Used electric vehicles on the market at this time are mostly going to be some kind of conversion. For example, there is currently only one new highway-capable electric car marketed in the USA: the Tesla Roadster. There have only been a few factory-produced EVs like the RAV4, Chevy S-10, Ford Ranger, Ford Think, and EV1. A lot of these were just factory conversions of existing rigs. All told there were probably 10,000 or so factory conversions and original EVs produced in the past 10 years. Notice that some of those were then recalled by the factory and dismantled or crushed.
The thing about gas is that it is complete in its grip on the automobile industry. It is so readily available and used in nearly every facet of the industry. Our modern lifestyles are so used to going to the pump every so often. We like the fact we can drive long distances on fuel. Go anywhere and there is a fuel station and an attendant only to willing to pump some more gas into your SUV. "Would you like me to wash your windows too sir?" he says to you, smiling as he pumps more fossil fuel into your car. You barely acknowledge him. All part of everyday life and so easy to cling to. People dislike change especially if the alternative is so unclear.
But what about the cost of an EV? Admittedly, new Electric Vehicles are currently cost prohibitive for most people and may be unavailable to many. The bad news is, prices for new highway capable EVs and PHEVs being rolled out beginning next year will probably not improve substantially for a few years (think: high-end SUV prices). The good news is that you can get one today that looks just like the car in your driveway. In fact, it could be the car in your driveway. Did you know that most of the EVs on the road today were converted from an ICE vehicle for a fraction of the cost of buying a new vehicle -- some for as little as a few hundred dollars. I would guestimate that the average DIY EV conversion would cost between $2,000 and $10,000.
"That's quite a range," you say. Well, there are a lot of factors that can affect the cost, not the least of which is what kind of vehicle you are converting. Yes, there are some specialty shops that will convert your car for upwards of $15,000. By this time, you are getting into new (or good-used) car pricing territory, so you'd better be sure innovative electric car developments you really like your car or find one that you like with high mileage or a blown engine that the owner is willing to part with for next to nothing. But even at that cost, the longevity of the vehicle will more than pay for itself.
For those of you who may not have heard our first teleseminar with our guest, it was related to how he sells power back to his utility company. He built a solar power plant in his back yard. What we're going to do tonight is to transition over to how he uses the power that he generates from solar power to actually run his electric car.
To start building your own electric automobile first you have to choose the type of the motor AC or DC. Then you have to consider about the size of the motor. You have to know the procedure of building an electric automobile. The final choice is what type of vehicle you want, whether a truck or a car.
With government incentives, the cost of one of these EV's can be reduced to a more acceptable range, keeping the cost closer to a conventional gas vehicle. There are also reduce maintenance costs with an EV, no oil changes and the electric motors are mostly maintenance free.