05.23.11

What a Difference a Battery Makes

Posted in Aquisition, Assembly, Body and Fender at 11:48 pm by Administrator


Last week at the EAA meeting we had a suprise visitor… By that I mean he wasn’t there for the meeting, he was there to go to a different place in the same strip mall area. Apparently he saw my car in front of our meeting place (Lamp Post Pizza, West Main St, Turlock CA Third Thursday of each month) and ask me if it was electric. Then he said “I’ve got one”, I asked “Where?” to which he replied “In the parking lot. Want to see it?” So we walked out to the parking lot and he showed me a Honda Civic which had been converted and to which he converted the conversion to LiFePo4 batteries. It was beautiful! I asked what the difference in performance is and he said “Hop in, I will show you…” and he did. The first thing I noticed was the noise the tires made as we went from Zero to screeeeech. then I saw that the battery voltage was barely sagging. It turns out that he is heavily invested in the electric car industry and was happy to have bumped into us. We have something to offer each other mutually.
The next thing which happened this week is the universe provided the passenger side window I have been wishing for. Actually it was provided by Larry and his wife Jeanie who came out to CA for Larry to do an install for his computer business and he brought me the window for which I traded him an extra windshield I had. What these pictures depict are the present luan which is the passenger side window fog simulator of an excuse for a window. The other pics show the new window uninstalled and the drivers side window which is original. All in all it was a very productive week.
Did I mention Dave and I retrieved my cars from Stockton? I now have Three of the four 914’s I bought sitting in my driveway? But that is a title page story… www.electricar.us

02.23.11

Weekly Journal

Posted in Batteries, Heater, High Voltage System, Paint at 3:09 pm by Administrator

I have decided to keep my blog going and write something at least once per week. EV1E is still on blocks but I am getting closer to a solution for my distance problem with each passing day. I am researching the “Bedini” circuit in conjunction with a generator/motor to extend my range. Today I purchased a Chevy Luv conversion and solar panel array to charge it. I will be picking it up in Mar and will post pictures. It’s “frickin cold” in my shop so I will have to wait until it thaws out a little to do any wrench turning but the research continues. EV1E needs another coat of paint and I have to block sand her. I have chanc\ged my mind on the heater design. I am still going to use the ceramic elements but I am going to use 144V DC to power them.
I will be replacing the wood battery boxes with Aluminum ones and I am still looking for the passenger side window. Does anyone out there know where I can get one? I have an extra windshield I can trade.
Keep On Pluggin

11.14.10

Now We’re Getting There!

Posted in Batteries, Body and Fender, Paint at 2:11 pm by Administrator


This is a photo of EV1E in my garage. I am getting her ready for the next coat of paint. I have been saving up for Lithium batteries and should have enough to purchase them in the next few months. I have decided to use Aluminum Battery boxes when I install them. I am following Jack Rickard’s example. www.evtv.me
I will be working on the interior and continuing with proof positive that electric vehicles are the way to go. See you next time.

11.01.10

EV1E Goes Green

Posted in Body and Fender, Paint at 9:05 am by Administrator


Yesterday we started painting EV1E. When I went in to look at colors this one jumped out at me. She is definitely a green car now. Does anyone know where there is a big Hot Wheels Track?

05.29.10

EV1E’s Home

Posted in Body and Fender, Paint, Road Test at 11:54 am by Administrator

This is great! I drove her home, drove her to the store, drove her to band practice and didn’t use one drop of gasoline. She is really starting to look like a real car. Check out the photos…

05.21.10

Ghost EV1E

Posted in Body and Fender, Design, Paint at 4:58 pm by Administrator

EV1E looks marvelous! She is in her ghost state and is awaiting the glass guy. Wed I will pick her up for testing. Enjoy the pics

05.16.10

May’s Gonna Be Great!

Posted in Body and Fender, DMOC, Road Test at 5:58 am by Administrator

OK here is the latest. I will get Ev1e back from Cars etc. next week (after Wednesday) and I have some work to do before I get the interior done. The first thing is moving the wheels out so that they fit in the wheel wells properly. The next is…Performance. The fastest I have been able to go so far is 58 mph. This car is supposed to be able to go 90 mph I have been in touch with the folks at Azure and they sent me some parameter settings for a DMOC capture. I will be running some driving test and sending them the results. They will then send me the proper settings to make my car Go go go! Then I will get the interior done. Here are some more pics of EV1E’s progress. The changes are subtle but definite.

04.08.10

Body Shop

Posted in Body and Fender, Design at 8:26 am by Administrator


This is how EV1E looked today. Note the door jams and the lip around the headlight housing. Rigo is going to do a little more work on the headlight housing and prep it for paint. The directional lights have changed as well…more later.

03.29.10

Closing Those Gaps

Posted in Body and Fender, Design at 12:43 pm by Administrator

Rigo and Fidel have been at it again. This is “Serious Rigo” standing behind his work.

03.17.10

My Green Car

Posted in Body and Fender, Design at 10:55 am by Administrator


The guys have been busy over at Cars Etc. and I thought I would share the results! Look at the lines on this baby. The doors open and close with just two clicks and the doors are starting to look as if they came with the car. And look at those headlight housings…I’ll bet those lenses fit much better now. But stay tuned we have got even more surprises in store.
Thanks guys, way to go!!

« Previous entries Next Page » Next Page »