If you want to own a car that is eco-friendly and has good fuel economy, the obvious solution is to buy an electric car. But, electric cars are pretty expensive, and they are still considered somewhat of a luxury, which means that a lot of people can’t afford them. However, there are other options for those who can’t afford to buy an electric vehicle. You just have to own a gasoline-powered car, which they can convert into an electric car. You will need a couple of tools, the basic electric components, and you have to know how to remove the components of an internal combustion engine. You might think that this is too complicated, but it’s actually pretty simple and easy to do, and you don’t have a lot of money to do it.
The most suitable cars for such a conversion are small, lightweight cars, preferably with manual transmission. The main components you need for this project include: a battery pack, an electric motor, a battery charger, a vacuum pump, and a motor controller. Also, you need various connectors, cables, and gauges. There are a couple of options when it comes to the type of battery that can be used for this conversion, such as an AGM (Absorption Glass Mat) battery, a lead acid flooded battery or a lithium-ion battery, which is more expensive. As far as the motor is concerned, a DC motor is recommended.
After you’ve bought these parts, you can start removing the components of the internal combustion engine. You have to drain the fluids, such as the oil and the coolant, and then remove the engine, the radiator, the exhaust system, and fuel supply lines. To remove the engine, you will need an engine crane and a torque wrench. Then you start installing the new components. First, you should put the motor on brackets that you have attached previously, and then install the controller, along with a DC-DC converter. The batteries should be mounted on brackets, or put in a box that should stand where the fuel tank used to stand. The vacuum pump is next, which should add some extra power to the brake. In the end, you have to install the transmission.
The batteries have to be connected with the transmission, and the controller has to be connected to the motor and the batteries. You have to be extra careful with the wiring, and if you are not sure that you can do it properly, you should let a professional mechanic do it.
The conversion is finished after all the wiring is done. All that you have to do now is register your car and get a certification confirming that it’s safe for operation on public roads. First, an engineer certified by the DMV will check the car and see whether it meets all safety standards, and if you get the approval by the engineer, the DMV will register it. At the end of this project, which should cost you about $2,000, you will have a fully-functioning electric vehicle that is good for the environment and you won’t have to worry about rising gas prices.
Author bio: Jordan Perch is an automotive fanatic and “green cars” specialist. He is an author of many how-to articles related to safe driving, green technologies, auto insurance etc. Currently owning and writing for dmv.com/blog.
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