Charging InletsElectronicsDigital Voltage MetersInstrument ClusterSolar PanelsDual Chargers with EVCCJ1772 Charger InletLeaf Battery Pack
OwnerJay Summet
LocationOrlando, Florida United States map
WebWebPage
Vehicle1995 Chevrolet S-10
MotorAdvanced DC FB1-4001A Series Wound DC
72-144 VDC
Drivetrain5 speed manual, no clutch.
ControllerCurtis 1231C-86
500 Amps 96-144 volts
Batteries48 Panasonic Nissan Leaf Modules, 8.00 Volt, Lithium-Ion
Third pack of batteries are the 48 modules salvaged from a 2013 Nissan Leaf. They are mounted in eight custom batteries (six modules per battery) in a 3 parallel 16 series arrangement, giving 180 Ah and 128 volts nominal. Weight is around 500 lbs for the entire pack. Much better performance than 20 lead acid golf cart batteries!


My First & Second packs were twenty lead acid golf cart batteries, at 1200 lbs.


First Pack of Sams Club golf cart batteries lasted 2.75 years and 4,861 miles. (Second pack of Interstate GC batteries were even worse.) See webpage (linked above) for more details about the 1st pack's battery life. Look for the post(s) on "cost of ownership".
System Voltage128 Volts
Charger Dual TSM2500 with EVCC
ThunderStruck motors Dual TSM2500 with EVCC setup. 4.2 kW max charging via J1772 port salvaged from a Nissan Leaf, 120 volt opportunity charging at 12 amps via an RV inlet.
Heater120V DC Resistive
DC/DC ConverterMeanwell SD-500H-12
(72-144v 7.8A input, 480W 14.5v output)
InstrumentationCurtis e-meter, Speed-o-meter/odometer, digital volt meters (Traction Pack & Accessory 12v), Amps (motor current), Vacuum gauge, PakTrakr to monitor individual batteries and battery current. Mini-BMS warning buzzer.
Top Speed80 MPH (128 KPH)
Acceleration0-30 mph in 9 seconds
0-60 mph in 23 seconds (No clutch slows down the 2nd to 3rd gear transition)
Range46 Miles (74 Kilometers)
Longest actual drive was 46 miles with some left over. Calculations say 50-55 mile range.
Watt Hours/Mile380 Wh/Mile
Measured at the wall. 380 whr/mile for longer trips, 500 whr/mile for short trips around the neighborhood (with lots of stopsigns and more charging losses)
EV Miles
Start:11,562 Miles (18,603 Kilometers)
Current:36,115 Miles (58,109 Kilometers)
Total:24,553 Miles (39,505 Kilometers)
Seating Capacity3 (very friendly) adults.
Curb Weight4,200 Pounds (1,909 Kilograms)
This is just a WAG, haven't actually measured it.
TiresBig, Fat, and inefficient.
Conversion TimePurchased from original converter as a "used" e-truck. He said it took several months. I've invested thousands of hours in it since then tinkering and adding enhancements (such as the Leaf battery pack and solar charging).
Installing a tilt bed kit and welding battery boxes to the frame under the bed takes extra work, but is well worth it to be able to throw things in the bed. The ability to use the truck to pick up and transport (light) loads makes it very useful. I highly recommend the tilt-bed with batteries between the frame rails configuration. It also keeps the center of gravity very low.

Sold with 36,115 EV miles on it to another EV Enthusiast (Jerry Dycus) who plans on building a custom cab/camper/cargo bed on the back, plus put 48 kWh of Chevy Bolt batteries into it.

code by jerry