[ausev] New list member and I have a few questions.

[Brian Lasseter]

On Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 5:50 AM, David Leon <r5aaap at yahoo.com> wrote:
> I was leaning toward the AC kit offered by electroautomotive for $12,000.
> I figured it would be a good fit for my 97 Saturn SW1 that I own. I
> figured once I got the first conversion completed, I would convert the
> 2008 Mazda B2300 after I made the mistakes with the Saturn.
>
> My questions are, "Has anyone done business with electroautomotive?"
> "Could I do better with alternative vendors for similar parts for the
> AC kit that electroautomotive offers?"

I don't have any information about electroautomotive, or their kits...
However I'm sure that Revolt Custom Electric Vehicles here locally in
Austin could cut you a deal on a DC kit designed for a Saturn.  The 97
Saturn (2nd gen S-series) still has the same frame as my 02 Saturn
(3rd gen S-series).  They did a bangup job on my Saturn...
http://www.revoltcustomelectric.com/lasso-2002-saturn-sl/
http://www.lasso-jenn.com/photos/2008-04-05%20%20Finishing%20up%20the%20electric%20car/?d=c&img=6
http://www.revoltcustomelectric.com/


> Are there any federal, state, or local (grants, incentives, tax credits, etc)
> that I could enlist to offset the initial $12,000 cost of the AC kit?

There is a $500 rebate from Austin Energy, and a Federal Tax Credit
for Alternative Vehicle Refueling stations (That's like $200 to
install a plug in your garage).  There is nothing significant... and
those funds you get back after the conversion.


> And finally, I guess I'm looking for the optimum conversion by going AC with
> the highest possible voltage. I've seen that wet cell deep cycle batteries
> are limited by a maximum current of approximately 400 amps. I figure if I
> keep the duty cycle low and the current down, I can get the most lifetime
> from the batteries.

I'm not sure where you're getting this figure, though I keep my
electric Saturn with wet cell deep cycle batteries limited to a
maximum current of 400 amps.  It's very peppy with 400 amps though.
You should drop by this Saturday for the open garage and check it out.


-- 
TTFN,
Brian "Lasso" Lasseter

"No Sane man will dance."   -Cicero (106-43 B.C.)