Jerseyville man converts car to run on batteries

[Bluvertigo]

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16987713&BRD=1719&PAG=461&dept_id=25271&rfi=6

[Mouse]

Maybe GM will buy it from him, and shread it too. ;)

[Ken_ver_1_5]

there are alternatives, if they would put them to used the price would come down.

[Steven]

So the electric motor bolts directly to the transmission... A much more practical idea than the inefficient hybrid (converting gas to electric) or building a new design which may cost alot.

[sargpep]

Why not do this , the price of gas will continue to rise , alot of people are looking for alternatives.

[Steven]

True, but all it's doing it moving the strain to an already overloaded power grid.

[Number6]

Ok lets see if I got this ........the car has a Blue Book Value of say $2,500 but his cost say $8,500. I assume the difference is largely the cost of the conversion but remembering that the kit cost $1,500 there are apparently some considerable reengineering costs. And he did this because he doesn't want to pay $30/ month for gas (his number). Lets assume he's a little off on that number and/or that the price might continue to increase over time......lets say it costs him $50/month or $600 per year. That means it will take him 10 years to amortize the $6000 conversion costs oh yah and the kit only lasts 4 or 5 years so he'll need to run this an additional 2 yerars to cover that cost .....but rhat will require another battery kit in year 10 so no he's running this for about 15 years to break even........but wait this car is already 12 years old. This guy needs some help with ecomonics 101.

[mad2001man]

Ok lets see if I got this ........the car has a Blue Book Value of say $2,500 but his cost say $8,500. I assume the difference is largely the cost of the conversion but remembering that the kit cost $1,500 there are apparently some considerable reengineering costs. And he did this because he doesn't want to pay $30/ month for gas (his number). Lets assume he's a little off on that number and/or that the price might continue to increase over time......lets say it costs him $50/month or $600 per year. That means it will take him 10 years to amortize the $6000 conversion costs oh yah and the kit only lasts 4 or 5 years so he'll need to run this an additional 2 yerars to cover that cost .....but rhat will require another battery kit in year 10 so no he's running this for about 15 years to break even........but wait this car is already 12 years old. This guy needs some help with ecomonics 101.

That is what i noticed when we converted from electrical stove to natural gas in our home. Same concept. We did not end up saving much.

[Mouse]

But he's putting his money where his mouth is.

He's trying to make a difference.

If enough people did, or rather were given the opportunity to do so, the costs would come down.

Let's all thank GM for killing the electric car they produced back in the late '90s.

Ass-holes.

[Number6]

But he's putting his money where his mouth is.

He's trying to make a difference.

If enough people did, or rather were given the opportunity to do so, the costs would come down.

Let's all thank GM for killing the electric car they produced back in the late '90s.

Ass-holes.

It's great that he's doing something rather than just whining and complaining but this is just a bad case of wheel spinning. If he's trying to make an ecological difference he could have done quite a number of more financially and ecologically efficient things. He could have replaced his furnace and air conditioner both of which are probably very inefficient relative to current availability. He could have replaced outdated fridges and freezers for the same reason. He could have had the insulation upgraded in his house which would have a huge impact on heating and cooling bills and electricity and gas usage. He could use less fresh water by using the shower instead of a bath, he could water his lawn at the appropriate time and in the appropriate amount.

If he wants to aid in the development of a commercially available elctric car then it would have been better for him to have invested in a company that is currently working on delivering this product to the market sooner rather than later. Unfortunately he didn't do that.

As for "giving people the opportunity to make a difference".......we all have that from birth, you just need to decide that you going to make that commitement.

As for GM and whatever decissions they made or may have made re the electric car you need to remember that they're in the buisiness of making profits for their shareholders .......that's it. Don't misread that as an endorcement of GM or any other large company, auto or otherwise. As far as I'm concerned most of them are incredibly inefficient and are ruining the environment but their motivation should be profitability. As for who safeguards the environment........well that's us and by us I mean as individuals as per the observations noted above and through our elected representatives. If you want a cleaner environment then vote the right people into office and give the others the boot.