AC Electric Car Conversion Kit and Batteries

by Brian
(Mt Pleasant, MI)

I'm considering converting my Mustang GT to electric. I'm an electronics tech and can handle most of the work myself.

What I should expect for cost and what is a good source for parts and information?

I have worked with smaller AC motors before and would like to go that route. What kind of information can you share about controllers and battery selections?

Hi, Brian!

Cost: right now (May 2008), you'll pay about $9500.00 for the light AC kit for the manual transmission at Electro Automotive, and $11,000 for same with direct drive. The inverter/controller you'll get from them, too, comes with the package.

I don't have a good batteries source right now, this comes and goes.

Regards,
Lynne

2011 Update: Good news! HPEVS has come out with an excellent AC motor/controller combination for a LOT less money than it used to cost for this. Half.

And happily, I've found a source I like for good LiFePO4 electric car batteries, too.

Ain't progress awesome?

Oh, and in case I haven't added enough reading material, lol, here's another interview with someone using the above motors and batteries in nifty little electric sports cars.

Comments for AC Electric Car Conversion Kit and Batteries

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Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Why not? Lol
by: ReVoltingone

I’m going to buy a MX5 Miata with a bad drive train for cheap. With the right setup I’ll blow away most muscle cars and some Porsche’s and Corvettes too. Looking to spend under $20k US
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Forgot to add
by: on

For anonymous if you drive 6000mi in a year (which low in CA) with gas at $2.50 a gallon you have spent $15,000. If there is company out there that can figure out how to get a package together including install for 10-12k it becomes very viable.....this would be the package I discussed in my previous post. Comments and contact info appreciated.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Elec/gas conversion
by: Bruce

How about a system with two sets of batteries, and a small gas generator using an A/C motor. The system would run on the lithium batteries with an electronic charger crossover. As you are driving the generator would charge the other set or batteries, when the operational set reached a discharge set-point the system would electronically switch banks and begin the charge cycle. Also looking into hub generators A/C alternators. Your and comments and contact info appreciated. I am looking into starting a conversion garage in Fallbrook CA
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		why not?
by: Anonymous

So lets not use a battery system lets use a generator(gas) electric start, connected to an A/C motor. This has not completely reduced the dependence of carbon fuels but it would seem to be an easy conversion. The fuel tank can be utilized, the vacuum brakes, the automatic trans. and the current electrical system with a battery charger. The generator can also be used to power household items if electric service is interrupted. So what H/P A/C motor can be used with lets say 65000 generator?
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Image this:
by: Scott in Scarborough, ON.

Picture a world in which all the cars are electric, and have been for 100
years since their inception. History went from horse and buggy directly to
the electric motor vehicle.

Then, one day, some guys invented an engine with internal COMBUSTION. And
their design required the carrying of FLAMMABLE FUEL *onboard*.

People converting their electric cars to this system were *not* granted
insurance coverage because of the risk of FIRE and *explosion*. The refusal
letters spoke of the "inherent risk of carrying combustible liquids near the
passenger compartment."

Society too, rejected the concept because of the emissions and pollution.
People everywhere scoffed "that crazy invention would require petroleum
stations on every street ? adding further risk and aesthetic disfigurement.

Ultimately, the concept fell by the wayside because people realized how *
messy* the transport of oil products in ocean vessels could be and would not
tolerate the possibility of MASSIVE spills that would endanger plant and
animal life - especially aquatic and bird life.

Fortunately, the gas-powered car never really caught on, and our world has
been a cleaner, safer, more beautiful place ever since.

The end.

Just imagine..
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Capitalism
by: Dan Bentler

If you are looking at just the bucks of conversion (up front costs) then you are probably right. However if you drive 40 miles a day getting 20 mpg then at a fuel cost of $2 per gallon your daily operating cost is $8. With electric the fuel cost (electricity to recharge) is let us say $2 bucks a day. So it is like any capital project - the up front costs are paid for by lowered operating costs. There would be other operating cost savings too - lowered maintenance (oil change, filters etc) and lowered repair costs.

The major consideration in my mind is if you are interested and want to do it. If you are the tinker kind of person have the tools and garage to do the work then you are in business. On the other hand if you are a mechanical klutz then stay away from it. There are not enough qualified and competent people to do the installation work and maintenance for you. This is not something that the corner garage can handle.
Rating
star 		Too expensive!!
by: Anonymous

It appears to me that I could buy a LOT of gasoline for the price of converting one car to electric... about 75,000 miles worth at $4.00/gallon in a car getting 20 MPG. And that's not counting the price of buying the car I intend to convert. Figure in the life of the finished product and it's MUCH cheaper just to continue burning gasoline... whether or not I try to drive less.

Tell me again why this is a good idea? I'll check back when gas is $10/gallon... maybe then it'll look more attractive.

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