What to do with old Ranger conversion?

[Tom Shay <tshay@ix.netcom.com>]

  I've spend quite a bit of time this year thinking
about what to with my Ranger pickup.  I
converted it during the winter of 1995-96.
It needs a new set of batteries.  I could just
replace the batteries and leave everything else
as it is.

But I want a better EV than what I built in 95-96.
I want a better and newer vehicle  than the plain
vanilla 83 Ranger.  And I'd like a better motor,
controller, transmission adapter and batteries
and goodies like a rev limiter, E-meter, etc., etc.

I hesitate to invest the the time, money and energy
needed to do another EV conversion.  Buying
a good late model conversion that someone
else has done might be a better prospect.

Electric vehicle progress has been a disappointment
to me.  I expected that when it was time to upgrade my
Ranger pickup or get another EV that there would
be much better components available and more
companies selling components and conversion
services.  And I had hoped that there would a variety
of new EVs readily available at prices comparable
to ICE cars.

My Ranger still runs although its range is about half
what it was when the batteries were fresh. I will
continue to drive it occasionally until it dies from
battery failure or something else.

I might just forget about owning an EV after my
Ranger dies. I am a "been there, done that"
sort of a guy. Maybe I'm ready for a new
obsession.  But I'll never forget about EVs
or the interesting people I've encountered while
being an EV owner and enthusiast.

Tom Shay    1983 Ranger pickup conversion.