1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Teen builds a electric car for 10k.

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by burritos, Oct 19, 2008.

  1. burritos

    burritos Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2006
    4,946
    252
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
  2. maseace

    maseace Prius enthusiast

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2008
    191
    11
    0
    Location:
    Poulsbo, WA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    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.
     
  3. fernelius

    fernelius Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2008
    17
    0
    0
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    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.
     
  4. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2007
    7,512
    1,188
    0
    Location:
    Carmichael, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    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.
     
  5. Rybold

    Rybold globally warmed member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2008
    2,760
    322
    3
    Location:
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    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 !!!"
     
  6. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2004
    14,816
    2,498
    66
    Location:
    Far-North Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    And that's a pretty sweet ride to be rolling in.

    and it only took 150 hours? That's only 1 FTE month. That's nothing.
     
  7. zenMachine

    zenMachine Just another Onionhead

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2007
    3,355
    300
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Hmmm... How does he fit his golf gear inside that thing??? ;)
     
  8. miscrms

    miscrms Plug Envious Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2007
    2,076
    523
    5
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    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