everyone is talking about electric cars, especially politicians are regularly discussing subsidies and other measures. However, many car tinkerers are also working on one or the other solution, which is of course only on a small scale – but can still be realized with some effort. The most complex part of an electric car is the battery cell itself, both technically and financially. You takes up a lot of space and plays a decisive role in determining the range of the electric car.
But what exactly is important here? How can you build an electric car yourself?? Ecary.De shows all interested parties which aspects are decisive in this context.
The basis of an electric car: lithium-ion batteries
The capacity and performance of the battery is a key factor in the market maturity of electric cars. The current state of the art is such that there is no other technology that would provide an advantage over lithium-ion batteries. Based on this technology, tesla’s model 3, for example, is capable of achieving a range of more than 500 kilometers – under certain conditions, of course.
For comparison: the BMW i3, production of which is to be discontinued shortly, originally came onto the market with a range of around 200 kilometers. And that was not so long ago. So a lot has already been done to make electric cars increasingly "marketable". However, these figures should always be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism, because the manufacturer naturally has an interest in ensuring that the vehicle’s performance is as good as possible high mileage as an advertising claim to be able to use. However, it does show how the technical side has recently developed.
Experts believe that further developments and improvements in lithium-ion battery technology are possible. The talk is of around 30 percent capacity growth within ten years. However, this technology is not the "panacea", but based on finite resources. Includes lithium, cobalt and graphite, which are mined under rather questionable conditions.
In addition, in practice it is of course also important how much time is required for a complete charging process. Another critical factor is the service life of lithium-ion batteries to question, which at ca. 100.000 kilometers lies. So every e-car enthusiast can work out what the "half-life" of a classic e-car is.
BACK TO TOPIC: can i build an electric car "just like that" myself??
To be able to answer this question, we should respond with "it depends". In principle, it makes sense to transform a combustion engine into an electric car, because the government offers certain incentives, such as exemption from vehicle tax for ten years. More and more workshops are therefore offering complete conversions. here is the principle: the older the vehicle, the better (resp. Simpler). These cars generally lack emergency braking assistants, electronic stability programs (ESP) or immobilizers. They also weigh considerably less. Last but not least, manual transmissions are easier to retrofit.
What you should consider: the installation of an electric motor in combination with the battery pack adds a lot to the scales. Therefore, the battery must also be conditioned. If you opt for a smaller battery, you also reduce the mileage. No problem for short trips, but for longer journeys u.U. Problematic.
You also need a sog. battery management system, a safe container for the energy source as such as well as countless controllers. A new accelerator pedal with control tool is necessary, as well as certain adapters for the gearbox. every component can be bought separately on the market, but this only makes sense if you are absolutely obsessed with details and have technical know-how. Make sense but usually only sog. Electric car kits, they all contain EMC-compatible components.
Important: first registration before 17. June 2003? Then you are in luck, because here is no sog. Electromagnetic compatibility testing (ECER 10 or. EMC) demanded. All "younger" used cars are not allowed on the road without testing, which in turn costs a lot of money (high four-digit).
And now? When is it worth building an electric car yourself??
Even though electric cars are currently "the hit" par excellence, the technology behind them is pretty old. Considered the first true e-car, the "flakes electric carThe "Coburg" engine, which rolled off the assembly line of the A. flakes rolled – based on a scottish development. It is worthwhile to take a closer look at the variety of do-it-yourself kits available. However, high four-digit costs are the rule rather than the exception. Due to the testing mechanisms, it is only worthwhile to purchase cars with first registration before 17. June 2003.
Tip: look for experience reports of successful conversions on the net to familiarize yourself with the individual steps. This will give you a feel for what is involved technically and, above all, organizationally.