Find bad engined Festiva.... convert to Electric

[litesong]

Will Aspire suspension parts fit on a Festiva & would they be heavier duty? I'm toying with the idea of finding a Festiva with a bad engine, a 5speed manual tranny & converting it to longer range electric car. I'd put the 5sp. in my present Festiva & put my present 4 speed the electric Festiva.

Anyhow, the heavier duty Aspire suspension should work with a heavy battery laden electric Festiva........ shouldn't it?

[Pu241]

Wow, looks like you need to so some of your much touted "research".
And don't forget poor references.

"Longer range electric car" that will be interesting, longer than the 400+ miles range for a festiva. Impressive, now calculate how many batteries and their weight. Then their cost!

[Ford Fester]

I bought an electric festiva for parts. Still have the 5 speed trans that the guy used. Has the input shaft cut for the dc motor to bolt to. If ya want pictures I can take some. I can also get the number of the guy I bought it from. He made another one that he drives everyday about 30 miles.

[litesong]

"Longer range electric car" that will be interesting, longer than the 400+ miles range for a festiva. Impressive, now calculate how many batteries and their weight. Then their cost!

Not comparing with an Internal Combustion Engine(ICE). 'Longer range electric car' means compared to another lithium battery EV. One hundred miles(under the best conditions) as compared to a Nissan Leaf just isn't enough. First, a short-range battery pack drains too fast, cutting longevity. Then, there are warnings not to charge it too high & not to drain it too far down. So a longer range battery pack will slow operational battery drain, extending battery life, far more than the 'ability' for extended maximum range. Longer range addresses, most directly, the ability to extend the life of the battery pack.

With more batteries, the Festiva will be loaded down for sure. That's why in other threads, I initiated conversation for stronger suspension parts.

Hope I can get Dave Cloud in SEVA (Seattle Electric Vehicle Association) to build Electric Festiva.

As far as ICE Festiva range, I went 526 miles on a tank once. Under the right conditions, my Festiva might break that mark, now.

[zoom zoom]

I'd rather see a planestiva, or jetstiva.. get there in half the time and no traffic jams, AND it hasn't been done.. lmk

[nitrofarm]

I'd rather see a planestiva, or jetstiva.. get there in half the time and no traffic jams, AND it hasn't been done.. lmk

Use a Jet Ranger Turbine engine from a Chopper.Bell used em.If you route the Jet wash properly you can melt the guy behind you.

[200KGPGTP]

You all seem to have missed the biggest problem in this thread... Finding a Festiva with a bad engine!

[Advancedynamix]

The aspire suspension will be better for what you want, but you probably should have a set if custom coilovers built so that you can choose the correct spring rate for your payload. This will be a money pit anyway, so you may as well do it right. I have lots of friends who build/ drive/ restore electric vehicles, they will be the first to tell you that you can only wish to break even, you won't save money. But it's a fun hobby for sure.

[litesong]

The aspire suspension will be better for what you want..... This will be a money pit anyway......

Yeah, even my electric bike gives continuing problems. But, it is sweet to ride. Electric motors have elegant motion bordering on the unreal, similar to a magic carpet, never to be copied by Internal Combustion Engines(ICE). Outside of the unreliability of custom-built projects, the lead factor is to get the 'advertised', but seldom obtained battery pack life. I do understand that hybrid Prius battery pack longevity is 175,000 miles. However, the battery pack stress must be much greater in EV's that are only dependent on electricity to run.

[FB71]

a sufficient number of lead-acid batteries will cost you around $4k-5k, Li/Pos will run $8k-10k for around a 50-100 mile range. Then managing the charge and discharge of that number of cells in a uniform manner will present it own problems...

[litesong]

a sufficient number of lead-acid batteries will cost you around $4k-5k, Li/Pos will run $8k-10k for around a 50-100 mile range. Then managing the charge and discharge of that number of cells in a uniform manner will present it own problems...

Dave Cloud from SEVA, quite a while ago, said he likes to work with lead-acid. If I have any hope of extending somewhat past 100 miles, Li/Pos or some of the most recent developments in batteries will have to be explored. Dave has done several(?) Geo Metros. Think the Festiva's larger hatchback cubic footage should be an advantage.

Yeah, from the size & space the controller takes up in Electric Festivas, the controller must be overwhelmed by what it must do. One fella had four controllers, each controlling only some of the batteries, but monitoring the other battery discharges & charges, too.

Looks like I'll only be carrying one passenger & that may get iffy.

[Advancedynamix]

Dave Cloud from SEVA, quite a while ago, said he likes to work with lead-acid. If I have any hope of extending somewhat past 100 miles, Li/Pos or some of the most recent developments in batteries will have to be explored. Dave has done several(?) Geo Metros. Think the Festiva's larger hatchback cubic footage should be an advantage.

Yeah, from the size & space the controller takes up in Electric Festivas, the controller must be overwhelmed by what it must do. One fella had four controllers, each controlling only some of the batteries, but monitoring the other battery discharges & charges, too.

Looks like I'll only be carrying one passenger & that may get iffy.

Yeah, a few guys I know have built complex controllers that control the output and charge of every single cell, but they are aerospace engineers who have unlimited access to some excellent hardware and wiring products. This is the only true reliable and efficient way to distribute power to the wheels. They also use 4 electric motors and obviously regenerate. Solar panels help a lot too, especially since the cost has dropped dramatically recently.

[litesong]

They also use 4 electric motors and obviously regenerate.

I'd much prefer in-wheel electric motors too.... really only need two electric motors in the front wheels. Doesn't seem like many of the affordable EV's(what EV is affordable?) are trying in-wheel electric motors. With the battering & exposure to the elements they would get, are ideas for in-wheel electric motors falling by the wayside?

[Advancedynamix]

If I had a dollar for every efficient and effective idea that isn't being used in production vehicles I'd buy my own manufacturer and build brand new festivas. I'd build an electric version too, for the voltheads.

[zoom zoom]

i stilll say some popout carbon fiber wings on the roof and a ranger rocket engine would be better.