David's 2001 Civic EV (80-100 mile range; 65+ MPH; 8 second 0-60) - Page 11 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

TheSGC · 09-26-2012, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobb

Thanks for sharing. Seems once you factor in labor, a vehicle, misc tools, a charger, you are about in it as much as a Leaf. I swear I got an email a few weeks ago that you can build a lifepo4 ev for a fraction of the cost of a leaf with the same if not more range.

Having just driven a Leaf it seemed like a good read.

I still want to see a Bug-e in action one day as I would be the only occupant.

It really depends on your skills and what you are looking for. My EV has greater performance and range than a Nissan Leaf, and I enjoy building things so making an EV was just too much fun!

It's my hobby, it may be expensive but I currently have that kind of disposable cash, and I'm still in college commuting so standing out have helped a lot.

bestclimb · 09-26-2012, 09:03 PM

I have a hard time factoring in tools into a project. You still have the tool after the project is done. sort of like capital expenditure. Time should not get factored in either. if you enjoy doing it it is no different from buying a leaf then spending however many hours doing some other hobby.

MetroMPG · 09-27-2012, 05:26 PM

Any plans to improve rolling resistance / aerodynamics once you've got the conversion details all sorted out?

Do you dream of regen?

With the ForkenSwift, I definitely have a case of regen envy.

TheSGC · 09-27-2012, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Any plans to improve rolling resistance / aerodynamics once you've got the conversion details all sorted out?

Do you dream of regen?

With the ForkenSwift, I definitely have a case of regen envy.

I am going to get an alignment because it's real bad right now, so I expect a 20% improvement just from that. I am also thinking about LRR tires next year as summer tires but will see how things go.

Nope, I have no dreams of regen. It's actually more efficient to coast than use REGEN because if you need REGEN then you are not driving efficiently! We have Solectria Forces at my university and the REGEN just isn't impressive enough for me. You get more range by spending the same money on batteries vs an AC motor and inverter.

MetroMPG · 09-27-2012, 10:59 PM

But, but BUT!

I completely agree that coasting > regen.

But sometimes friction braking is unavoidable (something unexpected/unpredictable happens). And sometimes it's more pro-social to not hold up a line of cars by coasting several blocks from 30 mph to 0 mph at the next stop sign just to get in a perfect coast.

Also: steep hills.

Times like those, when I use the brakes, I really wish I had regen. (Mostly I choose a route that lets me maximize coasting opportunities without pissing off other drivers though.)

Do you have 14 inch wheels? Bridgestone Potenza RE92's (the gen 1 Insight tire - still available) are hard to beat for low RR: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...e92-19126.html

TheSGC · 09-27-2012, 11:17 PM

I have 15" wheels, 185/65/R15. Right now I have all season tires I put on the car when I bought it a year ago, they are performance tires but I can't remember the brand, I'll look tomorrow.

I finished collecting everything I can think of for my trip to the RMV tomorrow morning, except for the plates still on the car. I am not sure if I will just get my registration updated or EV plates, I am hoping to EV plates.

TheSGC · 09-28-2012, 08:25 PM

I got my EV plates!

Apparently I am the first person to receive these new EV plates in MA! The numbers on the plates correspond to different things such as when the registration needs renewal, which RMV they were assigned, etc. This was actually plate 7 out of the 10 this RMV that I could choose from and I liked the numbers. We had to call the main RMV office in Boston to get the supervisor, who said that this is the first time that she knew any of the EV plates were given out and even she had to figure out what to do with them.

MetroMPG · 09-28-2012, 09:54 PM

Congrats on the EV plates! Do you get any special perks with those?

I can get EV plates for the ForkenSwift in Ontario - I should check to see if the annual fee is different or something...

TheSGC · 09-28-2012, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Congrats on the EV plates! Do you get any special perks with those?

I can get EV plates for the ForkenSwift in Ontario - I should check to see if the annual fee is different or something...

I get to park at all the EV charging stations without being towed.

I am not sure what other perks there are, I guess I will find out soon. Monday I get to see if my EV spot has been opened up, I told the professor to make some room for me and the parking department knows I am coming and my access to the lot is still active.

sheepdog 44 · 09-28-2012, 10:28 PM

In Ma it's a one time $20 fee. Any EV including Hybrids can get one because they want to let first responders know you have a HV pack in your car. My car doesn't have the model and Hybrid badge on it, and the plates came out sometime time in april or may before i knew about it. Oh well, i try to be as incognito as i can in a little red car.

Maybe if it had a lightning bolt like a dispatcher car.