Project Daydream

[qdos]

Definitely a contender. Is that 370 kg with or without existing engine? Has anyone converted a Zest to electric yet?

370kg includes the petrol engine. No electric Zests at the moment but trust me it's being looked into though there's another project which has taken priority for the time being. .

[EVguru]

I just can't think of a Corsa sized vehicle weighing 860Kg as being light!

Becuase of the improvements in engines and particularly engine management, fuel savings have managed to keep ahead of weight increases. Part of the weight gain is to do with safety, but by no means the majority. They simply aren't worrying about weight these days.

My Mondeo has 30Kg of cast iron, just in the engine mounting brackets!

The rear engined Skodas (Estelle and Rapid) were about the same weight as a Corsa, had superb handling and brakes and generally excellent engineering. They have large amounts of room for batteries and are easy to convert. They were or course built down to a price, often with poor quality materials (particularly the interior). Before I converted my Rapid I used to enjoy giving all the local Nova and Corsa SRs a shock. With the car in Burgandy and with no Skoda script on the front, it was often mistaken for an older Saab.

The problems with using one for a conversion is firstly image and secondly actually finding one. Many were simply thrown away and the remaining care are really quite sought after these days.

I'd go one size up from a Corsa. If you're going to use lead/acid batteries you need more space. The next class up car won't necessarily be much heavier, but will have much more volume for components.

[marktime]

I can certaily see the benifits of working with something with rear wheel drive, it sloves so many of the problems with final drive etc.

Still I have plenty more dreaming to do.

Mark

[MalcolmB]

Since we're talking about dreams...

Any chance I could pick up one of these cheap on ebay? (Only 370 kg)
http://www.supercars.net/garages/Drivevm/9v2.html

[pyoorkate]

If you want a lighter car, the unpopular classics are possibly a good choice, if you can find a solid one. My Viva's about the size of a Cavalier but is only 760kg, apparently. And you can often pick up the standard Viva/Avenger/Marina/Ital for free; people don't want them - but actually I get so many compliments driving the Viva around it's astonishing.

The simpler structure makes them way lighter.

And also they tend to have less stuff to steal power from your batteries

If I had the money I'd quite like to turn the Viva into an EV, but, uh, I don't

[floydster]

If you want a lighter car, the unpopular classics are possibly a good choice, if you can find a solid one.

Plenty of room for batteries under the bonnet of a Austin Ambassador, if you can find one that still has the brakes on it! On the down side it's a tad heavier that 800Kg.

I always though an unfinished kit car based on some old Ford would be a safe bet for an EV conversion. Loads of them around if you had time to finish it off.

Could be worth keeping an eye on this site

Floydster

[MalcolmB]

Could be worth keeping an eye on this site

Thanks a bunch, that's just what I needed – yet another irresistible site to trawl for bargains and pipe dreams. I'm trying to get some work done here you know...

[EVguru]

I can certaily see the benifits of working with something with rear wheel drive, it sloves so many of the problems with final drive etc.

Still I have plenty more dreaming to do.

Mark

Just what problems do you think there are with the final drive?

In nearly all cases the best aproach is to couple the motor to the existing gearbox and I'd vote strongly for keeping the clutch.

[EVguru]

If you want a lighter car, the unpopular classics are possibly a good choice, if you can find a solid one.

Try and avoid converting any car that you're going to have to do substantial work on first. It may NEVER get done.

There's so much work in doing a good conversion that you really don't want to add to it by having to do structural repairs, paintwork, or re-fit an interior. If the brakes or suspension need work, that's not too bad since they will probably need uprating anyway.

Even in the 'rust free' American states, many projects fail before the donor car is ever ready for conversion.

I always though an unfinished kit car based on some old Ford would be a safe bet for an EV conversion. Loads of them around if you had time to finish it off.

Exactly, time to finish it off. The original builder failed.

I've built a few kit-cars and most leave so much problem solving for the builder that they really don't deserve the name 'KIT'.

Then there is packaging and packaging and packaging and packaging....

The challenge of packaging components into a normal car is often quite difficult, kitcars often have less space.

Most kits are built almost entirely for style and aerodynamics are simply not an issue. When you have a very limited amount of energy on board, aerodynamics are VERY much an issue.

[marktime]

Paul, I would be inclined to keep the clutch & gearbox as you suggest but I have seen it debated elsewhere that the box can be done away with but that just opens another can of worms!!

Mark