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I was amazed at the smooth (and very powerful) acceleration.

Electric cars can accelerate faster than comparable gas counterparts at the expense of power usage. Most people are familiar with golf carts, which use low voltage (48v dc) and small motors, but their heftier cousins at the race track use crazy monster motors juiced up at 144+ vdc. (There is a National ELECTRIC Drag Racing Association, lots of homebuilt electric dragsters, laying patches of rubber.)

It is disappointing that electric cars are not yet economically viable.

While the EV-1 is a nice demonstration car, it's a very bad example of how to go about building an economical electric vehicle. For one thing, the EV-1 uses AC power for the drivetrain - theoretically more efficient, but it requires a very expensive custom-built AC controller to deliver power to the motor(s?). A cheaper mass-market controller forms the basis for many more conventional DC gas to electric conversions.

The biggest cost (and inconvenience) is the batteries. The cheapest batteries are lead-acid (and they're environmentally friendly - 99% of lead in the US is recycled, as opposed to stuff like ni-cad) and even then, they need to be replaced every 3-4 years. Charging will cost you a few hours, and requires lots of amps, preferably at 220v. Plus, most EV charging stations use proprietary connectors (magna-charger paddle) designed for cars like the EV-1.

I once took a ride in a converted Ford Escort, and the ride was comparable to a gas car, except there was no engine noise. Its kind of eerie to be accelerating, and only have road and tire noise - you know you're not coasting, but that's what it sounds like.

If you go homebrew electric, don't be put off by the extremists that tell you to basically get a subcompact car to stick your batteries and motor into. There have been conversions of race cars, and suvs - not every environmentally friendly car has to be ultra-tiny and inconvenient (if not downright uncomfortable!) The biggest advantage to getting a light platform is greater range for less weight (less body weight means smaller motor, less batteries which in turns means less weight, meaning you can get away with an even smaller motor and less batteries...) but if you're willing to carry more batteries, you can use a larger platform.

For long distance trips, you can hybridize your electric car by using a generator trailer. Don't use a hardware store 4-stroke generator - those things are emissions menaces. If you know enough to rip the gas motor out of a gas car (usually used, unless you're rich enough to convert a brand new car) and replace it with an electric motor, you should know enough to mount a nice VTEC engine with emissions system in a compact trailer, and mate it to an efficient generator. With this, long distance drives can be fueled with gas, and you can still do electric once you hit your destination (just park the trailer.)

NEDRA maintains a page of links, and I really like these guys: http://www.Wilde-EVolutions.com

For some reason, I had trouble loading that link. Here's the printable version from Wired.

but that has problems too, when you try to find the "neatest EV you've ever seen". Old links, I guess. Digging around at the source gave me this:

Mazda Maniac
Index of Wilde's cars

--Blair

For some reason, I had trouble loading that link. Here's the printable version from Wired.

but that has problems too, when you try to find the "neatest EV you've ever seen". Old links, I guess. Digging around at the source gave me this:

Mazda Maniac
Index of Wilde's cars

--Blair

The problem with current electric cars is that batteries don't have enough range. The new fuel cells (like the ones in this story) may be able to change that
--
"Weapons should be hardy rather than decorative" - Musashi

Alternative Energy Engineering
Electro Automotive
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
Home Power Magazine
innEVations
Jerry Halstead's Car
Low Rolling Resistance Tires
Phoenix EAA
Unique Mobility
Wilde EVolutions catalog

You wrote: "We need a way to show the oil companies that we're fed up of lining their pockets with cash" which is kind of funny since there are so many ways, and so many organisations doing so.
Rule #1: Buy NO unneccessary plastic items. I make an exception, personally, for my kids' legos. But I don't buy a new case for my computer just because the ATX form came out, I hacksaw the old one. Plastics are essentially a waste product of the petroleum industry.
Rule #2: Buy NOTHING from Exxon. Because we need to convince the Oil Barons that there are some things that don't blow over - and Exxon's had the most egregious crimes as well as being the last vestigal trace of the original Petroleum Trust (Standard Oil = S.O. = Esso = Exxon, you can confirm this easily).
Rule #3: Stop whining and do something. I am converting my truck to gas/electric hybrid ASAP. My bud Pete runs used fryer oil in his (unmodified) Mercedes diesel.

Alternative Energy Engineering
Ballard Fuel Cells
Electro Automotive
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
Greenpeace International Homepage
Home Power Magazine
Hydrogen Web (English/German)
innEVations
Jerry Halstead's Car
Low Rolling Resistance Tires
Phoenix EAA
Roofing Systems
Unique Mobility
Veggie Van (BioDiesel)
Wilde EVolutions catalog
United Solar Systems Home Page

--Charlie

Sticks and Stones may break my bones but FUD will never concern me.

Well, you and most of the others commenting on this issue are sure willing to spread the FUD around....

1) Car battery disposal is not a major pollution problem (manufacture being another issue). Those little ever-readies that you're tossing blithely into the trash are one of the most pressing ecological issues of our time, but people driving electric cars recycle ALL their batteries (the spent cores are quite valuable) and most gas vehicle batteries are also recycled.

2) Point source pollution (i.e. power plants) is easier to control/prevent than distributed pollution (cf. privately operated internal combustion engines). Gas lawn mowers are one of the principal causes of air pollution in the US, incidentally.

3) Many people are supplied power from hydro, wind, or photovoltaic sources. If you actually become a part of the electric vehicle underground you will find that many people are generating their own power, or use power from commercial "green" providers.

Your statement "yes the energy does come from some coal or oil burning plant" is thus incorrect through overgeneralization, which makes it relatively accurate compared to most of what's being posted here. Your comments on ethanol and car prices are similarly FUDular.

Alternative Energy Engineering

Electro Automotive

Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.

Greenpeace International Homepage

Home Power Magazine

innEVations

Jerry Halstead's Car

Low Rolling Resistance Tires

Phoenix EAA

Roofing Systems

Unique Mobility

Wilde EVolutions catalog

United Solar Systems Home Page

acceleration power has traditionally been the major weakness of these cars

Actually, as I understand it, acceleration is one of the strengths of EV's. You have instant torgue -- no revving up. But, keep in mind that I'm not much into the racing side of EV's; I want an electric Land Rover.

check out:
http://www.Wilde-Evolutions.com/Godzilla.h tm
at 360kW / .7 kw/hp = 500 hp
Look at the datsun picture.... that's what kind of fun.
also check out:

http://www.Wilde-Evolutions.com/photos_mazda.htm

check out:
http://www.Wilde-Evolutions.com/Godzilla.h tm
at 360kW / .7 kw/hp = 500 hp
Look at the datsun picture.... that's what kind of fun.
also check out:

http://www.Wilde-Evolutions.com/photos_mazda.htm