Almost any vehicle can be effectively converted into an electric car but there are a few tricks to help make the end result more satisfactory. We have to first think about what are our most important transportation needs. If you will be shuttling kids back and forth to school with this vehicle then you will need a comfortable back seat and you will probably want a 4 door chassis. If you are using this vehicle as a single or 2 person commuter vehicle then a nice 2 door sports car should work great.

After deciding your transportation needs you will need to think a little about what kind of performance you would like out of this vehicle. You should ask yourself if you need it to reach highway speeds. Also you should decide whether or not you want a top speed of 50 MPH(80.46 km/h) or more towards 75 MPH(120.70 km/h). The next decision you will have to make is what range you are looking for. In the battle to increase range there are several parameters to consider in purchasing a chassis. They include weight, aerodynamics, tire rolling resistance, and suspension design.

When considering weight the bottom line has to do with the law of conservation of energy. The more weight the motor has to push around the more energy will be absorbed out of the battery for every mile you travel. This becomes a bit of a catch 22 because most conventional battery technologies are heavy and the weight of the batteries can be one of the largest weight contributions to an electric vehicle. Newer technologies can carry more energy per pound of battery but they are also much more expensive. Another note about weight is that you mustn’t forget the weight of you and your passengers as you think about the finished weight of the vehicle. The goal should be to try to get the vehicle down under 2500 lbs.() or 2000 lbs.() if possible.

When considering aerodynamics of the vehicle the sleek, sporty modern looking designs work best. Also, the lower to the ground the better the vehicle will perform aerodynamically. A nice smooth finish and clean body panel fit-up will also make a world of difference in aerodynamics. The goal is to try to reduce wind drag so that you minimize the amount of energy lost while the car is trying to push itself through the air at high speeds. Another effective, although not very practical technique, is that you could move to a much higher altitude. The thinner air will reduce the wind drag. Of course that might be hard one to explain to your family.

When considering tire rolling resistance you have several options but you will need to consider you transportation needs and make compromises accordingly. One relatively cheap technique would be to use 4 of the temporary donut tires that many cars come with as a spare. Unfortunately these tires are not made for highway driving and you will have significantly different traction and ride quality performance. At this point you should also consider the design of the car’s suspension because the tires are a major part of the suspension of a vehicle. You can also consider using motorcycle tires. There would be better ride quality and traction but the price would be slightly higher. The most expensive but also the best performing solution would be to consult with your local tire gurus and decide what kind of high performance tires would offer you the best traction with the lowest rolling resistance.

After considering all this it is time to find a decent chassis. As we do this there are several other parameter to consider that will effect how much you pay for the chassis. It will also effect how hard or easy the rest of the project goes so as you search keep these parameters in mind. First and foremost, since we will be removing the engine so the chassis does not have to be operational. You will want to do a safety check to make sure all the lights and turn signals work. You should also lean towards a rear wheel drive chassis with a manual transmission. Don’t worry about whether or not you can drive stick shift. Once we put the motor in, the speed and torque control will be handled, for the most part, by the motor speed controller. The reason we need the transmission at all is because it offers us an easy, relative cheap way to get reverse. The reason we want a manual transmission is because of the energy efficiency of a metal to metal gear interface. An automatic transmission, because of the fluid interface for power transfer, absorbs a certain amount of the engine or motor effort and turns it into heat, thus reducing the amount of energy reaching the wheels. On an electric car this can significantly effect the range of the vehicle. To further help you in your quest I am offering a list of chassis below might be perfect as an electric vehicle. Enjoy the hunt.

1. Ford Probe
2. Mazda Miata
3. Mazda 626
4. Mazda Soho
5. Dodge Neon
6. Saturn SL2
7. Ford Focus
8. Oldsmobile Alero
9. Toyota Cellica GT
10. Ford Escort ZX2
11. Ford Escort Sport
12. Toyota MR2
13. Ford Fiesta

To be Continued with Day 2….