Side ViewGarageVoltmeterTrunkJ-1772125 miles per charge
OwnerRussell Fauver
LocationPatrick, South Carolina United States map
Email email image
Vehicle1999 Solectria Force
Twelve solar panels on the garage
provide

more than enough energy to cover 100%

of my driving.
MotorAzure Dynamics/Solectria 3-Phase AC
induction motor with regenerative
braking
ControllerAzure Dynamics/Solectria
Batteries58 EVE LF280K , 3.20 Volt, Lithium Iron Phosphate
System Voltage185 Volts
ChargerElcon 5000
Input: 100-250 volt AC

Output: 21 amps @ 196 volts DC
HeaterCeramic electric heater for the cold
days

and Air Conditioning for the summer
months
DC/DC ConverterAzure Dynamics/Solectria
13.2 volts
InstrumentationOrion BMS 2 and Torque app
Top Speed72 MPH (115 KPH)
Computer limited
Range305 Miles (490 Kilometers)
Watt Hours/Mile190 Wh/Mile
@55mph
EV Miles
Current:129 Miles (207 Kilometers)
 
    As of 9/11/2023
Seating Capacity4 adults
Curb Weight2,475 Pounds (1,125 Kilograms)
Additional FeaturesPretty much just a stock Solectria Force, only thing I
did

was replace the original batteries and charger.
December 2012 Purchased this car with 48,000 miles on the
original

ni-cad batteries. Getting 24-25 miles per charge.





May 2013 replaced the ni-cads with 58 Calb CA100
batteries.

Now getting 100+ miles per charge.





July 2014 removed the extension cord style plug from
under the gas

door and installed a J-1772 charge port.





Aug 2014 Activated the cruise control feature in the
factory motor controller.





Sept 2014 62,000 electric miles and going strong.





Feb. 2015, upgraded sound system with Bluetooth audio and
new speakers.





May 2016 have 3 years on these batteries and still
getting around

100 miles per charge.







December 2016, 78,800 total electric miles. Today makes
30,000 on the

CALB CA100's. Still delivering good power.







October 2018, 100,000 all-electric miles!





July 2020, replaced the front brake discs and calipers.
Turns out

with regenerative braking the friction brakes deteriorate
from lack

of use… after 21 years.







October 2021, 120,000 miles!







July 2022, 125,000 miles, had a couple CALB cells fail.
Now, should

I get a new EV or buy a new battery pack for this car?
Lots of modern

EVs are available in both New and Used. But none look to
be any

more energy efficient than my Force. Plus the electronics
in my car

have been super reliable. So I think I’ll order some EVE
LF280K cells and an Orion BMS.







April 2023, First drive with the EVE LFP cells shows 101
miles traveled using just 33% of the battery’s capacity!



September 2023, 129,000 miles on the car, about 4,000 on
these new batteries and delivering 305 miles per charge.

code by jerry