Conversion Basics In Electric Cars

After the popularity of gasoline-fueled automobiles overtook electricity-powered vehicles in the early days of the cars, many electric car enthusiasts opted to convert their conventional vehicles into alternative fueled transportation. In essence, electric vehicle conversion is the change of an internal combustion engine into a vehicle powered by electricity.

The following are the basic concepts involved in these kinds of conversions:

1.Any gasoline-powered car can be turned into an electric vehicle. Many though choose light and aerodynamic vehicles in order to maximize range ability for every battery charge. Another major concern would be room and space for the battery array.

2.The battery array is where electric power is stored and sourced from for the vehicle. The most commonly used battery is the lead-acid flood type, followed by the Absorption Glass Mat sealed maintenance batteries and then the exotic varieties such as nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries and lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries.

3.There must be a charging unit that restores electrical power to the batteries, either attached to the vehicle or located in a special charging station at home.

4.One of the essential elements would be the power controller. This electronic equipment regulates the flow of energy between the battery and the electric motors. Oftentimes, an electronic throttle mechanism governs this controller.

5.The vehicle would have one or more electric motors that are mechanically attached to the drivetrain of the car.

6.Laid out throughout the vehicle are power conductors that connect the battery to the controller and the controller to the motor or motors of the vehicle.

7.Other accessory equipment is hooked up to the controller through a power auxiliary mechanism, such as power brakes and the heating system.

8.There are specific control circuitry and other equipment, such as measuring displays that allow control and interaction of the various components of the vehicle. These are often found on the dashboard of the vehicle to inform the driver of the speed, charge available and other information during the operation of the vehicle.

With these basics in mind, hobbyists or garage car engineers often convert their vehicle either through a conversion kit or through personal experience. Other means include third party power trainization, which is the purchase of an independent converter without the electric motor and the purchasers would do the conversion themselves. There is currently a large underground market for electric conversions in car garages, commercial availability of aftermarket kits for specific vehicle conversions and the wide choices as to vehicle components used in backyard electric conversions.