Control panelFront battery compartmentEngine CompartmentUndercar
OwnerSuhas Malghan
LocationBaltimore, Maryland United States map
Web/EmailWebPage email image
Vehicle1989 Toyota MR2
very compact mid-engine 2 seater that's great fun and actually has adequate passenger and cargo space along with great visibility.
MotorSiemens 1PV5135WS14 3-Phase AC
45kW Continuous rated power, 100kW peak. Originally I was
planning on a smaller motor but I got a deal on this on that I
couldn't pass up. Little car, big motor, I suppose there are
worse things
ControllerSiemens Simovert 6SV-1
Short inverter with separate contactor box
Batteries22 Concorde Chairman, 12.00 Volt, Lead-Acid, AGM
Not a popular choice but they were the only model I found
that fit the requirements for packaging, weight and
performance. They're very nicely designed and built with
RoHS-compliant copper terminals rather than lead studs
System Voltage264 Volts
ChargerBrusa NLG5
Carried on-board tucked into the side of the rear trunk.
HeaterCeramic element
DC/DC Converter
Integrated into Simovert inverter and supplemented with a
7Ah 12V battery. I'd like to replace it with a lithium module in the near future.
InstrumentationEVision but having EMI issues that garble readings
Top Speed77 MPH (123 KPH)
Stays in second gear. I had stripped down a standard gearbox to use as a single speed reduction drive but the clunky whirring tells me that I didn't set a clearance correctly. I'll again replace it with a standard gearbox soon.
AccelerationIt feels like the gas version but I have yet to corroborate that
with some hard numbers. I can say it's great fun!
Range40 Miles (64 Kilometers)
calculated based on 200Wh/mi consumption and 8kWh of
usable battery capacity.
EV Miles
Start:158,000 Miles (254,222 Kilometers)
Current:158,400 Miles (254,865 Kilometers)
Total:400 Miles (643 Kilometers)
Seating Capacity2 adults
Curb Weight2,800 Pounds (1,272 Kilograms)
estimate, would love to get it on a scale
Tiresstock 185/60-14, the 89-only wheels are very 80s disc style and look like they have lower drag than the more popular "triangle" style wheels.
Conversion Timeabout 18 months
Conversion Costprobably about $20k
Additional FeaturesI wanted to retain the excellent handling of the original so the battery weight was limited and
distributed throughout the car to retain balance. There are ten batteries in the engine
compartment, six down the center tunnel and six in the front trunk. There's room for
more modules in the space formerly occupied by the radiator but that's way out in front
of the axle line so it remain unoccupied, as much as I wanted more capacity and higher
voltage.
Now inspected and tagged and I'm enjoying running around town running errands and commuting to work. Been
experimenting with all the adjustable parameters the inverter software offers and driving style while attending to renewing the suspension bushings and ball joints and typical 20 year old car issues. I use a lot of regen but I will limit it at low speed to make sure I have to use the hydraulic brakes soon enough that the brake lights adequately alert people behind me.
I'm happy to help out anyone working with similar components with advice or ideas.

code by jerry