Current Situation:
Auto manufacturers will soon make EVs for $20K-$30K but that is out of the price range for many people who want to stop using fossil fuels for their transportation. (GM Volt, Spark-EV, Lion-EV, Aptera)
There's still a niche market for mechanically inclined people who would be interested in converting a vehicle for fun as long as it was cheap and easy.
People with money and time are willing to put up with the quirks of older cars (914, VW Rabbit, Fiero), newer technologies (lithium), and specialty cars (VW New Beetle, Mini Cooper). These folks tend to design their own conversions anyway.
Proposal:
Develop an open-source conversion kit for a common vehicle that is cheap and easy to do by many people with a little mechanical know-how.
Criteria for Vehicle Selection:
inexpensive ($11,000 for the whole EV conversion with car)
reasonably newer vehicle (< 15 years old)
several conversions already done (EVAlbum)
used vehicles widely available (Ex: Craigslist)
car is "likeable" (mass appeal) but practical (seats four)
car has online support community for repairs/parts
car has a good shop manual
car is lightweight, 2WD with manual transmission
Goals for the EV kit:
Safe and user-friendly
freeway capable (70mph) with reasonable acceleration
reasonable range (30 miles at 50% depth-of-discharge)
widely available batteries (probably lead-acid at first)
easy maintenance (easy access to batteries)
Open-source designs that local machine shops can view and easily recreate (i.e. battery racks and any mounting brackets)
Commonly available EV parts (motor, controller, contactor, etc...)
Easy to follow instructions (model: Electro Automotive kit instructions)
Can bolt it together in your own garage with basic tools from Sears/Harbor Freight (exception: upgrading the suspension)
Effective battery management system (BMS) to keep the batteries healthy
Additional options: power steering, better batteries, bigger motor
Online support group and sharing area so that people can add their own modifications
Licensed under the TAPR Open Hardware License (www.tapr.org/OHL)
Copyright 2008 Tim Kutscha