Quote:
Originally Posted by hal2000
I have been lurking on diy electric car, endless sphere, and Jacks EV tv, for about 6 months trying to decide what direction to take in ditching the Gas.
Posibilities
1. recombent e assist faired trike. But The longer I looked at the narrow bike lanes in our city, and big cars that would be next to me, the more nervous I became. ( i like the quest tamdem)
2. convert a light weight existing car to a moderate speed city car 70 mile range with 40 mph cruise. I am wary however as desire for power, range and
doner weight seem to have a huge affect on end cost of conversion.
Many of the diy garage projects seem to have plus 20,000 price tags (not counting labor and with no warranty or access to oem engineering motors, batteries and knowlage base.
I want to go diy for the experience, learning and knowlage/satifaction to be gained, but also as i can't afford a $30,000 leaf
Well all this handwringing and careful weighing of capacity vs cost is for nothing now as my friend told me of a cherry red 2000 honda insight with 2000k m at the local used car lot, offered for $2,700 with a bad battery and grinding sincro downshifting into 2nd gear. It was unreasoning love at first sight! damn!! $2,300. out the door, NOW WHAT
HELP. I had planned to gut it and make it a pure electric but after reading this site where one person said that would be like gutting a fine swiss watch and making it into a sundile... I don't know what to do?? could i make it a plug in hybrid? or am i better trying to revive the battery that only shows one bar? the car is amazing it still averages 52 miles per gallon!
Thoughts anyone?
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Hi, I have a 2000 red insight that I've had since 2005 and I love it. I recently bought a 2003 silver insight with a bad battery pack and I'm buying a Maxima pack from Bumblebee Batteries in Portland, OR. Cost is $2,099 plus shipping and sending Eli the battery guy your present core battery. This is what I recommend for you as well. You can drive it without the battery with a few simple modifications until your pack arrives, if you need wheels. The waiting list is about a month and you need to pony up a $100 deposit to get "in line". Good luck! Dan