Here's a deal: For around $20,000-$25,000, the people at Left Coast Conversions will sell you a modular kit -- controller, batteries and motor -- to turn your Mazda Miata, Ford Focus or PT Cruiser into a fully functional electric car. For a little bit more, they will do it for you in three days. They will also convert other type of car, but it may take as long as a week and the price depends on the make and model of the car (they're currently working on a '76 Oldsmobile).
The cars generallly have a range of about 100 miles, and plug in to charging stations installed at 220V outlets.
Here's my alternative=energy transportation dream: Short-range EV plugged into a solar charging station; long-range diesel running biofuel for road trips. First I gotta come up with the $20,000, though (although as demand increases, says Left Coast founder Gadget, the price will come down).
Next year maybe they'll put you in one that can race.
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That's 20k$ on top of the price of the car? And we need solar panels as well (probably another 10-20 k$ for a small system)?
With 30,000$, one can buy around 1000 Green Certificates of a MWh, enough to power a few hundred homes, or a single home for a few centuries.
Choices choices ...
Posted on April 28, 2006 10:04 PM by Hans
$20K is too high for a conversion kit. $6-8K is more like it.
Here are some sources:
http://www.canev.com/KitsComp/GeoKit/Geo-Kit.html
http://www.electroauto.com/catalog/catalog.shtml
http://www.e-volks.com/
Posted on May 23, 2006 9:05 AM by Electric
These are a whole different kit. They incude high current NiMh batteries, which gives much better range. The batteries are embedded in generic group24 cases, and give a +70 mile range, not the common 40 mile range. But feel free to compare and shop. The shop is local, here in Los Angeles.
Posted on June 30, 2006 7:06 AM by mike
Judith,
I found a link to this article on Autoblog Green .
We're working with a MIT spin-off, developing a series-hybrid system for a new vehicle using advanced, Li-Ion cells. These cells have twice the power-density of typical Li-Ion packs, are entirely earth-friendly, and can achieve a 90% charge-state in as little as 5 minutes. Their technology demo was an electrically retrofitted motorcycle that went from 0 - 60 in under 1.5 seconds.
I can't say much more in this forum, but if you're interested you're welcome to contact me -- I'm becoming a big fan of your work here. Naturally, we're based in Los Angeles.
Posted on July 15, 2006 4:07 PM by Ian Bruce