keywords: electric car battery lead fiat x1/9 alternative transportation

Here is a list of questions (or comments) that I have received when someone first realizes that I might be serious.

[Q] Let's face it. Fiats are not known for reliability or longevity. In fact, they rust badly and break down often. So why go and do a hair-brained thing like convert a 1980 X1/9 in mediocre condition to electric??

[A1] The gasoline engine in this car, in a word, stinks. Remove it and you will remove about 80 percent of the reasons a Fiat can leave you walking.

[A2] Cost. I paid the grand sum of $400 for this car (without a transmission). I can drive it now, still in gas mode, for less than $1000 total spent. A car with a higher "fun/dollar" ratio would be hard to find.

[A3] I like it. 'Nuff said.

[A1] No. They will keep up with traffic in every state except Montana, thank you. This car will top out above 70 MPH when finished, if other cars using the same equipment are any indication.

[A2] They cost approximately the same to operate as a gasoline car, when everything is factored in. This includes the cost of:

• Electricity
  
• Gasoline and oil changes in a gas car
  
• New batteries every 18000 miles for electric
  
• Tune ups and repairs to systems only found in the gas car, such as the water cooling system or fuel filters.

[A3] Environment. Say all you want about zero-emissions vehicles being really deferred emission vehicles (because electric utility plants pollute), but even with that figured in, this car will operate 10 times cleaner when converted to electric.

[A] Yep, daily charging is required, along with a few special concerns on a weekly basis. However, I spend more time and brain-power on the task of making coffee in the morning than I ever will on charging an electric car. And no more smelly fumes at the local gas-n-go!

Range will be limited in the Fiat, but that's not really an issue to me. I plan to be able to get 50 solid highway miles on a charge, and maximize speed and acceleration. Mine will be primarily a commuter car. I live about 8 miles from where I work, and with going home for lunch, I will drive about 32 miles a day. If we need to go on a road trip, we have a truck. :)

Generally, range in electric cars is improving with time. GM's first production electric car, EV One, is rumored to be able to go 90 miles on a charge. Some cars with experimental (and expensive) battery packs have gone over 200 miles on a charge.

[A] I plan to use 10 deep-cycle 12 volt batteries for a total of 120 volts DC. I have heard of people using the dinky marine batteries available from any discount store. I have also heard of those batteries failing within the first year. Also, I need something to hold a little more "juice" than is available with the el-cheapo marine batteries. Here's a spec sheet on batteries from Trojan Battery Company designed for the purpose.

[A] Yes, and the news media jumped all over it. However, the media haven't been so kind to the numerous articles evaluating the validity of the numbers used in the study (rather, the lack of validity). Here is a link to more precise information on why that study was flawed (courtesy EcoElectric).

Consider this: None of the lead in leaded gasoline was ever recycled. Up to 98% of scrap lead-acid batteries are recycled today (with 98% of the battery by weight being re-used, according to Trojan Battery Company), and that number will only go up. When buying a lead-acid battery at the Wal-Mart without a trade-in battery, they charge you an additional $10 (times 10 for my battery pack = $100... I'm going to recycle). Get the picture?

[A] No. And I have really been asked this. Think about it - generators turn mechanical energy into electrical energy. Motors turn electrical energy into mechanical energy. No electrical/mechanical conversion system is 100% efficient. Driving a generator with a motor will NEVER create more energy than is put into the system - but will waste a certain amount of energy as heat.

[A] What I know I have gleaned from the Electric Vehicles Internet mailing list. I really know nothing compared to some of these folks. Contributors to the list include people who drive electric cars daily for their commute and people who convert or build electric cars as a business (mostly in CA and AZ).

To subscribe to the mailing list (about 20-30 messages daily) send mail to LISTSERV@SJSUVM1.SJSU.EDU. In the body of the message, put the single line "subscribe ev your name" replacing "your name" with your actual name and omitting the quote marks, of course. Send the message from the email address that you want to use to receive and contribute to the list.

[A] Well, that's one reason I selected a Fiat - reasonable steering without power assist, breaks that have never seen a vacuum booster, and a top that comes off in lieu of air conditioning. However, people commonly convert small to mid-size sedans with power brakes provided with the help of a vacuum pump that runs off the aux battery, and power steering can be implemented the same way as with a gasoline car - using the engine to turn a hydraulic pump for the steering system. Air conditioning compressors can be run from the electric engine also, but the car has to be designed to handle the additional load while still getting you to work and back.

[A] Well, I figure that if I don't charge myself for labor, I can do a pretty decent job of converting it for $6000 or so. Needless to say, this project will take a while, since I don't have that kind of dough sitting around just waiting for the next project to come along.

[A] Maybe. But to believe in something and not practice it is a common form of hypocrisy, and I am in a position now to start practicing something I believe in, namely, alternative practices that don't destroy the Earth at quite the alarming rate as the "normal" American way of life. <soap-box> It's a shame, IMHO, that public policy and public opinion can be molded so easily by those with deep pockets. Ah, well, them's the breaks in a society based on greed.</soap-box>

[A] I've moved my EV related links to a seperate page; click here to go there. Interesting stuff.

Here are some more detailed plans for what I am going to do to this car.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are those of myself alone, and have nothing to do with any sponsoring organizations or individuals, including my employer or Internet service provider or wife. All of the numbers in this document are from memory and may be inaccurate or difficult to prove, although had I not seen them somewhere, I would not be recounting them here. If you have any concerns about what I've asserted in these pages, please mail me at lemley@aristotle.net and I will entertain the notion of providing substantive documentation.

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