First test drive of my Electric Car conversion

The first road test after converting a Saturn from gasoline to plug-in electric. Conversion took about 8 months working nights and weekends. It now runs on fifteen 8 volt batteries, with a DC motor bolted onto the original transmission.

Conversion details at http://evalbum.com/2274

Update: It now travels about 35 miles every day and costs about $5 a week for electricity. Goes at least 70mph.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• electric
• car
• vehicle
• first
• drive
• conversion
• test
• saturn

[smhorse]

Is it my imagination, or are the speedometer and tachometer not working in this video?

[ev99saturn]

@smhorse Not your imagination. Good observation! I did not set up the tach in the Saturn. The speedometer was not working at first, but fixed that later. The problem was a missing ground wire that used to be on the engine block, and without it, the computer would not power up, which is what drives the speedometer.

[ev99saturn]

acceleration was only fair, and top speed was above 80mph. This car has been sold and I have started building a much faster one. See my other videos. Thanks.

[jerrysjunk]

how did you manage to keep the 5 speed transmission did you have to do anything to the motor to not over load the thrust washer on the anatuer

[ev99saturn]

The electric motor was mounted on the 5 speed bell housing with a custom made adapter plate. The motor driveshaft uses a tapered coupling to grip the shaft and allow for fine adjustment, the flywheel is mounted to the flange end of the tapered coupling. The fine adjustment allows the flywheel/clutch to be positioned such that there minimal axial loading against the motor's shaft.

[ferraridriver16]

Awesome! And what a perfect choice of car! The EV1 was sold through saturn

[ev99saturn]

I don't know if it was Saturn that provided the EV1, but they were not sold, they were only leased. When the program ended, they took them all back and destroyed them because there "was no demand for electric cars". I believe that there was plenty of demand, but the oil companies rule, and saw a major decline in demand coming with electrics. If you have not already watched it, check out "Who Killed The Electric Car?" videos on YouTube. It is very revealing.

[lea1mercian]

nice home, cool car

[JohnCBriggs]

Congratulations on a job well done.

[TheManInDboX]

I love that all the EV conversions online are Stick shift, but then all the NEW cars are automatic.. Seems like the US auto manufacturer has missed the bus..

[experimental0000]

awesome conversion man, keep up the good work

[saleenguy57]

how fast



[64Daniel64Maverick64]

And then.. it rains.. ;)