Electric car is one of the interested and most popular thing nowadays. Though there are hybrid cars, Electric power train have become popular for the users wanting to save money for the fuel. Also, to support government in reducing their emissions.
Idea of Conversion:
Daily reports about auto industry shows its transformation to cope with new and alternative technologies to pick up their sales, but still electric vehicles only exist as prototypes and concepts. It is not about the idea that doesn’t work. In fact, electric cars have a long history. For instance, Edison worked on plans to make an efficient, long-lasting battery that could power vehicles, but he eventually abandoned it.
In recent times, there are few examples of electric vehicles, Toyota Rav4 and the Tesla Roadster for example, but they are too expensive and tough for mass-production.
Few people who are passionate about electric cars and the technology behind it have taken the matter into their own hands. Instead of waiting around for the companies to produce electric cars, some people converted their conventional cars (Powered by a gasoline engine) into electric ones. The rest who don’t have the technical knowledge and want to pull off such conversion, can do a little search on the Internet, might come across advertisements for special electric car conversion kits.
Difference between Conventional car and Electric car:
Before conversion, it is important to know the differences between Electric cars and Conventional cars. Firstly, the conventional ones possess internal combustion engine uses many moving parts in it. These parts are set into motion when fuel burns, creating energy that moves a series of pistons and rods. The linear motion provided by the pistons and rods is converted into rotary motion at the crankshaft. The rotary motion is transferred through the transmission, driveshaft, differential, axle and eventually the wheels, which moves the car.
An electric car, on the other hand, has three key elements as discussed in the previous article “Electric Cars- Internal Working”,
- Electric motor
- DC Controller
- Batteries
An electric motor is entirely different from a combustion engine. It doesn’t burn fuel and it has only one rotating element. The motor runs with the help of a controller, which gets its power from a set of batteries. If vehicle is hybrid, which operates with both an electric motor and combustion engine. But pure electric cars are plug-in vehicles and use extension cords to take power.
Installing a Conversion Kit:
A Combustion engine is built of pipes and hoses, whereas an electric motor relies on a complex connection of wires. Installing an electric car conversion kit often involves ripping out that pipes and hoses, which includes the engine, transmission, gas tank and exhaust system and replacing it with an electric motor, controller and battery array.
Most people don’t have the experience to perform this task, few companies are offering various kinds of conversion kits that put everything into one neat package.
Types of Conversion kits:
Different types of electric conversion kits are available. Some are meant for specific automakers. For instance, A recent firm offered the first mass-produced aftermarket electric conversion kit. Which is a device they call a range extender module turns the popular hybrid car into a plug-in hybrid. Instead of generating electric power with the help of the combustion engine, the module can plug in to any 120-volt house current and fully charge within just four hours. The Kit also adds a bigger battery carries 5,000 watt-hours of electric power.
Despite the benefits, few other drawbacks to be considered. As this is an initiative, the kit was a bit expensive. Also need to visit the nearest authorized dealer for a proper installation, whom are low count in the market which also costs extra charges for installation.
Most of the Automakers are not convinced about these conversions because they are uncertain how truly they are working in the normal cars. Few parts from conversions could interfere with parts on the conventional vehicle and cause related systems to fail.
Before thinking of electric car conversion, it would be best to talk to car mechanic to know if the conversion is possible for the vehicle. Unfortunately, many conversion kits come with guides. Also, some interesting stuff in Internet shows step by step procedures to do manual.
TECH AUTOMOTIVE 