So what is unique with this project? - Sähköautot - Nyt!
Dear fellow EV enthusiasts,
What is so unique with this project?
Please, don't take me wrong, it's looks exciting indeed, but from the summary I couldn't quite follow how exactly you are about to mass-produce these cars. Could you explain this a bit further?
Also, if your plan seems to work fine in Finland, why to limit operations there? All respect to your country, but probably it could be a good idea to offer these conversions in other countries too, at least in the EU common market area?
Are there any previous mass conversions made in Europe, USA, or anywhere?
Best wishes,
Nikolas Bruno
Belgium
We try to keep the R&D costs to minimum and provide as easy installation as possible.
With current Chinese Lithium batteries we can have about 200 Wh/litre as energy density and that will give range of 150 km this kind of conversion. Many of us feel it's adequate for daily driving for now. We know also that LiFePO4 chemistry is getting better due starting material mass production. I've seen estimations up to 400 Wh/litre and that would translate up to 250-300 km on single charge. => EV break trough.
Ok. So tehcnically with this project we can show case what modern EV tech can do. It's taken a giant leap from the mid 90's. EVerything has got more dense and powerfull. Computers, drivetrains, batteries, chargers… etc.
At least I have a vision that all the technology will install to engine compartment as one or two modules. The latter version it would be more compatible with project better place ideology for battery swapping.
We know now also that the component providers can meet the price if we order 500 units or more. We have a chance to get a feasible and functional conversion with less compromises than earlier.
10 years ago it was not so easy to share information. Web interfaces were evolving. Now we have all the Wikis and facebooks to make it all faster and more integrated.
Project aims to generate a market vacuum which has to be filled with EVs. By this way we can employ dozens of conversion companies instantly when the designs have been proved.
By all means.. do replicate the project in your own country. Take another vehicle donor. Then we can share the these designs world wide. We need to get the EV tsunami going around the world as soon as possible. Green house effect will not wait. We need to act fast or we'll become roadkill.
-Jukka
***
see my evalbum.com entries…
When you get your design, suppliers and first 100 conversions wrapped up, I'm ready to have my Corolla converted too and take the idea to Sweden, where I am soon moving from the US.
I've subscribed to your English blog's RSS feed and will monitor developments there.
Great idea. I really hope you can pull it off.
If I come up with any ideas to contribute I'll be back to this forum too.
Thanks and best wishes.
Steve
It seems like an excellent plan and I hope you have success, the only thing I would be concerned about is the major manufacturers catching up and offering a "ready to go" car, such as the Mitsubishi i EV.
It is offered for about the same price as you have projected and I think similar range and performance - I expect some people will see it as a safer option, and for that price you get a new car, not a conversion of an old one.
Hopefully there is more than enough demand for both to be successful though.
I am certainly interested to buy another LPC pack. I developed a BMS specifically to use these cells. The first pack (200AH LCP) one I obtained in 2003, it has been useful although it was not very successful in my EV because of the high internal resistance especially at cold temperatures. Since then I have used it for other experiments such as range extension.
Finally it will go into the project I am working on now: http://blogspot.triamp.com
However, due to its age and the same internal resistance problem, I intend to upgrade it as soon as that car is running.
Evan
If we can make any guestimations on MiEV what have happened with Prius… There will be plenty of business for anyone with an EV.
I see conversions one more efficient way to have EVs since we are actually taking already older and more polluting vehicles out. One by one. And it is not even needed to produce new chassis which is quite energy demanding part of the vehicle. So we are not actually adding new vehicles to the pool. We are truely converting old vehicle base from super polluting to zero emissions.
-Jukka
There seems to be no release date for Mitsubishi i-EV. It's still in development. According to AutoToday, the PETROL version of this city car will be released in Europe in 2009. The electric i-EV will be launched in Japan also in 2009 "with export to international market being evaluated". So will they ever export electric i-EVs globally, I doubt it. Anyway, I wouldn' t hold my breath.
McArttu
I'm very excited about a open source project like this. I've done some research and haven't found much public information regarding well designed controllers and battery maintenance systems. There are well developed EV's out there but they're private companies and have to protect themselves and so don't release much information about thier designs.
so a well organized open source project might help get the globe rolling.
best,
Curt in Houston TX.
Hello,
I am living in Guyana / South America and would like to support the project, since I myself am working on solutions in the area of converting cars and finding environment friendly transportation.
Anyhow, in Guyana there are plenty of Toyota (Corolla), but money is rare. Can you give me a quotation for the components you are getting your hands on Jukka?
email me via ed.ralupopnu|knarf#ed.ralupopnu|knarf (i am german) or yahoo messenger teu.tone or my email via MS Messenger will also work
kiitos & moimoi
What is unique in this Projec?
Nobody asked the question what is unique in Linux some 15 years ago when Linus came to me with his brilliant idea to create the best ever OS for a computer. Perhaps the uniqueness is not in the product in it self? Perhaps it is the not Revolutionary approach to the distribution, but the Evolutionary approach to the distribution? This world of ours is led by Corporations to feed us needs which governments try to regulate locally suitable with some results. Then they satisfy our created needs. But now we are nod feeding needs but answering the real demands of us - the people of this Planet. This I could call Evolution! This will be the new wave of marketing after the darkest era of Humanity - after the invention of electric bulb.
Blessings
Heikki
A Forest Mystic
I agree with Heikki, this is an evolutionary step where cars of poorer design are being changed to a more effective design. Evolution at it's best. ;-) People are starting to demand electric cars because they are cleaner and more effective but supply is poor at the moment. This is forcing us to take the step (leap?) and do it ourselves. Another reason for converting an existing car, is that I, for an example, have a wonderful car that I don't want to waste. Therefore I want to convert the car to some sort of hybrid so that it won't pollute as much. I don't want to make a full conversion, yet, because it's too expensive and radical. If I was to make a full conversion, I would use another car and I might to that at a later stage.