Car companies could do this if they wanted, but it's not exactly up to new car safety standards, and lead-acid batteries won't last very long.

I agree with maseace.

This youth has done great work, and we need many more people like him. It's a testament to his drive and his father's willingness to support his efforts among other things. My comments are not meant to downplay what he truly has accomplished.

Car companies have much more work to do. Their designs ultimately have to meet safety standards, be producible in large volume, and meet reliability expectations. They also have to meet the needs of an appreciable market segment in battery capacity/miles traveled, comfort, amenities, etc. There are vehicles available that provide 20 ore more miles on electric for a similar total cost (eg. the Xebra Sedan among others at $11,700).

Again, I don't want to downplay this truly significant achievement, but massed-produced cars have a number of other challenges.

One of the largest challenges for all-electric vehicles is convincing people that a limited-range vehicle is their best choice. I like my Prius because it offers great gas mileage for short trips and long trips. Should I need to drive 500 miles in a day, the Prius will meet that need and do it with less gas than most vehicles. I may need to be more willing to rent a car for those days I need to go on longer trips, but the car companies need to convince Americans (among others) that a limited-range vehicle is their best option. For many, simple math would easily demonstrate this if the vehicle cost was kept low.

It is one thing to build one of something, but a totally different thing to build thousands of something.

That said, the auto companies are fully capable of building an electric vehicle; they have all built at least one (GM EV1, Ford Ranger EV, Toyota RAV4 EV, et. al.) But they lobbied to have the Calif Zero Emission Mandate overturned so they wouldn't have to.

I hope he makes a step-by-step picture book guide, showing people how to convert their cars, and I hope it becomes a NYT bestseller!

Oh yeah, and putting the above debate aside, I'd just like to say "Dude, this kid's got potential !!!"

Hmmm... How does he fit his golf gear inside that thing???

I applaud this kids efforts, but just for the record this is nothing new. People have been doing this since at least the 60s, with a peak in interest during the 70s oil crisis into the 80s, and a mini resurgence in the 90s. People are still doing it, and there are still companies out there specializing in the parts and kits you need to convert you own. Here's a registry of a little over 1900 mostly converted EVs of various shapes and sizes:

EV Photo Album: Our Electric Cars on the Web

I spent about a year designing a conversion for my old '89 Saab 900 Convertible, before deciding it was impracticable and buying a Prius. A lot of that had to do with my unrealistic requirements for speed, acceleration, range, family hauling, etc. You can accomplish any or all of those, but it will cost you. I've considered going back and revisiting the idea, as my requirements have relaxed quite a bit. Driving the Prius I have discovered its possible to drive around on surface streets, to drive 55 on the freeway, that you don't have to jackrabbit from light to light etc. My wife drives the prius now, so I'm back in my old Saab. Where I used to average around 20mpg, my last tank was 28.1, and I'm on track to break 30mpg this tank. Driving like that, a conversion would be a lot more feasible and affordable.

Here's the book I was using as the basis for my calculations:
Build Your Own Electric Vehicle - Google Book Search

A couple of web based design calculators (mostly based on the same book):
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/lab/8679/evcalc.html
EV Calculator

The motors I was looking at:
http://www.go-ev.com/
Advanced Motors and Drives - Home

The controller I was looking at:
Cafe Electric llc

The chargers I was looking at:
Manzanita Micro PFC Series Chargers
Soneil Battery Chargers

Some part/kit vendors:
Electro Automotive: Electric Car Conversions
KTA Services Inc.
EV Car Kits - Welcome !
EV-Blue.com, Products
High End AC Drive Systems and Power Electronics for Electric Vehicles

The EVDL is a very popular (and busy) email list for EV converters and others interested in EVs:
The Electric Vehicle Discussion List

Rob