It sounds cool on the face of it—convert an SUV to an electric vehicle and never have to pay at the pump again.
That's what I thought when a friend gave me a copy (yes, an actual "hardcopy" clipped from the Quincy Patriot Ledger) about a guy who converted a 2000 Ford Explorer into an electric vehicle.
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For starters, he needed an SUV to be able to carry the 28 batteries he uses to power the beast. Now, let's see, the picture in the paper shows Megatron Deep Cycle batteries that come in at 46 lbs apiece, for a total of 1,288 lbs of batteries—nearly the weight of all hefty occupants of the seven passenger version of the vehicle. Some of this is gained back by the electric motor likely weighing less than the gasoline engine taken out.
With all this weight, the car can only go 35 miles before recharging—which takes six hours using 110 volt house current (with half that time if 220 volts (i.e. a dryer circuit) are used). The cost of a charge is quoted at $0.90. Now the 2000 Explorer has a combined EPA mileage of 15 mpg, meaning it takes 2.33 gallons of gas to go the same 35 miles. At $2.50 per gallon, he's saving $4.93 every 35 miles.
But here is the kicker, for $15,500, he'll do the conversion for you on a vehicle you furnish. At those prices, you'll have to drive 110,000 miles to break even, about nine to 11 years worth of average travel.
Interesting project—yes. Practical—no!
Comments
This isn't so unreasonable if this fellow needs something to deliver relatively bulky/heavy items within a small area. It's a pretty specialized application, but it might suit his needs. The 110,000 miles to break even isn't unreasonable in these days when vehicles last for 200-300 thousand miles.
Apart from that, he is actually trying to do something to save the environment, and also reduce fuel usage. these are intangibles which does not have a price tag on.
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