| Owner | Neal Peters | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner's Other EVs | 1969 Honda CT90 Electric 2009 Zero X Extreme | ||||||||
| Location | Shady Cove, Oregon US map | ||||||||
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| Vehicle | 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit Replaced the CV Drive axels $250 91,600 3/01/07 | ||||||||
| Motor | Netgain Warfield Warp 9 Series Wound DC Rebuild Motor at 91,000 miles. $700.00 I found lots of corrosion inside the motor from living near the coast for 15 years. Blew up the rebuilt motor from overreving it, 'pilot error'. I replaced with new Warfield Warp 9 Series Wound DC $1800.00 | ||||||||
| Drivetrain | Standard OEM 4 speed transmission front wheel drive. | ||||||||
| Controller | Curtis Curtis1221B-7401 70 Volt to 120 Volt 400 Amp Had to have the controller rebuilt at 93,500 miles. It literally blew up! FSIP did the job. The first two rebuilds went wrong though. I could only get 275 battery amps after the first 2 rebuilds. As they say third time is a charm though and now I'm getting over 600 battery amps. | ||||||||
| Batteries | 5 Saft liquid cooled 93ah modules, 24.00 Volt, Nickel-Metal Hydride I replaced the Trojan AGM31 @ 94,400 miles with the Saft NiMH modules. | ||||||||
| System Voltage | 120 Volts | ||||||||
| Charger | Russco SC 18-120 SO 120 VAC input. adjustable voltage 70-144 VDC out. adjustable current out 0-15 Amp. Charger went out at 93,800 miles. Sent to Russco and after a payment of $200.00 it is back working. | ||||||||
| Heater | The heater works fairly well. It’s a 1 kW 120 VDC element, small holding tank and a small circulating pump. I found that with the reservoir under the hood & winter temps as low as 15 degrees F. When I’m driving the water cools way down and wastes energy. What I’m using now was an easy fix & seems to work well with my 120 volt battery pack. I bought a cheap small 120vac heater from Wal-Mart. I leave the switch on the heater on and switch it on & off with the relay that was used for the hot water system. I clipped the wires going to the fan and wired them to another plug which is then plugged into a small 12dc to 120vac inverter. The fan only uses 15 watts. This is working well so far | ||||||||
| DC/DC Converter | Iota DLS 55 The Todd converter went out on 1/1/08. I bought a Iota DLS 55 amp model. $150.00 | ||||||||
| Instrumentation | I have a digital amp & volt meter | ||||||||
| Top Speed | 70 MPH (112 KPH) | ||||||||
| Acceleration | About like stock. | ||||||||
| Range | 35 Miles (56 Kilometers) That's at 35mph. I can get 30 miles at 45mph | ||||||||
| Watt Hours/Mile | 250 Wh/Mile | ||||||||
| EV Miles |
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| Seating Capacity | 5 | ||||||||
| Conversion Time | I now have about 100 hours in rebuilding & replacing parts listed. | ||||||||
| Conversion Cost | $15,000 | ||||||||
| I bought this car already converted for $4900.00. I first replace the traction & aux batteries $1600.00, added a DC-DC converter, and then went through the wiring replacing lights turn signals, door & window handles, installed a back seat etc… Then I pulled the motor & the battery boxes had the battery boxes powered coated & the motor rebuilt $800.00. I broke the clutch plate reinstalling the motor, drove it around for about 300 miles before I pulled the battery boxes, motor & clutch & replaced the clutch $140.00. It’s running good now love to drive it. New stuff... Charger went out at 93,800 miles. Sent to Russco and after a payment of $200.00 it is back working. I had to replace 3 of these batteries. Two at 92,700 miles & one at 93,200 miles. Had to have the controller rebuilt at 93,500 miles. It literally blew up! FSIP did the job. The first two rebuilds went wrong though. I could only get 275 battery amps after the first 2 rebuilds. As they say third time is a charm though and now I'm getting over 600 battery amps. Rebuild Motor at 91,000 miles. $700.00 I found lots of corrosion inside the motor from living near the coast for 15 years. Blew up the rebuilt motor from overreving it, 'pilot error'. I replaced with new Warfield Warp 9 Series Wound DC $1800.00. Replaced the CV Drive axels $250 91,600 3/01/07. The Todd converter went out on 1/1/08. I bought a Iota DLS 55 amp model. $150.00 at 94,150 miles. I replaced the Trojan AGM31 with used Saft NiMH modules for $5000.00 at 94,400 miles. My Rabbit has lost over 300lbs in the change over from 10 100amp AGM lead to 5 24v 93 ah NiMH modules & my warm weather range is 50% better while my winter range has is 300% better. The car handles much better and now my brakes work | |||||||||
1980 Volkswagen Rabbit
“Watts Wabbit”
Last Updated 12-20-2008
Copyright © 1997-2013 by Mike Chancey