Why Man, Why?!
Well why not?
People always seem surprised when I tell them I'm converting a car to run on electricity. My neighbour laughed, thinking I was joking!
Many see it as unnecessary, and that could very well be true - if it was still 1986!
Ahh the 80's.
Big hair, big money and no reality TV.
When smoking was allowed anywhere and mobile phones were something for yuppies only.
When oil flowed faster than tap water, and didn't cost much more.
That was a loooong time ago. Nowadays, Grandma has a cellphone and even a spoonful of oil costs more than a low-fat-double-shot-soymilk-mocha-latte (does anyone actually buy those things?).
Now there's no point in listing all the pros and cons of an electric car compared to a gas car as neither motor will suit everyone perfectly.
And regardless of whether Global Warming is really happening or not, it's high time we started clearing the air anyway.
It still shocks me that New Zealand, with our Clean & Green image, is doing nothing noticeable to keep it that way.
Take a drive through Auckland city sometime and you'll see what I mean. Too often I've read about tourists saying how NZ's natural beauty is ruined when they're stuck in a sea of smoke on the nation's roads. Not only that, as the country switches to diesel to save money, the rates of respiratory disease skyrocket upwards. It's an easy problem to fix too. Talk about frustrating!
Now I'm not a green-freak, I certainly don't wear sandals and I have no beard. I just like looking out the window and seeing NZ as it should always be; naturally beautiful.
Please don't let this put you off New Zealand as a destination.
NZ really is a stunning country, especially the South Island. Within just one day you can be driving through snow-capped mountains, sub tropical rainforest, untamed western coastline and geothermal fields of natural hot springs. It's well worth the visit - I just want to help keep it that way.
Carbon and pollution reduction is one reason, but economics is the other (and perhaps the biggest) draw card to converting an EV for me.
Here in NZ, petrol (gas) is quite expensive. Not just because of the petrol companies, but also because our fuel is heavily taxed, hitting the nation's wallets at around $1.96 per litre at present. For those of us in the USA it equates to $5.60 US per gallon. Not nice huh?
Now I'm not saying electric cars are for everyone as they're not! I mean, what car is for everyone? Having said that, the humble electric car does seem to suit the needs of a large percentage of the world's motorists, so if you're a typical commuter who just needs a run-about, then an EV might be the car for you.
I've been keen on electric cars for around ten years and I've became more determined to convert one every year. I remember I got my first dose of "EV fever" back in the 80's when I pestered mum & dad for an electric go-kart, when all the other kids wanted gas powered ones!
The recent film Who Killed the Electric Car encouraged me to finally begin researching the project and the experience of waiting in a nearby BP service station recently for 15 minutes was the final straw.
I know it was a Saturday, but having to wait for fifteen long minutes for $30 worth of something I didn't want in the first place? Ugh, give me strength!
Now obviously we'll need a car if we want to drive to other cities but that's been taken care of. With the $2000 we'll save in fuel each year we can take a plane! We always want to do that instead of drive but can never afford it. Now we'll be able to! As a backup, a friend has offered his car to us for long trips- as long as I give it a wash each time. Sounds like a good deal to me.
For those (like me) who think it sounds really complicated - RELAX! If I can do it then anyone can. And I'm not just being modest - I can only just change my own motor oil.
You'll be surprised how much help and support there is out there for people just like me (and maybe you) who don't have a lot of automotive or technical knowledge but still want to convert a car to electric.
The amount of support and information I've been given from total strangers is amazing. Sites such as www.evconvert.com and www.diyelectriccar.com have been an enormous help.
There are also a wealth of great EV converters out there that have their own web pages built up and are more than happy to offer advice.
Coming from an EV owner, I must say it feels great to be liberated from the high petrol prices, petrol tax and the oil industry. I can now chuckle to myself when gas prices do whatever they like, and you can too.
I've gotta say, owning an EV is just magic, but of course I'd say that. ;)
Now there are many reasons for wanting to convert a car to run on simple clean electricity but don't get too caught up in the why's and why-nots, just find an old car, have a go and see what happens.
Ok, that's enough of the deep & meaningful stuff, let's get back to the creation part!