The Scrap-EV Project
 

I decided to start a log to monitor my progress with my EV.
The phases are bound to change so I won't get into that until I have my donor car.

I am currently looking at a 1992 Miata convertible 5spd. Only $995. The only issue I see is the small space available for the batteries. Anyone have feedback on that? The hunt will continue until I find the perfect car, I'm in no rush there.

Motors and controllers are important and I plan to actively seek those.

In the mean time I don't like to sit idle, so I plan on putting together what I can. An LED battery monitor, picking up some of the parts like the 12v pump. Also I want to look into powering my lights with it's own independent battery. Because I am in SoCal, I am going to use a solar panel (or attempt to). I just need to research the voltage needed to charge and not just idle the battery.

So here we go - EV #1.

It looks like a handful of people have made the Miata a good conversion vehicle. Here are a few from evalbum.com. They all went with a fairly high voltage even, so you know they're packing a buncha batteries in there.

Pat Mackey's 1992 Mazda Miata

Pat Beirne's 2000 Mazda Miata

Dimitri Butvinik's 2001 Mazda Miata EV

Do it! The miata is a sweet ride, :)

Pat Beirne's Miata has since been "re-converted" into a bio-diesel range extended EV slash series hybrid: past its all electric range, it can operate at speeds up to 80 km/h / 50 mph on the diesel genset.

You hit the nail on the head re: space for batteries. The answer depends a lot on the system voltage you're aiming for. 90v minimum for a 50 mph car, I'd wager.

Here are a couple more from the album:

Joe Harris' 1996 Mazda Miata

Bill Theeringer's 1990 Mada Miata

Miata is a great car!

That's one that I considered converting. Space for batteries is the big limiter on that vehicle.

The rear-wheel drive setup is pretty slick for an EV. If I had one of those, I wouldn't have had to shorten my motor to fit it in my car!

Were I doing a Miata conversion, I would use lots of smaller batteries to get the system voltage up, while still having some flexibility in where and how the batteries are mounted.

are you going to try and keep the 50/50 weight ratio :-D

True, space is limited, but the starting weight of around 2200lbs is awesome, and you can strip a miata down to 1900-2000lbs and still have it livable. Obviously the engine goes out and batteries/electric motor goes in, but the weight comes from mostly other areas. The aero could be improved much, too, helping to give you a further range.

Super sweet!
I've been wanting a miata even for years.

So are you planning on going with the tried-and-true Lead Acid, or do you have the wherewithal for something more exotic?