LouMan's 94 Ford Aspire Electric Conversion

[vpoppv]

Originally Posted by LouMan

man Jackbaur if more poeple were like you and paul this world would be a lot better place, cuddo's to you,
if I lived close to you I would give a helping hand to anything you needed
cuddo's to by buddy Kenny for all his help also, I'll be giving him a big hand on his project when it get's started also.

if anybody got a amp meter or shunt, volt meter, contactor, fuses, dc breaker, cheap I'll be interested also, I made a wopping $40 this weekend on the yard sale, I'm still putting in applications here and there but responces are few and none existant.

Voltmeter is a Harbor Freight $1.99 on sale
contactor: Kilovacs usually go for $35 on eBay
fuses: couple bucks on eBay
amp meter and shunt I haven't found any cheaper than $34 on eBay

[MPaulHolmes]

Louie, that thing is beautiful. You are seriously talented. It looks professional. What do you do for a living?

[jackbauer]

Ya got me beaten hands down! well done

[SoobieOut]

Great thread and project!

I have always wanted to follow a cool electric car build on a shoestring budget.

I had a boss who drove a Ford Aspire. We used to call the car "The Speck". One time we picked it up and put it up on the sidewalk at work. The my boss got a nasty email from management about his parking practices.

[jackbauer]

I wouldn't worry about a dc dc. Its not essential especially at this stage. I use a good agm 12v battery , no dc dc and converted all the lights except the main beam headlights to led. AND i'm running power brakes and steering.

[Tweety]

Or you could build a very efficient and reliable one for very little money... But that would probably be a later stage...

A good way to get decent headlights and decrease consumption would be to retrofit HID projectors... They use ~35W instead of the ~55/65W most halogen bulbs of similar output uses... Combined with LED's you get very low consumption...

[MPaulHolmes]

Go to a high school metal shop and get all buddy buddy with them. "Oh, I have this very educational project. Is there any way one of your really smart students could cut this out for me?" I got two 1/4" steel plates for the adapter plate for $10 doing that.

[Christopher Jordan]

Fascinating thread. I have been VERY lucky with my Aspire just leaving it alone! Runs great with everything working. My living situation is so temporary since my condo is being rebuilt. This complex I am in now is not planned for electric cars- an entire floor of parking places- and not even 1 outlet. If your Aspire became similar to the White Lightning electric dragster; I just might begin transferring mine into an EV dragster!

[Christopher Jordan]

Impressive project! I would not have any tips or suggestions of any kind (I would probably confuse you- suggesting "hey! try the green wire!)". Best of luck!

[Nevyn]

Perhaps a PM to Ben Nelson?