Seven top Questions!
1 - How appropriate is an
Electric Vehicle for your lifestyle?
On average, the range of an EV conversion is between 30 and 70
miles. This is dependent on battery types and the weight of the
vehicle. Terrain also plays a part in how far your EV can travel on
one charge. If your commute includes a lot of hills, an EV probably
won't be your best bet.
Think about this, if have a full gallon jug
of water and an empty gallon jug of water on your kitchen counter
and your task is to move them both with only one finger - which do
you think would be easier to move. As you might have guessed, the
empty water jug is easier because it requires less energy to move
forward.
The same concept applies to your vehicle. The lighter it
is, the longer the range and the faster the speed. Also, EVs are
great commuter cars, so if you have a fairly short commute to work
in the morning an EV is a great option for you.
2 - Which cars would be good candidates for an EV conversion?
The short answer is any light compact sedan that has room for about
15 batteries. The long answer is this; there are some models
preferred over others. Saturns, Escorts, Hondas, Neons, GEO's, VW
Rabbits are all great candidates.
The key is to have a light car to
begin with (see above). Remember, that heavy internal combustion
engine will be gone and so will other components and that will help
to lighten the load as well.
Even come smaller pickups like a Chevy
S10 have been a popular choice. Keep in mind that if you ever want
to sell your EV, the price depreciates very little compared to any
other vehicle.
3 - How do you re-charge an EV?
Just about an electrical plug will do. A 110v standard AC home
outlet or 220v outlet will do. The cost is about 2 to 3 cents a
mile.
However, if you live in an apartment complex, townhouse, or
park your car in a parking garage, make sure you have permission to
access the electrical outlets.
4 - How much will the conversion be?
The price varies depending on the choices you make for your vehicle.
One of the many choices includes which type of battery you want in
your vehicle, a low range battery or a high range battery. Those
prices alone can range from $70 per battery to $240 per battery.
A
typical EV takes between 13-20 batteries. Therefore, an average
range for a conversion can be between $6000 to $11,000. However,
consider this. If your engine were to go bad, you could be looking
at $4000 to $6000 just to replace it with another internal
combustion engine, which is likely to brake down again in the
future.
5 - How much maintenance will my EV require?
The answer is one that will put a smile on your face. Almost NO
maintenance is required! A set of brushes for your electric motor
costs about $18 and is good for 80,000 miles.
No more oil changes,
no more exhaust repair, no more radiator leaks, no more tune ups, no
more warming up the car 10 minutes before leaving for work, no more
replacing belts, no more bad water pumps, no more unreliability, and
finally but most importantly, NO MORE PIT STOPS AT YOUR LOCAL GAS
STATION (unless you need to use the restroom) !!!!!!!
6 - How often do I need to replace my batteries?
Depending on the quality of battery you're using in you EV, it could
be anywhere from 3 to 5 years.
7 - What should I expect when driving an EV?
Expect a smooth, quiet ride. This makes it easy to hear any
unusually noises, if that should occur.
Remember... Ride Clean,
Drive Electric!
Frequently
Asked Questions