OwnerKen Gallenbeck
LocationByron, Illinois United States map
Email email image
Vehicle1997 Chevrolet S10
LS Extended Cab
MotorNetgain
Warp9
Drivetrain2.2L 4 cyl, 5-speed transmission
ControllerCurtis
1231C
Batteries45 Thunder Sky LS100AHA, 3.80 Volt, Lithium-Ion
As of today, October 17, 2017, 17 of the 45 cells do not hold a charge.
System Voltage144 Volts
ChargerElcon PFC-3000
HeaterNone; none planned
DC/DC ConverterIota
Top Speed55 MPH (88 KPH)
so far... Only been on the road since August 4, 2011.
Range31 Miles (49 Kilometers)
measured via calculator only. Longest trip so far has been around 30 to and from the Illinois Renewable Energy Fair in Oregon, IL on August 13-14, 2011
EV Miles
Start:168 Miles (270 Kilometers)
Seating Capacity2+
Conversion Time2.5 years elapsed
Conversion Cost$15,000
Additional FeaturesAs of October 2017, this vehicle is still incomplete and is for sale as-is, best offer. My wife wants her garage back, so I am, as they say, a motivated seller... ;-)) or ;-(( as the case may be.
Truck has a bad head gasket; hauled it to Illinois from Dayton, Ohio in February 2008. Worked on rehabbing an outbuilding at Dave Lewis's farm. It's a pretty decent "garage" now, with an 8x10 roll-up door. Conversion started on January 21st, 2009 at "the hogshed". I was actually able to drive from my place to Dave's - with a couple tow ropes in back, just in case. Worked when it was warm enough, pulling off misc parts. Borrowed an engine lift. Got some advice from Craig Dusing, EV-Solutions in Sterling, IL. Pulled the engine and trans, finally, on March 14.

Added helper springs in the rear and new coil-over shocks all around. Had to remove the frame member that the gas tank hung off of. The frame member to the rear of the axle was moved farther back to make room for one of the battery boxes. There will be one on each side of the drive shaft, one behind the rear axle, one under the hood and one in the passenger compartment behind the seats for a total of 24 6-volt batteries.

Being a farmer, summer showed little progress. We have the motor and trans installed. The rear (under-bed)battery box frames are at the welder - taking a while. Will work on the cables while we wait for the box frames.

Decided to get Thunder Sky lithium instead of the Trojans. They are only 100 amp cells, but I expect they will do the job for me.

code by jerry