. Then switch it from parallel to serial for highway and after a few miles pull over and start the generator or after so many miles start it before I arrive at my destination. Guessing I could get electric start and make the switches accessible inside?
One concern was where to mount the generator and how to tell an efficient one, plus battery charging. My dad said a gas engine could not be mounted under the hood, it would need a remote tank in the back. A gravity fed system wont work and would need a pump, I think a big mess. Another is charging, I guess I would need 2 chargers. One for the grid and one for the generator.
Another concern is, how do you tell an efficient generator? I ran the numbers on the models in the northerntool catalog that listed tank size, run time on half load and total output divided by 2. I divided the tank size into run time and that by the wattage at half load. item #165912-2601 came to a .0001516 the lowest number of all the generators. The diesel one item#165939-2601 was second and the little 2000 watt honda red enclosed generator came in third.
So, the idea is to get that said kit with pwm, mount 8 batteries, 2 banks of 4 in parallel or serial model for 8. Then the generator under the hood with electric start (I hope) and to crank it on my way to or near by when needed to extend my range for my weekend highway driving. Daily driving, just plug it in at work to charge it. I was going to get the extended fuel tank, 6 gallons i think for the generator and fill it as needed. I would only use the generator to extend my range or emergency, I would charge off the grid elsewise. Just got to find a 1200 watt charger to use onboard and maybe a 220/110 charger for the grid. THe shop actually has 440 outlets too.
Thanks for any advice/help, etc.