7 3/8 x 9 1/4 T echnical / Build Your Own Electric Vehicle / Leitman / 373-2 / Chapter 10
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Build Your Own Elec tric Vehicle
Purchase Other Components Once you pick your chassis, you can make other parts decisions based on your overall performance goals: high mileage, quick acceleration, or general-purpose commuter. Expected vehicle range and acceleration can be calculated from the vehicle’s total weight, tire rolling resistance, aerodynamics, and the amount of energy and power available from the motor and batteries. One of the easiest and quickest ways to do your conversion is to order all of the parts you need in one kit from someone like KTA Services Inc. Their kits typically contain the parts shown in Figure 10-7; you get nearly everything you need to complete your conversion, the parts are matched to work together, and you have someone to turn to in case you need additional assistance. Buying a prepackaged kit will greatly simplify your conversion both in terms of what it takes to get the job done and the time it takes to run around and get all the parts you need from various vendors, make sure they match, and so on. Parts to build this particular pickup truck conversion (and pickup trucks in general) are available from Jim Harris’ company, Zero Emission Motorcars, Inc. Jim’s company provides the built-up control-box and motor-to-transmission adapters that really save you time and guarantee results, or the entire kit for a mid-range or low-end pickup truck of your choice, which includes all heavy-duty coil springs, battery brackets, cables, mounting hardware, etc. The other items you want to order at this time are the detailed shop maintenance and electrical manuals for your chassis. These might also be available in the library or in a technical bookstore in a larger city. Study these before starting your conversion.
Figure 10-7 Typical KTA Ser vices Inc. electric vehicle kit.
