Debate!

• That's no EV truck, either.
• Don't miss the historical debate tonight. McCain is history.
• My EV is still running fine. Need to water and balance the batteries, though.
• Simon and I are going to paint this bunny, and I've ordered the "How To Paint A Car" books to prove it. We're thinking yellow with green leaves instead of flames. Should be fun!

VoltsRabbit - Week 3 - Tesla, Vasoline, "Gas" caps, Skunks

This is not my car. But it makes me hot. The incredibly sexy Tesla Roadster above is parked in a field in San Jose which is the future home of the Tesla factory! Tesla announced it this week, and they plan to build a sedan and sell it for $60,000. General Motors also said they're going to start selling their Volt EV in 2010 for $30,000. Some guy in Santa Cruz is selling his RAV4-EV for $45,000. As Huggz would say, "WTF, mate?"



I'm now up to 150 oil and gas free miles in two weeks! At this rate the car will completely pay for itself in less than two years. But remember - it's NOT about the money. It's about the clean air, quiet ride, stopping the greenhouse effect, sustainable energy, energy independence and global peace. But if it's all about the money to you, then...

• The bumper sticker above is available for sale on www.cafepress.com. There are more subtle ones butt what the hey.
  
• Got a wiper blade and gas cap at Volks cafe on Soquel Drive. Those guys are awesome.
  
• Got a side view mirror on Ebay.
• Joined a bunch of Yahoo! groups on EV's, we'll see which ones are useful. Need to find out more about the Zivan NG1 charger's blinking yellow (or is it green?!) light. Also trolled the evalbums for other Rabbit EV conversion owners who might help me out.
  
• Couldn't show it off, as requested, at the Green Seminar at the Boardwalk on Friday cause I had to work.
• Investigating the Paktrakr to better monitor the batteries.
• Almost got run over on Hiway 1 when a huge Escalade tried to merge behind me and there was no juice to accelerate at 55mph to pull ahead of him. Dude!
• This is really wild. Scared off a skunk and then a raccoon raiding the garbage can late at night when I went out to check the charger.
• The new DMV title arrived! I'm so proud.
  
• Took a BUNCH of pics of the VoltsRabbit and at the Annual EV Rally, but need to upload them on picassa... stay tuned.
  
• Attending the eaaev.org monthly meeting tomorrow...
  

VoltsRabbit , Week 2. Zero Gas + Zero Emissions + Zero Oil Wars = ICELESS! and Ur So Gay!

Went to DMV and got the registration done, ICELESS plates ordered, and ZEV stickers ordered. ICELESS means no Internal Combustion Engine, of course. Plates take 8-10 weeks. Zero emission vehicle stickers will allow me to drive the EV in the carpool lanes over in San Jose solo - if and when I ever get the range to be able to actually do that. I am lucky enough to already have hybrid stickers on my 2001 Prius. No hassles at DMV about "where's the smog certificate?!" Went pretty smoothly actually.

Equipment:
I ordered a passenger side view mirror online on Amazon. Bought a gas cap for a 79 Rabbit at Volks cafe but it doesn't fit. Need to cover the plug somehow. Bought a AM/FM portable transistor radio for $5. Poor man's stereo system. Gets KPIG just fine.

Driving:
Total of 60 miles on her so far. The charger still blinks yellow. Not sure if we're truly fully charged yet or not. Need to water the batteries and get someone to help me debug this. Tracking the trip mileage, state of charge, and # charges and hope that will help me figure out what is FULL and EMPTY and the realistic range at this point.

Online:
Took a bunch of pics. Will post those on my picassa site, too, along with the EV Rally.

Contacted Will Beckett about joining the Central Coast EAA. He asked if I could show the VoltsRabbit at the Boardwalk on Sept 19. I said she ain't pretty but I'd be happy to do it. She could sure use a wash, wax and vacuuming!

Will go to the Silicon Valley EAA meeting on Sat. Sept 20, 2008 at 10am to make some contacts.

Links:
Sources for VW rabbit 79 gas cap(?):
http://shop.autopartsfair.com/basket.php?add_item_id=121451
http://www.car-stuff.com/carparts/volkswagenrabbit19761979stantst10816317980.html
http://theserviceadvisor.com/part/fuelbestvolkswagen/itemv7989_82494yoz.html




My evalbum page:
http://www.evalbum.com/2041

Long list of new tech battery co's:
http://www.aortacity.se/Items/Li-jonTillverkare.htm

lifepo4 batts:
http://www.falconev.com

Better Place:
http://www.betterplace.com/our-bold-plan/

Katy Perry's song "Ur so gay" where she disses vegetarianism and "electrical cars" (!).
http://www.metrolyrics.com/ur-so-gay-lyrics-katy-perry.html
Not that there's anything wrong with that...

and the rebuttal! Electric Car SONG! see the song here:
http://www.myspace.com/trudeelunden
Cool!

“ELECTRICITY”
Written by Trudee Lunden, Tom Fair & Michael H. Gaytan
Performed by Tom Fair "Extraordinaire"

This is the hour and we’ve got the power
So let’s keep building electric cars

Motors are racing - this dream’s worth chasing
Around the corner - the new superstars

Electricity it’s almighty energy
Electricity driving new technology
Electricity charging up my battery
Tesla and Aptera
Green as aloe vera
Plug in any socket
You’ll take off like a rocket

Down to the wire we can’t quit or tire
The road’s wide open to ride for miles

Wheels are in motion ocean to ocean
Speed into the future moving along in style

Electricity it’s almighty energy
Electricity driving new technology
Electricity charging up my battery
Muscle you can measure
Maximize your pleasure
Pedal down and push it hard
Cruising on the boulevard

Electric fever
Makes you a believer
Step right up and try it
Don’t you start a riot!

Electricity it’s almighty energy
Electricity driving new technology
Electricity charging up my battery

(Fade out)

© 2008 by Trudee Lunden, Scaramouche Music

VoltsRabbit - Week 1

Misc:
Used my AAA Plus account to tow the EV 70 miles from Oakland to Santa Cruz for free.
Sweet.

EVonline:

• Created an evalbum page for the AMP HARE. Check it out. Will add pictures there as we go.
• Joined the Electric Auto Assoc. of Silicon Valley Yahoo group. Wonder if Google has one more active?
• Attended the EV Rally in Palo Alto. Took a lot of car pics to post on Picasa. Made some good contacts with Doug (Charger) and Jim Ramos (US Battery).
• Here's a good cheat sheet on electricity basics - how electricity is measured, stored, moves and works. The water analogy is particularly useful.
  

Driving:
The e-stick so far isn't hard, but no optimized, yet. Mushy brakes aren't comfortable, but drove the 16 mile roundtrip to Capitola with no problems. Sweet.

Charging:
First few days of charging it resulted in a blinking yellow light on the Zivan NG1 charger. Manual says it's "thermal sensor" warning after only an hour. Hmmm... too hot? no fan? Previous owner Nic doesn't know. Need to call the Zivan people, and ask some folks for help. Charging on flat surface and not in sloped driveway helped charge time extend to > 5 hours.

Next Steps:
DMV tomorrow to transfer the title. AAA to get it insured. Water the batts. Clean it up and fix misc things missing: "gas" cap, hubcaps, stereo, antennae, passenger side mirror, vent window handles, windshield washer, bumper pads, back door on driver side is stuck closed, charger base, spare tire. Pick n pull here I come...

Voltsrabbit - FOUND!

On Thursday, 8/28, at 9am I searched the SF Bay Area Craigslist cars & trucks section for "electric vehicles" and found this ad. (copied below, since it's probably removed by the time you read this).

I sent an email, but was afraid to lose out, so I called Nic directly.
He said he could sell it to people who didn't know anything about EVs, but didn't want to.
I told him what I knew about EVs - and that I'd take it for his asking price and would drive up to pay him. He said OK, but he was out of town over Labor Day weekend. He said to come Tuesday night.
I'm going to pick up my EV tomorrow!
I'm so excited!

SF bay area craigslist > east bay > cars & trucks - by owner

Voltsrabbit Electric Vehicle Conversion - $4500 (oakland lake merritt / grand)

---

Reply to: sale-814898845@craigslist.org ^[?]
Date: 2008-08-27, 12:22AM PDT


1979 VW Rabbit professionally converted into fully electric
4 doors, seats 4
Power-assisted brakes
96V lead-acid battery pack (8 in front, 8 in back)
Brand new Zivan NG-1 Charger
Curtis controller
DC/DC converter
Plugs into any outlet
Max range: 50-60 miles
Runs great!
No gas, no oil, no tune-ups, ever!

Contact Nic at 510.377.bacdxxxx