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Close to about 2 years ago, I was having issues getting my Supercharged 396 Corvette through California Emissions testing.
I posted a few pictures long ago. I was actually bumped by Agent 86 to give an update on my "Jetson Car" LOL
I don't need to hear the flames ( although everyone has been quite kind about this.)
I love this car and I love the power, so to beat the emissions I converted the car to complete battery power. It was a choice of only being able to run at the strip or converting and get to drive anytime I want, AND smog exempt! I can throw as much amperage and batteries at this that I want and not have to worry about failing a smog test .
I'll answer a bunch of questions then add some comments with the pictures as well.
When I embarked on this 2 years ago I took baby steps rather than just blowing money... I started out with a 500Amp controller and was running 144v using 12 -12v batteries with the 4L60E automatic.
Two years later I have received a battery sponsorship and I'm continuing to move forward with performance.
I now am running 288 volts 16 16 volt batteries and have a water cooled 2000Amp controller. The motor is only rated for 100 HP ( for now)... I'm still contemplating a second motor or a larger higher voltage version.
To date at 100 rpm's I'm hitting 739 ft/lbs of torque which settles to about 240 ft/lbs at about 1400, averages out at about 195 ft/lbs to about 3200 RPM's and 150 ft /lbs through to about 5500 RPM I'm squeezing 133 HP ( out of a 100 rated motor ) at 3500 rpm'd I redline at 5500 RPM"s
About a year ago I pulled out the 4L60E and put in a ZF6 manual transmission. so that I would not have to idle the motor at stop lights.
At about 50 mph I get about 22 miles to a charge... Around town it is closer to about 30 miles. ( For those to compare a Prius without the motor running gets 40 miles.) top speed is about 85 mph thus far. I'm still breaking in the batteries.
It take about 4 hours to charge depending on how far down I run the batteries, it charges from either 120 or 220 volt outlets.
I pulled 938 pounds from the car, 8 pounds of wire under the hood alone which was strictly engine wiring. I replaced with 1089 pounds so the car os only 150 pounds over stock weight.
0-60 is about 8 seconds right now... That is with only 600 amps being pulled from the batteries and a 1-2 without a clutch
The 386 Supercharged LT4 with a T-trim
After the engine was pulled only the automatic remained.
Everything was pulled from the engine compartment.
The electric motor adapter is fitted to the 4L60E
The car is up for pulling out all the emissions parts.
Fuel tank is removed.
The ADC FB1-4001 100 peak HP electric motor.
The shaft adapter to adapt the flex plate to the motor.
Motor with the adapter plate
Crankshaft adapter added to the rear of the motor.
Flex plate added...
Everything assembled.
Battery racks for the lower front 4 batteries.
Electric Power steering pump.
Power steering pump and motor is in.
The "old" Curtis Controller maximum 500 Amps
As I mentioned after about a year I swapped out the automatic to save juice so at a light I did not have to idle the motor to keep transmission pressure. This is the new "clutchless" adapter...
The adapter essentially couples the transmission input shaft to the motor. The spline and springs were retained to absorb torsional spikes.
The motor is mated to the ZF6 6 speed transmission, I kept my D36 differential ( for now) and changed the input shaft on the drive shaft, this didn't require any cutting to the driveshaft, nor modifications to the C-Beam
ZF6 Just about in...
Fuel tank removed and rear battery rack which will now hold 10 batteries.
20 New XS Power XP1000 16 volt batteries.
These are capable of 2400 amp draw ( I have thus far only pulled about 900 amps from them. they weigh 46 pounds.
Lower 4 XP1000 batteries installed.
10 XP1000 batteries installed in the rear. I use 2/0 welding cables to connect the batteries.
Wasn't planned this way, but looks pretty cool! With the rear bumper back on the car.
2/0 cable connecting the rear battery pack to the front batteries.
Gast Vacuum pump and Square D pressure switch handle the power brakes and vacuum elsewhere in the car.
Fuses block for the controller, the red cap is an inertia switch in the event of an accident it disconnects power to the system. The silver square to the right is the "Pot box" this is essentially the throttle control. Look at it as a light dimmer control... More the accelerator is pushed the brighter the lights, or the faster I go .... Below the pot box it a Dakota digital speedometer box. It connects to the Vss sensor in the transmission and feed the speed to the stock speedometer.
The top 4 batteries in the front, the car has a total of 18 batteries the weigh 46 pounds each.
In the foreground is the Cafe' Zilla Controller HV-2000 it is water cooled capable of 2000 amps and can control 2 motors with a nominal 300 volts... The black box with fins is the on-board El con Battery charger that will charge all the batteries simultaneously. The far side is the main power breaker and the green smaller box is the "hairball" which is the brains for the controller, it can log runs , sets the high and low voltages as well as rev limit the motor.
It is interesting driving around and people are looking to hear a rumble. The comments of most who have ridden in the car is that it is like a them park ride, you feel it pull you back in the seat, but there is no noise... almost eerie quiet.
You are a very brave man for undertaking such a major project. Looks cool and you should get some interesting responses at car shows if that is your thing. Does the Vette weight more or less with the conversion? How long do you think the batteries will last? Very intriguing indeed!
Does the Vette weight more or less with the conversion?
Right in post #1
Originally Posted by Mo_Bandy
I pulled 938 pounds from the car, 8 pounds of wire under the hood alone which was strictly engine wiring. I replaced with 1089 pounds so the car is only 150 pounds over stock weight.MO
Beyond cool. I am highly impressed, and am not one who is easily impressed. Very nicely done. Tell us more! And please keep this tread updated as you continue to tinker. This is utterly fascinating.
Let me know if you decide to sell it! I have a 5-mile round-trip commute to work, and this would be the ideal vehicle!
The car is at about 3520 so about 100 pound heavier than stock. I need to have it checked for sure but The weight is probably about 48/52 now that I have added 4 more batteries to the rear of the car.
These batteries if I don't take them too often below 80% depth of discharge are in the neighborhood of about 1000 cycles so worse case 3 years but probably more towards 5 years. In most cases in my travels I'm only using about 40- 45 % of the charge...
Love it! So, how much would it cost to convert an ole Chevy truck to electric? Plenty of room for batteries!
S10's are a very popular conversion... Most people put the batteries under the bed...
Depending on how far and how much power you are looking for...
The motor is about 1700, the controllers run from about 1400 - 6000, then the batteries which can be about 200 dollars each... The adapter plate and the couples are about 800 dollars... The charger is about 2000 These are essentially the highest priced components... This a few upgrades and such I'm probably at about 12K but I bought the manual transmission... I sold the engine transmission and such and recouped most of the cash outlay.
Looks good Mo. I thought the weight ratio would be closer to 50/50 wasn't it 52/48 (F/B) stock? I used to drive a Toyota Rav4 EV. It had a single 50 HP motor and it would push you back in the seat. Your right about the silent acceleration it is strange. Good conversation starter!
Great Job
Looks good Mo. I thought the weight ratio would be closer to 50/50 wasn't it 52/48 (F/B) stock? I used to drive a Toyota Rav4 EV. It had a single 50 HP motor and it would push you back in the seat. Your right about the silent acceleration it is strange. Good conversation starter!
Great Job
Hi Bill,
Yes you are right I think they were 52/48, when i was running 20 12v batteries I was right down to the pound of being 50/50 I have added the power steering pump in the front, but shed 2 batteries in the front when I switched to the 16 volt batteries. I need to take it to the scales and see where exactly I am...
Yes funny you should mention that... some one showed me this a few weeks ago... Can you imagine with about 2000W of audio LOL...
Quick little story,I'm stopped at a light, a police car pulls up in the left turn lane... I keep looking straight ahead, he keeps looking over at the car perplexed... A few seconds later the passenger window opens about 4 inches, it seemed he was looking for the rumble... LOL
I motored away... I'm actually waiting to get pulled over for the smog spot checks they pull out here...
06-17-2011, 01:08 PM
Mo's Electric Corvette- Lot of Pictures
