OwnerPhillip Crippen
Owner's Other EV1996 Ford Ranger
LocationFayetteville, Arkansas United States map
Web/EmailWebPage email image
Vehicle1997 BMW 318ti
Two Door hatchback 318ti AKA 318 Compact. Imported by BMW for a few years, the hatch continues elsewhere in the world. I didn't realize how much shorter the rear end of this thing was until I started trying to place cardboard battery-dummies back there. It's TINY!
MotorAdvanced DC FB1-4001A Series Wound DC
Drivetrain4Cyl gas, 5spd manual
ControllerCurtis 1231C
Batteries12 Odyssey PC2150, 12.00 Volt, Lead-Acid, AGM
System Voltage144 Volts
ChargerElcon PFC-1500
Heater1500W ceramic heater
DC/DC ConverterAstrodyne
InstrumentationAnalog Pack V and Ammeter to start with. PakTrakr on hand ready install with serial interface and ammeter CT
Top Speed75 MPH (120 KPH)
Initial: Max Speed: 60mph
Typical Top: 45-50
Avg Speed: 35-40
Update 10/10: I had it on the interstate a couple of weeks ago. I got up to 75 in 5th gear and still had some torque left. I stopped at that point, worried about police and impact on the range.
AccelerationInitial: Need to be roughly equivalent to ICE for merging into traffic:
Update: Pretty good. I do avoid intersections where I have to start uphill. It's about the same fear as with any manual transmission vehicle...there's always someone that pulls up too close.
Range40 Miles (64 Kilometers)
Typical route through town: Home->School->Church->Grocery->Home is around 15 miles.
10/2010 Update: Max range is 37 miles. I ran a 3mile loop from fully charged to limping with an average speed of 30mph, peak of 50, and two stop signs per loop.
Watt Hours/Mile380 Wh/Mile
This is an average over 303 miles to date. The basis is monitoring kWh consumed during charging, not a realtime AxV calc.
EV Miles
Start:206 Miles (331 Kilometers)
Current:207,852 Miles (334,433 Kilometers)
Total:207,646 Miles (334,102 Kilometers)
 
    As of 10/3/2013
Seating Capacity2 adults + 2 kids + groceries or kid backpacks
Curb Weight2,750 Pounds (1,250 Kilograms)
Post conversion weight: 3660
GVWR: 3740
TiresSumitomo (from previous owner)
Conversion TimeTarget Completion Date: 5/1(2009!)
Completed: 3/30/2010
Posted for Sale: 10/2/13
Conversion CostBudget: $15k
Donor: $4k
AGM Batteries: $3600
Components: $6000
Tear down 80% complete (1/11/09)
Electric Components ordered from EVA (1/9/09)
Tear down 100% complete, at fab shop working on adapter and battboxes (3/13/09)
Driven home from fab shop 3/30/10. Still needs:
* weatherize control board and splash guard for motor
* upgrade rear suspension
* install PakTrakr and Voltblocher shunts
* install ceramic heater core
* reassemble interior
* tachometer sensor
Going back to Fab Shop 5/4/10 for final control board, battery box paint and rework of PS wiring.

Back on the road Aug 2010. Now in use during dry weather. I believe it's already impacting the frequency of gas station trips in my F-150 (in a good way!).

code by jerry