Re: TEVans and conversion

["Dave Davidson" <davetex99@hotmail.com>]

Chris,

Almost all conversions will exceed the GVW of the original car or truck.  
Springs are usually the weakest area and are sized on the weight of the 
vehicle to give a comfortable ride and handling.  A good spring shop can 
make springs to handle the increased weight (and which would cause a 
horribly harsh ride if used on the original lighter vehicle).   You will 
also want to upgrade brakes, shocks, etc.  This is one of the reasons people 
like to convert small pickup trucks - they are designed to handle loads to 
begin with and heavy duty parts are readily available.

As an example of increased weight, my TEVan weighs just over 5000 pounds - 
quite a bit heavier than a stock Caravan.  In this case, Chrysler upgraded 
everything to compensate for the increased weight.  Chrysler only made a 
few, but they do come up for sale from time to time.  I saw mine advertised 
on the EV Trading Post run by Mike Chancy.  Be warned that Chrysler will not 
support this vehicle, so you are on your on.

Several companies make kits to convert the Chevy S-10 pickup, which 
simplifies things.  So you might want to look into an extended cab S-10 
pickup or Blazer to convert.  Also check the EVDL photo album to get an idea 
of the wide number of vehicles converted.  I think Vanagons have been 
converted and I understand the older VW microbus makes a good conversion as 
well.  By the way, Rabbits generally make good conversions and there are 
kits for these as well.  I believe upgraded springs, brakes, etc are readily 
available.

Your options are really limited only by imagination and money. If money is a 
big constraint, look around for a used conversion.  You can usually buy one 
for quite a bit less than the cost of building one.  It will usually need 
new batteries and maybe a little TLC.

If you haven't already, get one or more of the books on converting a 
vehicle.  "Convert It" by Mike Brown is good (it's the one I have) and I'm 
sure others on the list can recommend some others.  Even if you buy a 
conversion, it will give you good insight into how everything goes together.

Dave Davidson
Laurel, Maryland
1993 Dodge TEVan

>From: "Christopher Zach" <czach@computer.org>
>Reply-To: ev@listproc.sjsu.edu
>To: <ev@listproc.sjsu.edu>
>Subject: TEVans and conversion
>Date: Sat, 30 Mar 2002 21:25:21 -0500
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>Received: from [130.65.3.19] by hotmail.com (3.2) with ESMTP id 
>MHotMailBE6FBED7006D40043258824103136F1D0; Sat, 30 Mar 2002 18:26:34 -0800
>Received: from listproc (localhost [127.0.0.1])by hera.sjsu.edu 
>(8.11.1/8.11.1) with SMTP id g2V2Ptv29441;Sat, 30 Mar 2002 18:25:55 -0800 
>(PST)
>Received: from castor.sjsu.edu (castor.sjsu.edu [130.65.7.14])by 
>hera.sjsu.edu (8.11.1/8.11.1) with ESMTP id g2V2Pav29423for 
><ev@listproc.sjsu.edu>; Sat, 30 Mar 2002 18:25:36 -0800 (PST)
>Received: from alembic.crystel.com (alembic.crystel.com [63.222.128.227])by 
>castor.sjsu.edu (8.12.1/8.12.1) with ESMTP id g2V2PQZR017116for 
><ev@listproc.sjsu.edu>; Sat, 30 Mar 2002 18:25:28 -0800 (PST)
>Received: from rodrescueman (rod-rescueman.crystel.com [63.222.128.230])by 
>alembic.crystel.com (8.11.2/8.11.2) with SMTP id g2V2Mvf06634for 
><ev@listproc.sjsu.edu>; Sat, 30 Mar 2002 21:22:58 -0500 (EST)
>From owner-ev@listproc.sjsu.edu Sat, 30 Mar 2002 18:26:56 -0800
>Message-ID: <00d101c1d85b$4f2bd220$283f61cf@crystel.com>
>X-Priority: 3
>X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
>X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4807.1700
>X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4807.1700
>Sender: owner-ev@listproc.sjsu.edu
>X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.2.09/990901/11:28 -- ListProc(tm) by CREN
>
>In thinking about my EV needs, I have been coming back to the thought of
>Rabbits as EV's. While they are something I understand, either the rear
>seats are removed (making it a 2 seater) or the car is so far over max
>carrying weight that the seats should be removed.
>
>I've currently got 2 little ones (2 and 3), and if we get rid of the GTI
>(the only way we could get another car; 5 is enough) I'd need to get
>something that could move the family. Thus the thought of a van conversion.
>
>The TEVans look like perfection (we have a Caravan: Aside from the motor
>it's ok), however my guess is they are rare. Do they ever come up for sale,
>what is the price, etc.
>
>Alternately, has anyone ever thought about converting a VW Vanagon to
>electric? The Mid 80 Vanagons had a serious problem with the heads when 
>they
>went to water cooling (the jackets would leak badly). Thus there are a lot
>of Vanagons in excellent physical shape with totally sunk motors. Can they
>be converted to EV? Would the conversion push them over the max weight?
>
>Thanks!
>Chris
>




_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.