EVCO EV Conversion Course Manual/EV Basics
From Manual
Contents |
EV BASICS
Anatomy of an electric vehicle
- batteries
- controller
- charger
- motor
- chassis
- custom fabricated parts
- special considerations for brakes, suspension, power steering,
- tires, and peripherals
Choosing a donor car
- features
- comparison matrix
Determining your requirements, and features of the finished car
- range, speed, acceleration,
- passenger and cargo requirements
Winter considerations
Battery pack
Batteries efficiency varies with the temperature. For this reason, the battery pack must allow for proper ventilation. Also, if the vehicle will be used in cold temperatures, such as during winter, the battery pack should be heated and insulated. Suggested ways to provide heat to the battery pack include using thermostat controlled battery warmers; a portable 600W "radiator" style heater, where the electric element is immersed in oil; or other heat source that will not provide any sparks. As lead acid battery charging produces hydrogen, it is critical that no source of ignition, such as hot elements from a hair dryer or ceramic heater, be allowed in the battery box! To reduce heat loss, you can insulate the battery box using 2" foam insulation (R10) on the top, bottom and all sides.
Lubricants
Bearing grease, and transmission fluid has to warm up through use, so expect your EV (and any car!) to use more energy than usual for the first few km's until these regain viscosity. You may reduce the impact from this problem by using lower viscosity lubricants during the cold winter months.
Heating
You can replace your standard vehicle heater with an electric heater powered by your batteries to keep your windows free of frost. To help maintain your range, you could pre-heat your vehicule using a portable heater in advance of driving. If you pre-heat, it will be easier to keep your windshield clear.
Tip: When you arrive at your destination and turn off the EV (or any car for that matter), take a minute or 2 to leave the door wide open, and let all the warm moist air out of the car. Even leave a window slightly open afterwards. This helps ensure that condensation, and thus ice, will not frost up the inside of the windshield.
