Convert A Car To An Electric Car

Electric cars are still very limited in availability, especially if you don�t live anywhere near California. But some hobbyists have decided not wait for a fully fledged electric car revolution and have found ways to convert car to electric car.

To convert a car to an electric car is to modify a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) to electric propulsion in order to create an all-electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. According to Treehugger, it costs about $6,000 in parts and another $1,000-$3,000 for batteries and installation.

The website says the investment pays because electric cars cost less to run, are more reliable and require less maintenance. It also has a better resell value. Converted vehicles can have a range of 60-80 miles, top speed of 50-90 MPH and good acceleration capabilities. It takes between 6-12 hours to recharge the car. Batteries make the biggest financial dent on the pocket of the electric car owner as it needs to be replaced every three to four years. In order to convert your car to an electric one, light models work best. They should also be roomy in order to hold the batteries. Rabbit, Civic, Escort and light pickup trucks are some of the models recommended. When driving, avoid areas that are too cold or too hilly, as performance can be compromised, although people do have electric cars in hilly and cold areas too.

Those willing to convert a car into an electric vehicle will need a conversion kit. It can be either a tailored one or a universal kit, which can be installed in a variety of vehicle and include all the essential drive-system components. As to custom kits, they include the entire drive system and battery racks and boxes, customized to suit a particular model. The most commonly available and affordable batteries are lead-acid flooded type, followed by AGM (Absorption Glass Mat) sealed maintenance free batteries, which are a little more powerful and expensive. Less common batteries include Ni-MH and Li-ion. These are more difficult to find but are light and longer lasting, maintenance free, and much more expensive. In terms of new technologies, the new lithium batteries are showing some promise for EVs in the near future.