OwnerMichael Bonard
LocationPotomac, Maryland US map
Web/EmailWebPage email image
Vehicle2000 Plymouth Neon
Commuter car with a range of 15 - 20 miles.
MotorAdvanced DC FB1-4001 A Advance DC Motors 9 In. Series Wound DC
with rear shaft: cost efficient with plenty of power.
DrivetrainUses the existing gearbox and clutch.
ControllerCurtis 1231C-8601
Considering performance, quality and price, probably best deal available.
Batteries12 Tempest 120-12, 120 Ah, 12.00 Volt, Lead-Acid, AGM
These are sealed AGM lead acid batteries (no fumes, no corrosion) which are moderately priced.
System Voltage144 Volts
ChargerDelta-Q Technologies Quick charge Corporation
144 V 10 Ampere model. I have added 12 individual chargers (12 V 8 amp) made by the battery provider company to allow precise end of charge equalization of each battery. These are inexpensive but sophisticated chargers which I expect will help prolong the battery life!
HeaterRM 4 Fluid heater supplied by Metric Mind.
DC/DC ConverterIota IOTA 45 A
The best price I could find for a 45 A current capability.
InstrumentationExisting instrument speedometer and odometer. Added traction battery pack Ammeter and Voltmeter; I plan to add a motor tachometer and since I am really worried by over-revving the motor I plan to add a RPM safety function.
Top Speed60 MPH (96 KPH)
I easily reached 60 mph on highway, but I have not pushed beyond yet. I am just trying to not damage my batteries..
AccelerationBetter than expected. I am usually driving in 2nd gear for city traffic at speeds less that 35 mph to improve acceleration, and 3rd gear for higher speeds. The starting torque is amazing!
Range35 Miles (56 Kilometers)
Commuting back and forth from Washington DC suburbs to local shops, and in the future to downtown DC, with the hope that my employer will allow charging while parked at work.
Watt Hours/Mile400 Wh/Mile
This is a wall to wheels measurement.
EV Miles
Start:126,000 Miles (202,734 Kilometers)
Current:127,050 Miles (204,423 Kilometers)
Total:1,050 Miles (1,689 Kilometers)
Seating Capacity4 adults plus luggage in the trunk.
Curb Weight2,564 Pounds (1,165 Kilograms)
Base curb weight of the original car. Will update once conversion is finished
TiresStandard until it is necessary to upgrade to a low drag tires.
Conversion TimeMore than 12 month duration start to finish, due to extensive travel and health problems.
Conversion CostApprox. $16,000 including the donor car.
Additional FeaturesCar has been registered, running and road ready. I have replaced the front and rear springs by heavy duty springs, added a vacuum pump, a heater, a power steering pump. Air conditioner is currently out of question due to the weight, cost and power requirements considerations.
The conversion took much more design and modification than I expected. From my point of view, there is no "standard" conversion kit available since the same car model changes from year to year. Every step of the installation was a prototyping experience (1. solve a problem, 2. try it, 3. Discard the solution if it is not good 4. undo, 5.try again until it is satisfactory). The structural differences between the same models of the same cars but from different years can be significant enough so that a kit specifically designed for a given year will not fit the same model from another year. There is apparently no widespread consensus on the design rules or characteristics, and finding the best solution among a wide array of recommendations or opinions is very challenging!

code by jerry