Re: New guy (me) wants to convert a car to electric

[Electro Automotive <electro@cruzio.com>]

>I am interested in converting a car to electric, and have been researching
>the matter for a while, but I'm on a serious budget...  Are the parts
>neccesary for conversion available used? surplus perhaps? 

Yes, but. . .  In order to buy used parts successfully, you need to do a lot
of homework first, so you can separate the bargains from the inappropriate
junk--and avoid component incompatibilities.

The best idea I have come up with is the
>Opel GT.  I was thinking a 9" motor at 120 volts would do it. Would that get
>me a top speed of around 75 and a range around 50 miles in this car?

Your range and speed are not unreasonable, but the car is not a good choice.
First, there is very little accessible space for batteries.  Second, it is
an orphan, and it will be difficult and expensive to find basic parts like
brake cylinders, which it will probably need if it's been sitting dormant
for a while.

>Also, what is the cheapest I could concievably do this conversion for,
>assuming I do all the fabrication myself and get the car for under $500?

Generally, about the best cheap conversions someone can get is to buy up a
used conversion as a parts car, then add batteries and whatever's missing.
To get a good quality car, you're still going to be into it $3,000 if you're
*very* lucky with your shopping.  It doesn't pay to try to build a car for
under a $1,000--you're too likely to end up with an unusable mess instead.

Shari Prange & Mike Brown
Electro Automotive         Since 1979
Components * Kits * Books * Videos * Training * Conversions
POB 1113-W, Felton, CA  95018  831.429.1989  electro@cruzio.com
http://www.electroauto.com