Battery conversionOriginal crash test
OwnerDave Arnold
Owner's Other EVs1979 Honda CBX
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit
LocationFort Pierce, Florida United States map
Email email image
Vehicle1995 Renaissance Cars
Completed by Xebra Motors in California with the
prior 16 chassis assembled in Palm Bay Florida
by RCI
MotorAdvanced DC Series Wound DC
Oem brush motor pair with Speed and temperature
sensors
DrivetrainOEM 5-1 direct belt drive each rear wheel.
Carrera adjustable shocks. Wilwood retractable
Sprint light brakes. Hynautic steering.
ControllerCurtis
Oem, rebuilt by Flight Systems. 1 for each motor
Batteries6 ChargeX Grp-31, 12.80 Volt, Lithium Iron Phosphate
108 ahr
System Voltage72 Volts
Charger
Level 1 cord reel 2 ea 120-12-3 15A
"Sportsman" battery tray mounted balancing
chargers provided by ChargeX Level 2 EVSE
inlet In progress for Zivan 220-72-
30A unit
HeaterI'm like 4 miles from the Sun!
DC/DC ConverterVicor
72-12 Vdc
InstrumentationOEM
Added Victron 702 monitor with 1000A shunt
Top Speed60 MPH (96 KPH)
Go over this and you'll wish you knew where
the speed limiter reset buttons are located.
Stock motor lockout system in case of drive
belt breakage. I've only tripped 1 once
accidentally. But you wouldn't believe how
many times I've come close with the new
lithium pack.
AccelerationJust can't bring myself to step on the speed
pedal excessively. Whatever it is it better
happen under the 8-second 1,000 amp limit.
I'll get around to stressing the battery and
drive electrical system needlessly,
eventually.
Range40 Miles (64 Kilometers)
25 mph all day or 55 mph for 15 minutes
Watt Hours/MileI'll get some miles under my new lithium
suspenders and let you know
EV Miles
Start:3,000 Miles (4,827 Kilometers)
Current:6,000 Miles (9,654 Kilometers)
Total:3,000 Miles (4,827 Kilometers)
 
    As of 10/12/2022
Curb Weight1,546 Pounds (702 Kilograms)
Was 2200 lb Performed 840 lb lead/acid weight
loss for 186 lb lithium replacement. Pack change
required suspension re-springing and re-
alignment. Probably the hardest part
TiresYokohama Avid
Conversion Time15 years hunting/saving before time money and
car came together
Conversion CostMy marriage
Additional FeaturesRecently went on the LED lamp Warpath. Could not stand how much
excess load the vehicle lights were placing on the lithium pack.
About $30 on amazon netted great marker turn stop tail led
replacement lamps. Lamp fixtures used on the car are fair quality
but required finessing the connection on all bulb bases with
deoxit oil as draw is so light the material for bulb contact is
almost unsuitable for leds. Replaced turn/4way flasher with $10
amazon adjustable electronic unit. Had to swap the plus and minus
in the socket. The sealed beam halogen H4351/H4352 headlights were
harder as they were only on 93/97 camaro and a few other cars. One
$125 headlight kit is available online with replaceable lamp
sockets... but shipped with halogen bulbs. Soooo a couple YouTube
videos, $50 on amazon.... I heated the glue, removed the original
lamps and epoxied my replacement led lamps into the glass fixtures
myself. The headlights had always sucked on this car and now they
are freaking fantastic. Lighting System draw was 4.5 amps... now
only 0.5 amps at 72v with every light on... for less than a
hundred bucks... and I can see.
In case you were curious... I have worked on Commercial, Medical and
Marine electrical equipment my entire life as a paid professional. So
take it from me when I say, "lead acid is junk and only good for
cranking junk IC engines"

code by jerry