AHr CounterA/CAZ EVDifferential
OwnerJames Wolfe
Owner's Other EVs1982 Pontiac J2000
1993 Dodge TEVan (Caravan)
1988 Pontiac Fiero
LocationGlendale, Arizona US map
Web/EmailWebPage email image
Vehicle1995 Solectria E-10
Chevrolet S-10
MotorAzure Dynamics/Solectria GT20T 3-Phase AC
(2) 3 PHASE AC Induction
Drivetrain(2)3-phase AC induction motors direct drive, no transmission.
ControllerBrusa (2) AMC320/325
1-AMC320 & 1-AMC325
Batteries12 Dynasty 12-370, 12.00 Volt, Lead-Acid, AGM
Manufactured by Johnson Controls, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 12V 100Ah @ 20 hr rate, (388 wpc @ 15 minute rate to 1.67 VPC @ 77F)
System Voltage144 Volts
ChargerZivan NG5
230V input, 144V/30A output, programmed IUIa 200AH
HeaterCeramic
DC/DC ConverterAzure Dynamics/Solectria
InstrumentationTach, Solectria Ahr counter, voltmeter and, (battery), ammeter.
Top Speed70 MPH (112 KPH)
(estimated) I have had it up to 65 on the interstate. It is about as streamlined as the barn door and draws nearly 200A to maintain that speed. The controller is programmed to limit the speed of the motor.
Acceleration0-30 is good, but lethargic to 40-45. I limit the current draw to 200A to conserve the batteries but if I dial up the performance knob, it will accelerate well enough to get to the next stoplight before it turns green!
Range50 Miles (80 Kilometers)
To 50 Ahr remaining at 40-45 Mph. Most of the time I only use about 25-30 Ahr for 25-30 miles.
Watt Hours/Mile150 Wh/Mile
With very careful driving it will do just under 1 Ahr per mile. With the Air Conditioning on, if I'm very careful, I can still keep it to 1 Ahr per mile when on flat ground and in minimum traffic. Without trying to economize it uses about 1.1 Ahr per mile with Air Conditioning.
EV Miles
Current:21,042 Miles (33,856 Kilometers)
 
    As of 7/4/2009
Seating Capacity2 adults
Curb Weight3,080 Pounds (1,400 Kilograms)
(Calculated) The batteries weigh 74 lbs each.
TiresFronts are Goodyear Regatta-2 inflated to rated 44 lbs., and rears are Goodyear Momentum inflated to rated 50 lbs.
Conversion CostPurchase price when new: $35,000
Additional FeaturesPower steering, Power brakes w/regen, Air Conditioning, drivers side air bag, 1520 lb payload and full use of the pickup bed.
Purchased at auction here in Phoenix. (Not the same auction yard that I purchased the TEVan at.) This one came from APS, our other power company.

I was in the process of gathering parts to convert an '89 S-10 with a blown head gasket, which was given to me, when my favorite brother in-law saw this one at auction. I went to see what it would sell for. The bed was bolted down and the widshield said, "Electric - does not run". This made it unable to determine if it had batteries or controllers. When no-one seemed to want to bid I couldn't help myself. I bought my 3rd EV with the only bid. (My XYL was very understanding.)

The batteries are from a Data Center UPS that was being replaced with a larger one. Date stamp on all batteries is 06-06 and I paid $280 for 15 of them in March of 07. They seem to be holding up very well with current draws set to 200A maximum. I presently have no BMS of any kind on them but they are staying within .1 Volt of each other. I did blow a terminal on one early on. It now serves as my "shop" battery and leaves me with 2 spares.

A nice feature of the E-10 is a potentiometer that adjusts the current draw and a switch to turn on/off the regen. The accelerator controls the amount of Regen when it is on and with regen off, it coasts when you let up on the accelerator. The best method for maximum range is to coast as much as possible and only use regen when braking is necessary. With the Regen on all the time range suffers at about .1 to .2 Whr per mile.

code by jerry