If you were going to convert a car to Electric to sell, which car would it be?

mad_machine wrote: Fiero

Hrmmmm-guess no embedding youtube vids allowed.

Lets try this: Fiero

9.89 @134 iirc

my $0.02 I think a metro with two prius battery packs and some good wiring will do nicely, and if you add regenerative brakes, you get a real small car with true efficiency

I would be looking for a first gen clean Neon with blown head gasket.

In reply to Type Q: We have a Winner!

There's two reasons why people want to go electric, and they both deal with green. Either they want to feel like they're being more environmentally friendly, or they feel like they're getting gouged at the pump.

The first crowd is fully sold on things like the Prius and Leaf.

The second crowd is the one more likely to buy a kit, but they don't have a lot of money. So, if you're selling them a car, it needs to be something you can get for cheap, which means something ubiquitous. I'm thinking Corolla or F-150 as those are two of the best-selling vehicles in North America.

With all due respect, I delete my previous suggestions.

Find one of the little mail trucks that are currently in use, and electrify them. Convert for the USPS.

MrJoshua wrote:

SVreX wrote: you will end up with 32 non-running 1st gen MINI's in the yard.

You say that like its a bad thing.

Touche, sir! Well played!

I'd go for something useful before I went for something sexy. See Tesla, see Fisker, see two companies really struggling for a foothold.

Again, I reiterate the S10/Ranger. Very useful, pretty cheap to build, done already, and not really needed for long-range commuting duties.

If I were in the market for a sportscar, it would have to have 200 mile + range. I want to go away for a weekend in a sportscar. I want to go to home depot in the e-ranger.

Weekend away= Aston Martin

Weekend at work= E-Ranger.

In reply to Teh E36 M3:

I think Tesla could have been managed by monkeys and done better. Tesla and Fisker both go for the cool market but they are at a waaaaay higher price point than I am striving for. I do have to admit that if I went the Boxster route I would shoot for better acceleration than the Fisker (5.8 sec 0-60), but the Tesla's 3.7 second mark would be hard to match.

So im guessing my previous comment about making a fast EV boxster didnt sink in..

Vigo wrote: So im guessing my previous comment about making a fast EV boxster didnt sink in..

Oh I saw it. You said expensive. That part I definitely know!

I would like to add another question to this discussion: What characteristics about a car would make someone want to spend 20-$25k more on an electric version than what a stock one sells for on the used car market?

That is built by someone reputable, or with a name that at least carries prestige, like Tesla".

Seriously.

Your limited ability to back and warrant the product will prevent adding $20- 25K in value with a tag that reads "Built by Josh".

I love your ideas, and I'd be first in line to help, but I think you are fighting an uphill battle looking for a profitable product line with a $25K surcharge without the clout of a big name behind it.

That's the long way to say "No way".

Now, if you could develop a NEW (patentable) technology that you could sell to one of the big boys, or a packageable process (like a DIY kit) that you could sell cheaply directly to the end line consumer, you might be on to something.

But no one is gonna pay you an extra $25K for a car with a questionable pedigree, warranty, or perceived fly-by-night builder.

Um, Miata?

NAs are cheap and easy to find. Small and light should help with range/power difficulties? (Maybe?) Anything small and convertible is somewhat desireable.

In reply to SVreX:

I understand what you are saying, but I disagree. There are companies that charge $12,500 for conversions with lead acid batteries, could be outrun by a golf cart, and are put together with sheet metal screws, angle iron, and mdf. There is a more "reputable" company that charges $30k to "convert" your Boxster not including the 10-20k in batteries. Another successful converter puts out an internet TV show where he talks about conversions but damn near kills himself with electricity or breaks every part by putting it together wrong every episode. The shop in Tampa had people pay for a Volvo, pay for a 100mile conversion, and then pay to have it shipped to Sweden. What I am saying is their are many many shops out there taking peoples half of peoples $12k-$75k before they even start the project. It is a weird industry full of people paying waaaay to much for something different, put together by morons, that it feels good to buy. I don't have a name, so my goal is to have a good final product. They get to test drive an actual car. I could be wrong, but I don't think I am.

If you develop a package of all the necessary parts to convert a Miata (or other), offer a detailed instruction guide, YouTube videos, and a convenient website, you can offer DIY kits (and components) at a price you can probably make money at. $10-15K, customer supplies the Miata.

If you are going to offer converted Miatas for $30K no one will buy, and the guys who do will expect perfection and sue your fanny if anything goes wrong.

Too much risk (and labor) in actually putting the car together.

Develop the system. Build a prototype in 1 car you know well. Drive it for a while to iron out the bugs. Sell the kits. Then adapt the system for another car. Repeat.

thestig99 wrote: Um, Miata? NAs are cheap and easy to find. Small and light should help with range/power difficulties? (Maybe?) Anything small and convertible is somewhat desireable.

Are we really 3 pages in and you are the first person to say that?

I completely agree. Miata came way before anything else when I started considering this. Mostly because of familiarity, but also because they make a great weekend car which lowers the conversion requirements.

In reply to MrJoshua:

No, dingbat... you mentioned it in the first post!

I assumed you had explored the idea or already ruled it out.

It's the best option to start with.

MGB. None of them are running anyway. (please don't take this suggestion and starting hacking up MGBs to make horrid electric cars)

SVreX wrote: In reply to MrJoshua: No, dingbat... you mentioned it in the first post! I assumed you had explored the idea or already ruled it out. It's the best option to start with.

OK-I guess I should say the first person other than the dingbat version of me.

It is a great candidate, except for the price. They are old and inexpensive and look old and inexpensive. I am not convinced they are "classic" enough for people to pay big money for one.

MrJoshua wrote: It is a great candidate, except for the price. They are old and inexpensive and look old and inexpensive. I am not convinced they are "classic" enough for people to pay big money for one.

I really don't think anyone is going to pay big money for a home converted car... Anyone who is remotely interested in driving isn't going to buy an electric car or they are going to buy the known name of a Tesla.

93EXCivic wrote: MGB. None of them are running anyway. (please don't take this suggestion and starting hacking up MGBs to make horrid electric cars)

I really have no desire to make a horrid electric car. Whatever I convert had better be somewhat amusing or I am just not interested.

MrJoshua wrote:

Nashco wrote:

MrJoshua wrote: A converted Boxster could sell in the same ballpark.

Sure it could. But could you build it to meet those performance targets you mention and sell it for $30k and actually make a profit? I don't think so, but I dare you to prove me wrong! Bryce

It's very very close. It may be there, it may not. Batteries are getting close to the price/performance point that makes it a sure thing, but at that point the OEM's should decrease in price as well.

Don't say it's an electric conversion. Just tell buyers it's been modified with your secret IMS bearing failure prevention kit.