I just checked out who killed the electric car with a friend who didn’t know much about EVs, and he asked a great question that I can’t answer: As Lithium Ion batteries get older, does the charge last as long as it did when it was new?

Possible answer here:
http://www.batteryuniversity.com/partone-5.htm

“I just came across your blog and wanted to drop you a note telling you how impressed I was with the information you have posted here. I also have a web site & blog about hybrid cars

if you look at all of the pictures…it shows what is behind the gas cap…shows the electrical charger and someone plugging it in. just fyi.

I have a 2.5 mile commute over relatively flat ground. Can an electric golf car motor/batteries/ controllers etc. convert my 1996 Saturn. I dont need to go faster than 20 MPH?

Helloooooo,......Jerry…... are you still there? we all miss your input and comments

Hi Noel.

I think the internals from electric golf cart will be too lightweight for your Saturn. Even at 20 MPH. I think it just might never pull off on an incline. Have you looked at the conversions link on this site? the Yugo is a low cost low power solution but it a very light vehicle. Anyone else want to pitch in on advice for Noel?

Watched a very interesting review on the G Wiz electric car last night. Tim Lovejoy from Channel 5’s Fifth Gear took to the streets of London to see if the £7,000 G Wiz was a practical enough vehicle. He found it wasn’t much use for taking the kids to school as it was a little on the small side for the children in the back but was adequate enough to get him self and his golf clubs in, so not too bad I suppose.

It is reckoned that the £7,000 price tag for the car will pay for its self within 1 year due to the car being exempt from the congestion charge, road tax, and can be parked for free in central London. The top speed of the car is just 40 mph and can travel for 40 miles on a single charge. In my eyes this is perfected for anyone living in the central of London.

Hi Used-Car-Parts-Man

I live in Coventry. I did look at the G-Wiz but settled on a GBP4000 (incl.) new batteries 2nd hand converted Rover Metro. It is featured on this site under conversions. I just thought the G-Wiz would be too slow for me. I think there are 500 plus out there so people are buying them. They use Golf cart batteries I think. A 48V pack so half the size of my 96V pack. It’s half the car so it’s probably OK. I have been dreaming lately about replacing my controller. Changing the Zapi H2 for a Zilla 1K. Apparently that would give me a considerable boost in performance without stressing the batteries any more. Maybe the controller in the G-Wiz is a good one and gives the car some torque.
Incidentally I used a used car parts service, Breakerlink. I found the service to be very good.

How far can you travel on a full charge James?

thirty to forty miles I think depending on speed chosen. If you are in Coventry anytime you can look me up. Mine is a budget EV and just has the basic lead acid batteries. It limits the range.

Hello and welcome back Jerry.
Per the request from James May for noel; Maine has indorsed legislation for “LSV’s” to operate on the road ways.
http://www.mainecouncilofchurches.org/Gemcarsigning.htm
http://www.gemcar.com/
I have seen these running around and you can build them up with options such as doors and heat so not to make the short trip to uncomfortable in the snowy North Country. This of course is coming from one who has owed five VW Bugs which should have come with the internal windshield ice scraper!
For an investment instead of depreciating the Saturn you might want to think of replacing it all together.
My two cents.

I don’t have the time to convert a car nor the money to afford a road worthy ele. car. Would it be possible to buy a LSV and upgrade the controller and motor to achieve a faster operating speed?