A DIY Electric Car Is Now A Reality
A true homemade DIY electric car is now a possibility thanks to the rapid development of suitable battery systems and DC motor technology.
While the large manufacturers have been busy developing electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf and a multitude of petrol/electric hybrid cars such as the incredibly popular Toyota Prius, enthusiasts the world over have been tinkering away in their garage turning regular vehicles into DIY electric cars.
DIY Electric Car Plans
Now, an enterprising young enthusiast by the name of Gavin Shoebridge has turned his experience of creating an electric car into an easy to follow blueprint that anyone can follow.
Gavin has documented each step of transforming his regular petrol driven car into an efficient and economical electric car. This is provided as a downloadable PDF report that you can print out and follow along as you assemble your own electric vehicle. And if your copy becomes dirty and full of oily fingerprints...simply print out a new page!
However, he hasn't stopped there. He created a series of movies that you can view so you know exactly what to do, and how. Set up your notebook computer in the garage and you can watch as you work. It really doesn't get any easier than that!
Visit Gavins website to download a copy for yourself.
A Brief Introduction
Why Build An Electric Car?
With manufacturers starting to produce electric cars for the general public, you may be asking yourself why you should be even considering assembling or converting a car yourself.
Well, there's actually a number of reasons, such as:
- Lower Costs
A new car is still priced as a new car...the manufacturers are in business to make a profit. So by assembling your own DIY electric car you will substantially reduce the cost of getting an electric vehicle on the road. - Personal Satisfaction
There are few greater feelings than the sense of satisfaction you will feel as you drive a car built or converted by your own fair hand.
So why not give it a go?
Choosing A Car To Convert To Electric
One of the main decisions you need to take early on is what car you are going to convert to run on electricity. As always, you have a number of choices:
- A Car You Already Own
This is a great choice as you know everything about the car, its repair history and any problems you are likely to come across as you complete the conversion. - A Second-Hand Car
A cheap option is to buy a second hand car from a government auction at a fraction of the cost you would expect to pay at a used car lot. This gives you the opportunity to pick the right model for your needs. - A Kit Car
If you are contemplating a kit car build, why not convert it to run on electricy at the same time? Kit cars are available that are extremely light, modern and stylish, making them an ideal choice for converting to run on batteries.
