AC Propulsion: Making Gas Cars Electric (Tom Hanks video)

[PeakOilGarage]

AC Propulsion: Making Gas Cars Electric Peak Oil Garage
Tom Hanks shares the joy of driving electric (an AC Propulsion eBox and Toyota RAV4-EV) in his videos below.

AC Propulsion: Making Gas Cars Electric // Current

[patsparks]

Ouch, $50,000 for the conversion, that's 2 Prius plus the cost of the car to put the conversion in.

[dipper]

Too bad they can't convert any cool cars. I would love my s2k w/ EV setup.

[patsparks]

Have you checked?
What makes it cool?
I'd love to convert a MR2 to all electric.

[PeakOilGarage]

Originally Posted by patsparks

Ouch, $50,000 for the conversion, that's 2 Prius plus the cost of the car to put the conversion in.

That is why it has never taken off in huge numbers. $15,000 for the car, then $50,000 for the conversion to all electric. It just doesn't make sense for the average person. For $65,000 you have over 1/2 of the price for a Tesla Roadster. Or you could just wait for some of the EVs that are coming in the next two or three years.

[daniel]

Originally Posted by dipper

Too bad they can't convert any cool cars. I would love my s2k w/ EV setup.

AC Propulsion does the Scion xB, whose looks I dislike, but you can find someone to convert just about any car. There's a guy in Florida who converts Porsches. Batteries are a limiting factor, though. Lead batteries are not too expensive, but they are heavy. Your range is severely limited by their weight. I think you can get 30 miles range with a Porsche with lead batteries. Don't quote me on the exact range, but it's not a lot. Lithium batteries are light enough and compact enough that 200 miles of range is posible, but those are very expensive.

AC Propulsion is a pioneer, but not the only place to get a conversion EV. Your s2k probably can be converted to electric.

Originally Posted by PeakOilGarage

That is why it has never taken off in huge numbers. $15,000 for the car, then $50,000 for the conversion to all electric. It just doesn't make sense for the average person. For $65,000 you have over 1/2 of the price for a Tesla Roadster. Or you could just wait for some of the EVs that are coming in the next two or three years.

That's assuming they actually materialize. Meanwhile you're driving a stinker. (Not you, personally. You'll be driving your Tesla. But the person who takes this advice and waits for a more affordable EV.)

If you've really got the bug for electric, you just gotta jump in there. Spend the bucks for a conversion, or settle for the limitations of an NEV or a Xebra. My Xebra has serious limitations, but it's allowed me to drive electric (except for out-of-town trips) for a year and a half now. If I'd waited for something better I'd still be waiting now.

As for the xBox being over half the price of a Tesla, that's true, but it's a more "practical" car, with about a hundred times more cargo space. The xBox is a family car. The Roadster is basically a race car. A bigger problem with the xBox is that it's only available to residents of California.

[DaveinOlyWA]

Originally Posted by dipper

Too bad they can't convert any cool cars. I would love my s2k w/ EV setup.

the video said they would CONVERT ANY CAR

as far as price goes... what were you really expecting??

something that provides a HUGE benefit to you and the environment at 50% off?? i mean, lets be reeeeel.

EV's are the bleeding edge and needs to be mainstream and the ONLY way that is going to happen is either

1) for people to sacrifice. pay more for the car than its true value in order to get the word out and make it popular and drive the price down AND INCREASE THE QUALITY FOR SOMEONE ELSE

2) get the government to HEAVILY subsidize EV's for the masses. let the Uncle Sam foot 50% of the cost so you can get one for $40,000 instead.

ahhh Hell!! if talking handouts, make it 75% that way we can get one for just slightly more than the cost of a Pri.

might as well, but then again, the government would be spending money on something worthwhile...ya... WHAT AM I THINKING??!!...

never happen

[dipper]

Of course anyone can convert any car to EV. Just that... by the time it is properly converted, it would be cheaper to just buy a Tesla.

[PeakOilGarage]

Originally Posted by daniel

If you've really got the bug for electric, you just gotta jump in there. Spend the bucks for a conversion, or settle for the limitations of an NEV or a Xebra. My Xebra has serious limitations, but it's allowed me to drive electric (except for out-of-town trips) for a year and a half now. If I'd waited for something better I'd still be waiting now.

I agree. I felt the need this year to really go electric, so I got the Vectrix electric maxi-scooter and the Hymotion battery for my Prius. Those were the two most professional forms of electric transportation that I could find that still provided a warranty and a high level of quality.

Originally Posted by daniel

As for the xBox being over half the price of a Tesla, that's true, but it's a more "practical" car, with about a hundred times more cargo space. The xBox is a family car. The Roadster is basically a race car. A bigger problem with the xBox is that it's only available to residents of California.

That is a good point. The extra space is an important advantage with the eBox. The Tesla can barely hold a golf bag in the trunk.

[EZW1]

If you drive a typical car for 100,000 miles and get 22mpg and pay $2.50 per gallon, then you're going to drop $11,363 in fuel. At that rate, you would have to drive 500,000 miles to break even. But, consider at their price they are doing ALL the work. If you could arrange a work share option, or even do all the work yourself, I would geuess you'd be able to cut the price in half. Also consider this is likekly a new startup and as they do more cars the price will drop... and if competition comes online....