| Jim Montgomery, Redondo Beach Vehicle: 1987 Pontiac Fiero (Converted to electric May 31, 1992) Motor: 23 HP GE DC Manufacturer: US Electricar Batteries: 18 6V Trojan T-125 Lead Acid (108V system) Controller: Curtis 1221C DC/DC Converter: Sevcon (runs horns, lights, other 12V components) Charger: 110V Lester on-board charger Range: 30-40 miles/per charge Top Speed: 75 mph Recharge Time: 10-12 hours from 110V from 80% DOD I have driven about 36,000 miles in 6 years Replaced first set of batteries after 17,700 miles. With better care, my second set is lasting longer. Replaced brushes in DC motor after 29,000 miles. Two Curtis Controllers have failed, one in 1996, another in 1998 necessitating rebuilds. Other than this, the EV has been very reliable. |
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Story: I've wanted to buy an EV for a number of years starting in the late 80's primarily for the environmental reasons. I didn't think they were available for the general public but then I saw a company called Solar Electric selling converted EV's at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 1992. I signed up for one and 5 months later on May 31, 1992 I drove home my EV from Green MotorWorks in North Hollywood (they did the conversion for Solar Electric for me). My car has served me well for 6 years and 36,000 miles. At first I kept my gas Honda Civic because I thought there was no way I could get by without it. Well, in early 1994 I sold it. I found I was never driving my gas car. I preferred my quiet, convenient EV. No gas stations, no smog checks, no oil changes, no tune ups. I just put water in my batteries 4 or so times a year and plugged it in at home, school, and work. Since 1994 my EV has been my only car. When I need to drive further I would rent a car. The money I saved in insurance and upkeep for the Honda more than pays for the rental two or three times a year. Also, my EV is much cheaper to operate than my gas Honda was. Now in addition to the environmental reasons I add more convenient, quieter, and cheaper to operate to the reasons I want an EV. Now it is 1998 and the ZEV mandate has pushed the big automakers to market EVs. It's really exciting how the technology has advanced in the last 6 years. The EV+ gets almost triple my range! I've been looking to upgrade for the last year or so. I looked at Solectria and truth be told if I could be confident the vehicle could be serviced in Los Angeles I would lease from them. I also looked at Zebra (fomerly Tropica) but they are slipping the production and service is again an issue. I want to support the little guys who have been supporting EVs for years and not the "johnny come lately, producing EVs because we're forced to do it" big auto companies So, I waited. The GM EV1 came out. It didn't fit my needs. I already have a 2 seat EV in the Fiero. I wanted the capability to carry more passengers. Plus, the MagnaCharge Inductive charger I am totally against. I've been using my 110V conductive plug for 6 years, even plugging it in my car in the rain, and haven't been electrocuted once! It is way too expensive and a totally over engineered solution in my opinion. I think GM made a big mistake in the EV1. I think it is a very cool car, don't get me wrong. GM has made some wonderful technical advances, but it is not the car for the masses. If you want to market EVs you should be making affordable, practical vehicles. The EV+ scores high in the practical category. I don't need zero to sixty faster than a Mazda Miata. I need range and roominess. We need to be mass producing these things to get the price down. It's the same old problem, they cost too much because they don't make many, but people won't buy them becuase they cost too much. I would love to see tax incentives, rebates, DMV registration fee waivers, etc to get more ZEVs on the road. I'll definitely invest my tax dollars in cleaner air, water, reduced dependence on foreign oil, reduced trade deficit, reduced health problems due to air pollution, reduced noise pollution (EVs are soooooooo quiet :-) ) So, the EV+ has arrived and it is a car I love. I still disagree with the special conductive charging device. Just get a simple 220V plug and away you go. Then I save $795 on the CCD and $1,000 on installation. There are many, many, many EV enthusiast out there who have been using this approach for many years. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now. I drove the EV+ for the first time this weekend (May 17, 1998), filled out the lease application two days later and hope to be driving around a shiny new EV+ in a few weeks. I feel it is important to put your money where your mouth is. If enough of us early adopters lease these cars and also do the proactive things such as writing our representatives, writing letters to the editors, contacting our local papers to do articles on our EVs, talking about our vehicles at Earth Day events, local schools, anywhere people will listen (and believe me they listen!), we can get the word out that EVs are here, they are ready for most of society's driving needs, and they will greatly improve our health and environment. By the way, I have done all of these things and more. It is easy to talk about something you believe in so strongly. This is another part of my motivation for getting an EV. I want to do my part to make this place a little bit better when I'm gone than when I arrived. Okay, guess I got back on my soapbox again. I'll stop now. Feel free to contact me if you have questions, comments, criticisms...
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