Best Electric Car News

Do-It-Yourself Electric Car Motor Conversion

It is not as difficult as you may think to make your own electric car. It is recommended that before you start you become completely informed on the electric car and should read up on it as much as possible. It is best if you make your own electric car for the first time with someone who has done it before.

It is recommended that you convert a lightweight car to an electric engine as lighter cars can get the most savings when using electricity versus gas. Though it is possible to convert any car from gasoline to electric. It is also recommended that you convert a car with manual transmission, as automatic transmissions tend to use up a lot of energy. You also won’t stall out as much as it does not matter which gear you start in when the engine is electric.

Many individuals look for an inexpensive car to convert but you don’t want the car to fall apart anytime in the near future. Converting a car to electric will take a lot of time and you want the car to last. So do not chose the cheapest car on the lot but make sure you get a reliable car that will last. Also make sure the car has a good spot to mount the batteries, as having the batteries where a passenger will sit is not recommended.

The easiest way to convert your car is to use an electric conversion kit. There are several kits available from different companies. These kits are all tested and made so that the parts all work together. You will get a controller and motor and all the wiring and mounting needed for the conversion. Some excellent kits are produced by Canadian EV, Electro automotive and Metric mind.

If you are just working in your free time and on weekends then it will take you a few weeks to complete the conversion. It is important that you follow the directions carefully and having someone that knows cars on hand can make things go a lot smoother. If you don’t have any mechanically inclined friends then you may be able to find answers to your questions or problems by searching online.

Before you go converting a car to running on an electric motor make sure that care will meet your needs. You will just waste time and money if you convert a car and then leave it parked as you are not using it. Small commuter cars are a great choice for electric conversion as they will be used regularly and if the commute is short then you will definitely save on gas. Someone that does extensive travel over long distances may not find using an electric car a very feasible option.

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Since the very conception of the automobile, engineers and designers have been searching for was to make them more efficient and save on fuel consumption. Petrol fuels the majority of vehicles and diesel fuel is used in heavier automotive equipment. The internal combustion engine is considered to be a major if not the biggest source of environmental pollution and the cost of fuel is increasing every day.

Toyota’s Versions: The Toyota Camry 2008 hybrid has all the safety and fuel efficiency that this model is known for. At 34 miles to the gallon along the highways, the Camry Hybrid delivers the fuel efficiency and low emission levels expected of hybrids. The Prius, on the other hand, is considered by many hybrid lovers as the lowest-priced hybrid compact there is. Introduced to America around ten years ago, the Prius Hybrid has been resilient in staying on the popularity charts as far as hybrids are concerned. With the highest fuel efficiency ratings and most reasonable prices, the Prius Hybrid takes the credit. In addition to these sedans, Toyota includes in its lineup the 2008 Highlander Hybrid and Hybrid Limited, a great SUV hybrid; then there are the hybrid minivans, the Estima, Sienna, and Previa hybrids.

Full hybrids usually achieve very good fuel efficiency. At this point full hybrids can be more expensive than the other type hybrids cars, but the price should come down as popularity increases.

Honda’s line up includes an SUV, in this case the Honda Pilot. It has been noted to have really low emissions and efficient injection. It incorporates the VCM system (which stands for Variable Cylinder Management), a system that increases mileage conversely proportional with fuel consumption.

Plug-In Hybrids: Plug-In hybrids at this time are not available from any car manufacturer, but you can expect to see them in the near future. The plug-in hybrid uses the internal combustion engine only as a backup to the electric motor. These hybrids can be plugged into a normal household electrical outlet to charge, but in addition they can also use the same charging capabilities of a full hybrid. While full hybrids utilize the electric and internal combustion engine all the time, plug-in hybrids will only use the internal combustion engine as a backup when the electric motors batteries run out of juice. At this point the car will operate as a full hybrid. Plug-In hybrids are expected to achieve better fuel efficiency than the other hybrids and many people see this technology as the future of hybrid technology.

Volkswagen, Too? Yes, Volkswagen Hybrids are also available. And why not? Volkswagen is also one committed, environmentally responsible company. This German carmaker is working on the Jetta Hybrid with its small engine that delivers great power with the assistance of a twin charger that will ensure high fuel-efficiency and low emission.

Performance Hybrid: Electric motors can offer instant torque unlike a conventional combustion engine. Some companies realized that you can take a smaller gasoline motor and pair it with an electric motor to get the performance of a much larger engine, and also get good fuel efficiency. A good example of this would be the Lexus GS450h which is capable of going 0-60 in 5.2 seconds, but gets a respectable 25mpg city / 28mpg freeway. The great thing about performance hybrids are the cars can get the performance of a V8 engine, but get the fuel efficiency of a smaller motor.

In conclusion, the future of automobiles is currently the hybrid car and purchasing a hybrid vehicle will not only save you money but will also allow you to take responsibility and do you part in creating a safer, cleaner and greener environment.

Does it seem like the prices of gasoline are increasing everyday? There are some predictions being bandied about that gasoline may soon cost $10 a gallon! When that day comes, you’ll probably have to find some other way to get to where you want to go. Maybe buy a bike, or even walk. But the fact remains that prices at the till are not going to do down, short of a worldwide boycott against the oil companies that depend on foreign oil-producing nations to supply our cars with their daily fix.

Still, it won’t help matters any, or lower the prices of gasoline so we can go about our day-to-day lives not having to worry if our next paycheck will be enough to cover the continuing increase of gasoline prices. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to totally do away with all our concerns about gasoline and become independent from the oil companies who seem to have the last say about how we run our cars?

Electric cars soon faded away. New ways to make gasoline were being discovered. The electric starter was invented, this started a car with a key instead of the crank. A gasoline car could travel further distances than the electric cars. Therefore, gasoline cars soon become the popular method of transportation. Now that there is push towards cleaner cars, electricity and electric cars are again being looked at as ways to reduce pollution and greenhouse gases from being released into the environment by gasoline.

Electric autos do not burn gasoline. They use electricity stored in batteries. In these electric cars, the battery is used to run the motor which then turns the wheels. It may take up to 12 or 24 batteries to power the car.

To charge these batteries, the car is usually plugged in at night. Some cars can plug into a regular electrical wall outlet. Other cars need a larger outlet, similar to one a stove may plug into. The electricity is then stored in the batteries in the car.

There are different types of batteries for different cars. Some batteries can be lead acid, like batteries found in a flashlight. Or they could be ni-cad (nickel-cadmium) like batteries found in a portable video game player — only they will be much larger. Better batteries that can last longer and hold more energy are constantly being developed. Most electric cars should be able to travel 150 to 200 miles before needing to be recharged.

Car manufacturers and scientists are constantly coming up with new ideas and ways to run our vehicles in a cleaner, more environmentally friendly way. The production of the electric car is an exciting one that growing and is being embraced by more and more people every day.