View Single Post
Old 11-23-2012, 11:15 PM   #13 (permalink)
bennelson
EV test pilot
 
bennelson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Oconomowoc, WI, USA
Posts: 4,435

Electric Cycle - '81 Kawasaki KZ440
90 day: 334.6 mpg (US)

S10 - '95 Chevy S10
90 day: 30.48 mpg (US)

Electro-Metro - '96 Ben Nelson's "Electro-Metro"
90 day: 129.81 mpg (US)

The Wife's Car - Plug-in Prius - '04 Toyota Prius
90 day: 78.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 17
Thanked 663 Times in 388 Posts
The oil-filled electric radiator on a timer I use in the Electro-Metro has actually worked very well for me. It's safe, simple, and warms the whole car.

Also, last time you were at my house, I mentioned the heated coat but forgot to show it to you.

The idea is that it's sort of a heated seat that I can wear. I could use it in the Metro, the passenger seat of the Hymotion Prius (the driver seat is heated) or any other car with a 12V lighter plug. (Like my pickup truck before the engine warms up, which can take a while in the winter.)

I took the guts of a massaging heated seat cover, yanked it out, and sewed it into my work coat.

This photo shows where the heating element goes. (Except that it is sewn INSIDE, between the liner and outside material of the coat.)



http://300mpg.org/wp-content/uploads...1/DSC_3961.jpg

http://300mpg.org/wp-content/uploads...1/DSC_3963.jpg

http://300mpg.org/wp-content/uploads...1/DSC_3965.jpg

http://300mpg.org/wp-content/uploads...1/DSC_3966.jpg

It warms up quick and is toasty warm. I have yet to forget to unplug it before hopping out of the car. Total cost on the project was $5 spent at the thrift store for the seat cover.

I have no idea how much the previous owner of the Hymotion Prius spent for adding the heated driver seat, but I'm pretty sure it was more than $5. (That said, it's well done, looks nice, and works great.)
__________________


300mpg.org Learn how to BUILD YOUR OWN ELECTRIC CAR CHEAP
My YouTube Videos
  Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to bennelson For This Useful Post:
Christ (11-24-2012), Daox (11-24-2012), slowmover (11-25-2012)