Electric VW bug

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Check out this electric bug conversation with a 70 mile range! Thanks Andrew! - Link.



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Posted by: Tercero on November 20, 2007 at 12:39 PM

I saw a Ford Siemens motor on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-Siemens-EV-Electric-Vehicle-New-Crate-Motor_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33615QQihZ013QQitemZ230190976497QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

That would do the trick. But. The real trick is getting the controller.
Nice VW article though.


Posted by: aolshove on November 20, 2007 at 1:05 PM

Great build although I can't say I'd pay 30 Gs for it. I need to wonder why the seller thinks this is worth more than a Prius?


Posted by: Frodus on November 20, 2007 at 1:29 PM

Its not worth 30G, a typical conversion (144V and a controller with matched motor) would cost around 2 grand for the controller, 1500-2000 for a motor and for 12 SLA 50 AH batteries, around 1400. Ad in contactors, charger, meters, wiring and a vintage car, you MIGHT get around 10 grand for parts, another 2-3g's for assembly.

Worth more than a prius? Maybe, but only because its zero emission vehicle (in states where wind, solar and water power is used). Plus, they're cheap to run, maybe 2-3 bucks a week for 20 miles a day. Compare that to a 55mpg Prius? thats 3 gallons or so of gas, so about 10 bucks? It adds up. Plus, no messy maintenance of the engine (oil change, coolant fluid, oil leaks).

I might be biased because I'm converting a motorcycle...lol


Posted by: wa8wte on November 20, 2007 at 1:34 PM

$30K for a 30-year-old economy car with no engine?
yikes! Get a decent midsize pickup truck with a blown engine for $700-1,000.. get some golf cart batteries... get a good second-hand 12-14hp gas lawn tractor motor and an electric forklift motor....Instant hybrid! bet you get more range, payload and room for about half that...
probably less if you settle for armature switching
and a manual control on the EC motor--don't need no stinking computer, eh?

Or, How 'bout this strategy? Buy a 1989 Cavalier for $500...gets 37-39 mpg.(even more if you turn off the A/C and drive naked...)buy $29,500 worth of gasoline...about 10K gallons retail, a lot more than that wholesale.. drive the cav 200-250,000 miles on half the gas, sell the other half in a couple
years when the price hits $5/gal. (don't forget the stabil)

woof-woof...
wa8wtejuno.com


Posted by: rocketdyke on November 20, 2007 at 5:38 PM

for this price, I would expect a conversion with an AC motor/inverter and a hybrid li-poly battery pack. Check out Victor's stuff at Metric Mind


Posted by: volkemon on November 20, 2007 at 9:35 PM

well, I've MADE a few VW's....

$30K?!? Not at that fit and finish level.

I have crash tested a VW bug. The containment (hold downs/spill catching) for those batteries, in case of accident, is lacking.


Posted by: frogmella on March 9, 2008 at 2:56 PM

not worth 30k at that level with that old stuff in it... lot of work went into that though... maybe around 20k. Maybe... with a nav and a stereo.. and a heater


Posted by: frogmella on March 9, 2008 at 2:58 PM

Maybe if it had nav/ stereo/ and new parts not old GE motor....maybe worth 30 with all that work... oh and sealed batteries... but this is worth under 20k.


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