Rechargeable Electric Car

We are starting with a vintage Endura electric car hand built in 1976, and are restoring and updating the car's systems. Analog controls are being changed to digital, the electric motor is being re-built, and the battery system is being updated.

Our goal is to have "petroleum free, sustainable transportation" for local distribution of food. We are building a year-around greenhouse and will use this car for delivering to restaurants and CSA locations. The work is being done by the student members of Applied Environmental Solutions at the University of Minnesota, Institute of Technology, on the Minneapolis campus. The research and work they do increases their knowledge and experience, and provides them with material for a resume to attract future projects.
Project Impacts:

Economic advantage increases with the increase of gas prices. Batteries will cost $3500 and will last 6 years. Recharge time should be decreased to a couple of hours, with new battery technology. (A future project is to set up 4KW solar cells to charge the car. This will reduce the cost of running the car to batteries and maintenance.) Environmental impact will be no carbon emissions. Social benefits include a sustainable food distribution system and good PR for Wildrose Farm. (Advertising on the sides.)

A Note on Batteries:

Originally the car was run with 20 lead acid batteries that tended to leak, and off-gassed enough that a venting system was needed to eliminate the danger of an explosion. The new batteries that we are installing are 12 volt gell-cells. We plan to replace these batteries in 5-6 years with Lithium Ion batteries, which are not yet available in the configurations needed for cars.

Educational Resource:

Everyday the car is used in the community is public exposure. We also have plans to drive the car in the local 4th of July parades, and have educational displays at the Living Green Expo 2009, and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) 2009. We will propose a presentation at these 2 events and at the Organic Conference in La Crosse, Feb. 2009. News articles will be written and published in local newspaper, and posted here on our website.

Timeline:

July and August 2008 – Conversions and Lab testing
September and October 2008 – Field testing and reporting of data
October 2008 – Interior restorations

Project Costs:

The total cost of this restoration is $12,100.00
We are partnering with CERTS,Clean Energy Resource Team, Central Region. They have awarded us with a $5,000 grant.


More about AES in a letter of support by Adam Malovrh:

Applied Environmental Solutions is a non-profit University of Minnesota organization dedicated to reducing CO2 emission through researching and by educating the general public on ways to cut back on energy usage and how to use more environmentally friendly products. Current projects include converting a gasoline-powered vehicle to an efficient electric vehicle, designing a neutral carbon house, and preparing for 2009 Solar Decathlon in Washington D.C. A large contributor to our present day air pollution is from gasoline powered automobiles. If we were to supplement our gasoline powered vehicle for one which was powered by an electric motor, much of the daily pollution would be eliminated. The plan at AES is to restore the electric vehicle provided to us by Chuck Knierim back to working condition. Once A.E.S. restores it, Chuck will then use it for his personal commuting, along with use it to educate the general public on electric vehicles. A.E.S. also will use it to demonstrate the general components which make up an electric vehicle. We will use the vehicle at public displays such as the Living Green Expo, for example, along with many others.
Sincerely,
Adam Malovrh
AES Vice President, Transportation

Applied Environmental Solutions

The Old Analog Contols