Millions of people around the world drive their cars and commute from one place to another everyday. More people are becoming aware of the challenges in owning a gasoline driven vehicle. These car owners are actively searching for alternative energy to power their automobile. One solution is to use renewable energy such as electricity to replace fossil fuel. Unfortunately, a new electric vehicle (EV) from the manufacturer is still quite expensive. Many car enthusiasts are converting their car via a Do It Yourself (DIY) approach. What is the process of an EV retrofitting? This article will provide some information on homemade electric car.
The idea of retrofitting your existing car to run on electric is quite simple. The process involves the removal of the internal combustion engine and replaces it with a DC electric motor. Since the engine is gone, all the connecting components such as gas tank, fuel lines, radiator, fuel pump, exhaust pipe etc are removed as well. To propel the car forward, the motor is connected to the existing transmission system. To power the motor, a series of deep cycle batteries are used. An average EV would require 10 to 15 units of batteries.
On a full charge, a DIY electric car can travel up to 150 miles. The actual mileage of the EV will depend on the power of the electric motor, the charging state of the batteries, weight of the car and also the driving condition.
If you are not familiar with the internal mechanism of an automobile, it is not a good idea to convert your car to EV on your own. In this case, it is recommended for you to outsource the conversion work to a professional mechanic.
