Nelleev Motor Compartment
OwnerRandee & Steve Werts
LocationPrairie Village, Kansas United States map
Email email image
Vehicle1969 Volkswagen Beetle
MotorD&D Motor Systems, Inc. ES-15A-6 Series Wound DC
30 HP (peak) 7" series wound DC motor mounted using Wilderness EV adapter plate and shaft coupling
DrivetrainFour speed manual transaxle with no clutch.
ControllerAlltrax AXE 7245
Batteries6 Odyssey TT1370, 12.00 Volt, Lead-Acid, AGM
Trolling motor batteries rated 100 AH. Four are mounted behind the rear seat and two are where the gas tank was in the trunk(front).
System Voltage72 Volts
ChargerDual Pro 3 Bank Pro Charger
Two chargers, each with three independent sections: 120 volt, 9 amp AC; 3x12 volt, 15 amp DC. Won't work with both chargers on a ChargePoint public charger (limit 16 amps).
HeaterNone yet.
DC/DC ConverterSevcon 622/11086
72 volt to 13 volt, 300 watt DC-DC converter.
InstrumentationStandard plus PakTrakr battery monitor
Top Speed60 MPH (96 KPH)
60 MPH maximum on level road so far, but it has never been on a highway.
AccelerationGood at low speeds, but a little weak above 30 MPH.
Range24 Miles (38 Kilometers)
Estimated practical range(20% charge remaining) based on actual driving of 18 miles with 40% battery capacity remaining.
Watt Hours/Mile380 Wh/Mile
Based on actual Watt-hours on Kill-a-Watt meter into chargers.
EV Miles
Start:13,645 Miles (21,954 Kilometers)
Current:17,222 Miles (27,710 Kilometers)
Total:3,577 Miles (5,755 Kilometers)
 
    As of 8/12/2012
Seating Capacity3 adults
Curb Weight2,200 Pounds (999 Kilograms)
Weight balanced to original distribution.
TiresSears Guardsman III 165R15 85S
Conversion TimeStarted in February 2007. 20 days to daily use; six months until complete enough for my wife to feel comfortable with daily operation. Will probably never be totally complete.
Conversion Cost$5,000, not counting cost of car, which we have had since 1998. Some parts were salvaged from old fork lifts and friend's used parts. Includes replacement of used, four year old initial batteries with Dynasty DCS100L UPS batteries and now Odyssey TT1370.
Car is reliable, low cost, daily transportation for around-town driving.
I am looking forward to the day when I can install a set of Firefly
batteries (or Lithium) with twice the range and half the weight.
With a heater installed by then, it will be a perfect in-town car.

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