WHERE IS MY ELECTRIC CAR?

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Tue, 2011-01-04 10:18

#102

KenS

True.

Here is the 'textbook' on DIY:

Build Your Own Electric Vehicle. Second Edition 2009 [first edition is pretty out of date]

And a Canadain book:

Zero-Carbon Car. Building the Car the Auto Industry Can't Get Right

This has much more on social, economic, and enviro considerations. Including the best discussion on the whole cycle of inputs into an EV or hybrid.

And there is a good detailed discussion of building one car. But it is a unique project, and he admitts the car he chose to convert is unusual [I think simply because he owned it already].

His argument is that the best low carbon choice is a hybrid that has a diesel generator burning bio-diesel. So that is the car he built.

I take an overall systems and longer term view towards the best low carbon choice. But even if you are looking purely for your least contribution to carbon right now; then for less hassle than the on board bio-deisel generator, you put in PVs or wind turbine for charging the batteries. Or just do the more straightforward work of a diesel vehicle to burn bio-diesel you produce.

Of course the hybrid has unlimited range. But that just assumes you need to fit into existing jump in and go notions of personal transportation. And so what if your EV cant do everything you need a vehicle for. Even a single person can have a modest second vehicle for the longer or extreme cold weather trips.

At any rate, I think Kemp's book is the best general discussion.

Tue, 2011-01-04 10:38

#103

George Victor

And "when my horse comes in", as they say, I'll buy an electric for about-town only. Meanwhile, upgrading Waterloo Region's bus service is number one on the political agitation list. It's much more likely to be useful for me than counting on that nag's win.

Tue, 2011-01-04 10:43

#104

ElizaQ

KenS wrote:

True.

Here is the 'textbook' on DIY:

Build Your Own Electric Vehicle. Second Edition 2009 [first edition is pretty out of date]

And a Canadain book:

Zero-Carbon Car. Building the Car the Auto Industry Can't Get Right

This has much more on social, economic, and enviro considerations. Including the best discussion on the whole cycle of inputs into an EV or hybrid.

And there is a good detailed discussion of building one car. But it is a unique project, and he admitts the car he chose to convert is unusual [I think simply because he owned it already].

His argument is that the best low carbon choice is a hybrid that has a diesel generator burning bio-diesel. So that is the car he built.

I take an overall systems and longer term view towards the best low carbon choice. But even if you are looking purely for your least contribution to carbon right now; then for less hassle than the on board bio-deisel generator, you put in PVs or wind turbine for charging the batteries. Or just do the more straightforward work of a diesel vehicle to burn bio-diesel you produce.

Of course the hybrid has unlimited range. But that just assumes you need to fit into existing jump in and go notions of personal transportation. And so what if your EV cant do everything you need a vehicle for. Even a single person can have a modest second vehicle for the longer or extreme cold weather trips.

At any rate, I think Kemp's book is the best general discussion.

Thanks for the book recommendations.

I'm not going to jump into EV's for personal use in the near future but the DIY options are fodder for thought. I'm really interested in what's possible for the agriculture side of things. I think if I was to get into some sort of DIY project I'd look at playing with a tractor rather then a car at this point. :)

Tue, 2011-01-04 11:19

#105

KenS

In principle, I can see how the tractor makes more sense as a DIY project. All the more so if you already own a tractor.

And have a modest chunk of a little cash/capital and time available. The conversion will cost less than a used but newish tractor would cost you. And cost WAY less if you happen to have a tractor with a blown engine, that you replaced but kept with the intention to rebuild it.

I don't know tractors, but for a conversion I'm guessing that as long as the hydraulics were good, it would not matter how old the beast was. That is not true for converting on the road motor vehicles- where 'older' is OK as long as it isn't rusty, but converting an old car is just asking for trouble. [If you wouldnt rebuild the engine in that 1990 Tercel, why in the hell would you put even more work into converting it to electric?]

There is a similar logic for people who already have and use pick-ups and vans, where 70km or under per day is the norm.

Tue, 2011-01-04 12:15

#106

ElizaQ

Well other reasons I'd likely look at a tractor is that it would fit right in with some of the other things going on right now around here. There's an amazing and growing community of motivated people looking at all things 'food' and ag. So I see a better possibility of it happening as a group project rather then an individual one in terms of interest, sharing costs and sharing know how as well as getting a tractor to use in the first place. Just off the top of my head I can think of three individuals that have older, smaller ones that they no longer use or barely use except for the odd jobs here and there. At least one of those people is already a tinker of an experimental nature. Heck if I showed him this possibility he's liable to just go out and do it himself and then say 'here yah all go folks, test out the baby."

Tue, 2011-01-04 12:31

#107

KenS

I am a long way from finishing my own project. [Long story. But typical, even if it doesnt seem like it to me.]

While I have good general mechanical skills- that is 'mecahnical' VERY broadly speaking. I just worked on cars and boat engines because I had to. Even the used ones got way beyond me 20 years ago. So my knowledge about fixing motor vehicles is patchy and limited.

Electrics are conceptually simpler, and cleaner. And there are just fewer parts. You still have to deal with brakes, or hydraulics on a tractor. But I find it easier to relate to. More mysteries and fewer people to ask about them, because there is no shop manual. But that hardly matters in the internet age. You can easily find multiple people who have dealt with the same thing.

Tue, 2011-01-04 12:50

#108

Fidel

I think EVs make sense for warmer climates and where driving conditions are really good. More and better mass public transit is the answer according to the futurists. Roads and highwats are expensive to maintain.

And as for flying cars, I think anti-gravity vehicles are very futuristic. Perhaps sooner than later if the guys at CERN discover new laws of nature, or something. Perhaps any such vehicles would be better suited to mass transit and piloted by really-really well trained people or even automated. But I think most of us would not feel safe with 16 year-olds flying around the skies with even learners permits. And if the militaries of the world are experimenting with fantastic propulsion technologies, they surely won't want to handoff any such technology to the public or their enemies.

Tue, 2011-01-04 13:12

#109

Boom Boom

A far, far cry from a flying car, but still fun to watch:

World's First Commercial Jetpack To Be Sold For $75,000

excerpt:

Its fuel capacity is five gallons, but its consumption is ten gallons an hour, which results in an operation time of around 30 minutes on a full tank. FAA regulations limit the maximum speed to 63 mph, which means the furthest a pack can travel on one tank is about 31.5 miles. When empty, the Jetpack weighs 250 pounds and can carry a pilot of over 280 pounds.

The jetpack complies with FAA Ultralight Regulations, and though users will not need a pilot's license to fly the equipment, they will be required to complete Martin's training program before receiving their jetpack. Training for the first ten owners will be held in New Zealand, where the company is headquartered.

Wed, 2011-01-05 12:18

#110

Maysie

Closing for length.

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